This page describes just one approach, where you make a line chart with two data series (one high, one low) and then use “up/down bars” to create the floating columns. The advantage of this approach is simplicity. There is no need to add calculations and a ghost data series to float the columns, as you’ll see in other examples.  The data used to make the chart on this page looks like this:

How to make this chart

Dave Bruns

Hi - I’m Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.

Line Chart example Floating column chart with up down bars - 10Line Chart example Floating column chart with up down bars - 59Line Chart example Floating column chart with up down bars - 13Line Chart example Floating column chart with up down bars - 30Line Chart example Floating column chart with up down bars - 21Line Chart example Floating column chart with up down bars - 36Line Chart example Floating column chart with up down bars - 23Line Chart example Floating column chart with up down bars - 36Line Chart example Floating column chart with up down bars - 24