IronXL How-Tos Create and Edit Charts How to Create and Edit Excel Charts in C# ByChaknith Bin October 17, 2023 Updated June 22, 2025 Share: In Excel, a chart is a graphical representation of data. It is a visual tool used to display and analyze data in a more understandable and meaningful way. Excel provides a variety of chart types, such as bar charts, line charts, pie charts, and more, each of which is suited for different types of data and analysis.IronXL supports column, scatter, line, pie, bar, and area charts with configurable series names, legend positions, chart titles, and chart positions. View the IronXL YouTube Playlist How to Create and Edit Excel Charts in C# Download the C# library to create and edit charts Prepare the data for creating the chart Use the CreateChart method to set the chart type and position Use the AddSeries method to add data series Plot the chart using the Plot method Get started with IronXL Start using IronXL in your project today with a free trial. First Step: Start for Free Create Charts Example IronXL supports column, scatter, line, pie, bar, and area charts. To create a chart, we have to specify a few things separately. Start by using the CreateChart method to specify the type of chart and its location in the worksheet. Add the series with the AddSeries method. This method also accepts a single column of data since that is sufficient for some chart types. The first parameter represents values for the horizontal axis. The second parameter represents values for the vertical axis. Optionally, specify the series name, chart name, and legend position. Invoke the Plot method to plot the chart. The method will plot the chart using all the data that was added. Multiple calls to this method lead to plotting multiple charts instead of modifying the existing chart. Let's create some charts from the data in the chart.xlsx Excel file. A preview of the data is displayed below: Column Chart :path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/create-edit-charts-column-chart.cs using IronXL; using IronXL.Drawing.Charts; // Load the workbook from an existing Excel file WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("chart.xlsx"); // Access the default worksheet in the workbook WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet; // Create a column chart in the worksheet // Specify the top-left corner at cell E5 and the bottom-right corner at cell T10 IChart chart = workSheet.CreateChart(ChartType.Column, 5, 5, 20, 10); // Define the range for the X-axis data string xAxis = "A2:A7"; // Add a series to the chart using data from columns B, C, and D // and set their respective titles based on the worksheet header. // Add the first data series from column B IChartSeries series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "B2:B7"); series.Title = workSheet["B1"].StringValue; // Add the second data series from column C series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "C2:C7"); series.Title = workSheet["C1"].StringValue; // Add the third data series from column D series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "D2:D7"); series.Title = workSheet["D1"].StringValue; // Set the title of the chart chart.SetTitle("Column Chart"); // Define the position of the chart legend chart.SetLegendPosition(LegendPosition.Bottom); // Plot the chart with the data and formatting specified chart.Plot(); // Save the modified workbook to a new file with the chart included workBook.SaveAs("columnChart.xlsx"); Imports IronXL Imports IronXL.Drawing.Charts ' Load the workbook from an existing Excel file Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("chart.xlsx") ' Access the default worksheet in the workbook Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet ' Create a column chart in the worksheet ' Specify the top-left corner at cell E5 and the bottom-right corner at cell T10 Private chart As IChart = workSheet.CreateChart(ChartType.Column, 5, 5, 20, 10) ' Define the range for the X-axis data Private xAxis As String = "A2:A7" ' Add a series to the chart using data from columns B, C, and D ' and set their respective titles based on the worksheet header. ' Add the first data series from column B Private series As IChartSeries = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "B2:B7") series.Title = workSheet("B1").StringValue ' Add the second data series from column C series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "C2:C7") series.Title = workSheet("C1").StringValue ' Add the third data series from column D series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "D2:D7") series.Title = workSheet("D1").StringValue ' Set the title of the chart chart.SetTitle("Column Chart") ' Define the position of the chart legend chart.SetLegendPosition(LegendPosition.Bottom) ' Plot the chart with the data and formatting specified chart.Plot() ' Save the modified workbook to a new file with the chart included workBook.SaveAs("columnChart.xlsx") $vbLabelText $csharpLabel Line Chart Since a line chart can represent as much information as a column chart, switching between the two is very simple. You only need to change the chart type. :path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/create-edit-charts-line-chart.cs // Import the necessary namespaces from IronXL for working with Excel files and charts. using IronXL; using IronXL.Drawing.Charts; // Load an existing Excel workbook from the specified file. WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("chart.xlsx"); // Fetch the default worksheet from the loaded workbook. WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet; // Create a chart in the worksheet of type Column at the specified position and size. // The numbers correspond to left column, top row, right column, and bottom row positions. IChart chart = workSheet.CreateChart(ChartType.Column, 5, 5, 20, 10); // Define the range for the X Axis labels, taken from column A, rows 2 to 7. string xAxis = "A2:A7"; // Add the first series to the chart using data from column B. IChartSeries series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "B2:B7"); series.Title = workSheet["B1"].StringValue; // Set the series title from cell B1. // Add the second series to the chart using data from column C. series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "C2:C7"); series.Title = workSheet["C1"].StringValue; // Set the series title from cell C1. // Add the third series to the chart using data from column D. series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "D2:D7"); series.Title = workSheet["D1"].StringValue; // Set the series title from cell D1. // Set the title for the chart. chart.SetTitle("Line Chart"); // Position the legend of the chart at the bottom. chart.SetLegendPosition(LegendPosition.Bottom); // Plot the chart to make it visible in the worksheet. chart.Plot(); // Save the modified workbook to a new file. workBook.SaveAs("lineChart.xlsx"); ' Import the necessary namespaces from IronXL for working with Excel files and charts. Imports IronXL Imports IronXL.Drawing.Charts ' Load an existing Excel workbook from the specified file. Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("chart.xlsx") ' Fetch the default worksheet from the loaded workbook. Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet ' Create a chart in the worksheet of type Column at the specified position and size. ' The numbers correspond to left column, top row, right column, and bottom row positions. Private chart As IChart = workSheet.CreateChart(ChartType.Column, 5, 5, 20, 10) ' Define the range for the X Axis labels, taken from column A, rows 2 to 7. Private xAxis As String = "A2:A7" ' Add the first series to the chart using data from column B. Private series As IChartSeries = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "B2:B7") series.Title = workSheet("B1").StringValue ' Set the series title from cell B1. ' Add the second series to the chart using data from column C. series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "C2:C7") series.Title = workSheet("C1").StringValue ' Set the series title from cell C1. ' Add the third series to the chart using data from column D. series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "D2:D7") series.Title = workSheet("D1").StringValue ' Set the series title from cell D1. ' Set the title for the chart. chart.SetTitle("Line Chart") ' Position the legend of the chart at the bottom. chart.SetLegendPosition(LegendPosition.Bottom) ' Plot the chart to make it visible in the worksheet. chart.Plot() ' Save the modified workbook to a new file. workBook.SaveAs("lineChart.xlsx") $vbLabelText $csharpLabel Pie Chart For a pie chart, only one column of data is needed. :path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/create-edit-charts-pie-chart.cs using IronXL; using IronXL.Drawing.Charts; // This example demonstrates an approach for creating and manipulating a pie chart using the IronXL library. // Load the Excel workbook from the specified file WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("chart.xlsx"); // Get the default worksheet from the workbook WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet; // Create a pie chart on the worksheet at the specified position (columns 5 to 20, rows 5 to 10) // The ChartType.Pie enumerates the type of chart to be created; position parameters define the chart's location and size IChart chart = workSheet.CreateChart(ChartType.Pie, 5, 5, 20, 10); // Define the range for the x-axis data. The x-axis for a pie chart typically represents the categories. string xAxis = "A2:A7"; // Add a series to the chart using the x-axis range and y-axis range // Here, the y-axis data is defined, which usually represents the data values associated with the x-axis categories IChartSeries series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "B2:B7"); // Set the series title using the value from cell B1. This helps in understanding what the series represents. series.Title = workSheet["B1"].StringValue; // Set the title of the chart. This provides an overall context for what the chart is displaying. chart.SetTitle("Pie Chart"); // Set the position of the chart legend to the bottom. The legend helps identify the data series. chart.SetLegendPosition(LegendPosition.Bottom); // Plot the chart with the defined series and settings. This renders the chart visually in the worksheet. chart.Plot(); // Save the workbook to a new file, ensuring that changes to the chart are stored. workBook.SaveAs("pieChart.xlsx"); Imports IronXL Imports IronXL.Drawing.Charts ' This example demonstrates an approach for creating and manipulating a pie chart using the IronXL library. ' Load the Excel workbook from the specified file Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("chart.xlsx") ' Get the default worksheet from the workbook Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet ' Create a pie chart on the worksheet at the specified position (columns 5 to 20, rows 5 to 10) ' The ChartType.Pie enumerates the type of chart to be created; position parameters define the chart's location and size Private chart As IChart = workSheet.CreateChart(ChartType.Pie, 5, 5, 20, 10) ' Define the range for the x-axis data. The x-axis for a pie chart typically represents the categories. Private xAxis As String = "A2:A7" ' Add a series to the chart using the x-axis range and y-axis range ' Here, the y-axis data is defined, which usually represents the data values associated with the x-axis categories Private series As IChartSeries = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "B2:B7") ' Set the series title using the value from cell B1. This helps in understanding what the series represents. series.Title = workSheet("B1").StringValue ' Set the title of the chart. This provides an overall context for what the chart is displaying. chart.SetTitle("Pie Chart") ' Set the position of the chart legend to the bottom. The legend helps identify the data series. chart.SetLegendPosition(LegendPosition.Bottom) ' Plot the chart with the defined series and settings. This renders the chart visually in the worksheet. chart.Plot() ' Save the workbook to a new file, ensuring that changes to the chart are stored. workBook.SaveAs("pieChart.xlsx") $vbLabelText $csharpLabel Edit Chart Example There are a few things you can edit in an existing chart. You can edit the legend position and chart title. To edit the chart, you must first retrieve the chart by accessing the Charts property and select the targeted chart for editing. From there, access the properties of the chart to make your edits. :path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/create-edit-charts-edit-chart.cs using IronXL; using IronXL.Drawing.Charts; // This code uses the IronXL library to manipulate Excel files and charts. // Load the workbook from an Excel file named "pieChart.xlsx" WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("pieChart.xlsx"); // Use the default worksheet in the workbook WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet; // Retrieve the first chart from the worksheet's charts collection // Check if there are any charts in the collection to avoid runtime errors if (workSheet.Charts.Count > 0) { IChart chart = workSheet.Charts[0]; // Set the chart's legend position to the top chart.SetLegendPosition(LegendPosition.Top); // Set the chart's title to "Edited Chart" chart.SetTitle("Edited Chart"); // Save the modified workbook to a new file named "editedChart.xlsx" workBook.SaveAs("editedChart.xlsx"); } else { Console.WriteLine("No charts found in the worksheet."); } Imports IronXL Imports IronXL.Drawing.Charts ' This code uses the IronXL library to manipulate Excel files and charts. ' Load the workbook from an Excel file named "pieChart.xlsx" Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("pieChart.xlsx") ' Use the default worksheet in the workbook Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet ' Retrieve the first chart from the worksheet's charts collection ' Check if there are any charts in the collection to avoid runtime errors If workSheet.Charts.Count > 0 Then Dim chart As IChart = workSheet.Charts(0) ' Set the chart's legend position to the top chart.SetLegendPosition(LegendPosition.Top) ' Set the chart's title to "Edited Chart" chart.SetTitle("Edited Chart") ' Save the modified workbook to a new file named "editedChart.xlsx" workBook.SaveAs("editedChart.xlsx") Else Console.WriteLine("No charts found in the worksheet.") End If $vbLabelText $csharpLabel Before After Remove Chart Example To remove an existing chart from a spreadsheet, first retrieve the chart from the Charts property of the worksheet object. You will receive a list of charts from the Charts property. Pass the targeted chart object to the RemoveChart method to remove it. :path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/create-edit-charts-remove-chart.cs using IronXL; using IronXL.Drawing.Charts; using System.Collections.Generic; // Load the Excel workbook WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("pieChart.xlsx"); // Access the default worksheet within the workbook WorkSheet workSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet; // Retrieve the list of charts in the worksheet List<IChart> charts = workSheet.Charts; // Check if there is at least one chart to remove if (charts != null && charts.Count > 0) { // Remove the first chart from the worksheet workSheet.RemoveChart(charts[0]); } else { // Inform the user that no charts were found to remove Console.WriteLine("No chart found to remove in the worksheet."); } // Save the workbook after modifying it workBook.SaveAs("removedChart.xlsx"); Imports IronXL Imports IronXL.Drawing.Charts Imports System.Collections.Generic ' Load the Excel workbook Private workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("pieChart.xlsx") ' Access the default worksheet within the workbook Private workSheet As WorkSheet = workBook.DefaultWorkSheet ' Retrieve the list of charts in the worksheet Private charts As List(Of IChart) = workSheet.Charts ' Check if there is at least one chart to remove If charts IsNot Nothing AndAlso charts.Count > 0 Then ' Remove the first chart from the worksheet workSheet.RemoveChart(charts(0)) Else ' Inform the user that no charts were found to remove Console.WriteLine("No chart found to remove in the worksheet.") End If ' Save the workbook after modifying it workBook.SaveAs("removedChart.xlsx") $vbLabelText $csharpLabel Frequently Asked Questions What types of charts can be created using a C# library? IronXL supports creating column, scatter, line, pie, bar, and area charts. How do I start creating charts in C#? First, download the IronXL library from NuGet. Then use the CreateChart method to specify the type and location of the chart in the worksheet. What method is used to add data series to a chart? The AddSeries method is used to add data series to a chart. It accepts parameters for both the horizontal and vertical axis data. How can I plot a chart after adding data? Use the Plot method to plot the chart after adding the necessary data. This method uses all the data that was added to produce the chart. How can you switch between a column chart and a line chart? Switching between a column chart and a line chart is simple; you only need to change the chart type parameter when creating the chart. Can you edit existing charts? Yes, you can edit existing charts by accessing the Charts property of the worksheet, selecting the targeted chart, and modifying properties like the chart title and legend position. What is the process to remove a chart from a worksheet? To remove a chart, retrieve it from the Charts property of the worksheet object, then pass the targeted chart object to the RemoveChart method. What should be done after modifying or creating charts to save changes? After creating or modifying charts, save the workbook using the SaveAs method to ensure all changes are preserved. Chaknith Bin Chat with engineering team now Software Engineer Chaknith is the Sherlock Holmes of developers. It first occurred to him he might have a future in software engineering, when he was doing code challenges for fun. His focus is on IronXL and IronBarcode, but he takes pride in helping customers with every product. Chaknith leverages his knowledge from talking directly with customers, to help further improve the products themselves. His anecdotal feedback goes beyond Jira tickets and supports product development, documentation and marketing, to improve customer’s overall experience.When he isn’t in the office, he can be found learning about machine learning, coding and hiking. Ready to Get Started? Free NuGet Download Total downloads: 1,477,280 View Licenses