How to Change Chart Colors in Google Sheets

Visualizing your data with charts in Google Sheets is an effective way to communicate information clearly. However, by default, the colors of the chart might not always align with your preferred aesthetic or data categorization. Changing the colors of your charts in Google Sheets can not only improve their visual appeal but also help to highlight key data points, making them easier to interpret.

In this guide, we'll walk you through how to change chart colors in Google Sheets and how you can modify chart colors based on cell values to make your data representation more dynamic and meaningful.

How to Change Chart Color in Google Sheets

Follow the below steps to Change Chart Color in Google Sheets:

Step 1: Open your Google Sheets document

Go to your web browser open Google Sheets, login into your Google account.

Step 2: Select the Chart

Select the Chart you want to edit by double-clicking on it. If you want to learn how to insert chart in Google Sheets.

Step 3: Open the Chart Editor

To change the color of our Chart we first have to open the Chart Editor. To open Chart Editor - Double click on the chart to see the Chart Editor section in the right corner or,

Click on the chart ->Click on the 3 dots on the top right corner of the chart-> Click on Edit the Chart.

Note: You'll see a Chart Editor in the right side of the screen. Chart Editor is a tool in Google Sheets which is used to customize the appearance and setting of the chart you create within your spreadsheets. Chart Editor provided a user-friendly interface where we can modify the - design, layout, colours, labels and more.

Step 4: Customize the Chart colors

After opening the Chart Editor we'll have to open the Customize tab in Chart Editor. Click on Customize Tab -> Click on Series.

Step 5: Select the Series

Series refers to the group of related data that are graphically represented in a chart. Each series represents a set of data that we want to compare or analyze. For example, if we are creating a bar graph representing the amount of sales in different years then the amount of sales in each separate year will be a separate series in the graph.

To select the Series - Click on Apply to all Series and select the series whose color you want to change (In my case I have selected the Rishab Sales)

Step 6: Choose a Color

Below the Select bar you will see a Format section -> Click on Fill Color and Select the color for your series, you can either choose from the color palettes or use a custom color.

Step 7: Apply and Save the Changes

After adjusting the color you will see the colors of the graph will automatically change, now you use the same steps to change the color of all the Series in your graph accordingly.

Step 8: Review your chart.

The Chart will now reflect a new color scheme which you choose and if you're satisfied with the color scheme of the chart you can close the Chart Editor.

How to Modify Google Sheets Chart Color Based on Cell Value

In Google Sheets, you can't automatically link chart colors to cell colors directly. However, you can achieve a similar effect through below steps:

Step 1: Prepare Your Data

Ensure your data is well-organized in a Google Sheets table. Add a column with the condition or value that determines the color of the chart.

Step 2: Set Conditional Formatting (Optional)

Highlight the data range. Go to Format > Conditional formatting. Set rules based on your conditions (e.g., “If value > X, make it red”).

Step 3: Insert a Chart

Highlight your data and go to Insert > Chart. Choose the desired chart type (e.g., bar, line, or column chart).

Step 4: Modify Chart Colors

Click on the chart and select the three dots in the top-right corner. Click Edit chart to open the Chart Editor. Go to the Customize tab and select Series or Color options. Manually assign colors based on the conditions in your data.

Step 5: Use Helper Columns for Dynamic Colors

Create “helper columns” that include values only when certain conditions are met. For example, create separate columns for “Red,” “Blue,” and “Green” values. Map these columns to different series in the chart.

Step 6: Link Chart Colors to Conditions:

Assign colors to each series in the Customize > Series menu of the Chart Editor. Ensure each series reflects the corresponding conditional data.

Conclusion

Changing chart colors in Google Sheets helps in making your data stand out and is a quick way to enhance the readability of your reports. Whether you're customizing individual chart colors or applying dynamic colors based on cell values, this simple process will give your charts a polished and professional look.

By following the steps mentioned, you can easily tailor your charts to suit your needs, improving both functionality and presentation. Now you can make your charts visually engaging and data-driven to help your audience grasp insights more effectively.