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How to Use C# to Create Excel Charts

ByChaknith Bin

December 22, 2020

Updated  June 1, 2025

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The following How-To enables you to create an Excel chart programmatically in C# using IronXL.

Programmatically Create Excel Charts in .NET

• Create Excel graphs programmatically
• Add series with title and legend

How to Create Excel Chart in C#

1. Install Excel library to create Excel charts.
2. Load the existing Excel file into a Workbook object.
3. Create a chart with CreateChart.
4. Set the chart's title and legend
5. Call the Plot method.
6. Save the Workbook to the Excel file.

Step 1

1. Install IronXL

First, the easiest way to install IronXL is to make use of the NuGet Package manager in Visual Studio:

• Select the Project menu
• Manage NuGet Packages
• Search for IronXL.Excel
• Install

You could also enter the following command into the Developer Command Prompt:

Install-Package IronXL.Excel

Or Download from here: https://ironsoftware.com/csharp/excel/packages/IronXL.zip

How to Tutorial

2. Create Excel Chart for .NET

Now for the project!

Add the following details into an Excel Spreadsheet. This is shown below:

Figure 1 – Data to be used for charting

Add the Namespaces necessary to work with Excel charts in IronXL.

using IronXL;
using IronXL.Drawing.Charts;

using IronXL;
using IronXL.Drawing.Charts;

Add code to create the Excel graph programmatically with IronXL:

// This method is triggered by a button click event
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // Load the existing Excel workbook
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("Chart_Ex.xlsx");
    // Use the default worksheet from the workbook
    WorkSheet ws = wb.DefaultWorkSheet;

    // Create a column chart at the specified range of cells
    var chart = ws.CreateChart(ChartType.Column, 10, 15, 25, 20);

    // Define the range for the x-axis data
    const string xAxis = "A2:A7";

    // Add a series for the chart using data in the range and give it a title from the first row
    var series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "B2:B7");
    series.Title = ws["B1"].StringValue;

    // Add another series
    series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "C2:C7");
    series.Title = ws["C1"].StringValue;

    // Add a third series
    series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "D2:D7");
    series.Title = ws["D1"].StringValue;

    // Set the chart title
    chart.SetTitle("Column Chart");
    // Position the legend at the bottom of the chart
    chart.SetLegendPosition(LegendPosition.Bottom);
    // Plot the chart with the provided data
    chart.Plot();
    // Save the workbook with the newly added chart
    wb.SaveAs("Exported_Column_Chart.xlsx");
}

// This method is triggered by a button click event
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // Load the existing Excel workbook
    WorkBook wb = WorkBook.Load("Chart_Ex.xlsx");
    // Use the default worksheet from the workbook
    WorkSheet ws = wb.DefaultWorkSheet;

    // Create a column chart at the specified range of cells
    var chart = ws.CreateChart(ChartType.Column, 10, 15, 25, 20);

    // Define the range for the x-axis data
    const string xAxis = "A2:A7";

    // Add a series for the chart using data in the range and give it a title from the first row
    var series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "B2:B7");
    series.Title = ws["B1"].StringValue;

    // Add another series
    series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "C2:C7");
    series.Title = ws["C1"].StringValue;

    // Add a third series
    series = chart.AddSeries(xAxis, "D2:D7");
    series.Title = ws["D1"].StringValue;

    // Set the chart title
    chart.SetTitle("Column Chart");
    // Position the legend at the bottom of the chart
    chart.SetLegendPosition(LegendPosition.Bottom);
    // Plot the chart with the provided data
    chart.Plot();
    // Save the workbook with the newly added chart
    wb.SaveAs("Exported_Column_Chart.xlsx");
}

A Workbook object and a Worksheet object are created. The CreateChart method of the Worksheet object gets called to specify the chart type and chart location. The chart’s series get added, with its Title and the Legend. This is shown below.

Figure 2 – Chart output

Library Quick Access

IronXL API Reference Documentation

Learn more and share how to merge, unmerge, and work with cells in Excel spreadsheets using the handy IronXL API Reference Documentation.

IronXL API Reference Documentation

Chaknith Bin

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Software Engineer

Chaknith works on IronXL and IronBarcode. He has deep expertise in C# and .NET, helping improve the software and support customers. His insights from user interactions contribute to better products, documentation, and overall experience.