Candlestick Chart Using Excel

Stock Data Analysis is no easy feat!  Once you have a lot of historical stock data it’s hard to visualize the trend using technical analysis. Thankfully Excel has a lot of stock charts to help you with that, and one of them is the Candlestick Chart!

In this example I show you how easy it is to insert this using Excel.

Key Takeaways

• Ideal for Financial Data Analysis – Candlestick charts are primarily used for visualizing stock market trends, showing open, high, low, and close prices over a specific period.
• Requires Proper Data Formatting – To create a candlestick chart in Excel, the dataset must include four columns: Open, High, Low, and Close prices for each time period (e.g., days, weeks).
• Built-In Chart Type in Excel – Excel offers a pre-built Stock Chart option under the Insert tab, making it easy to generate candlestick charts without additional tools.
• Color Coding for Trend Indication – Candlesticks are typically color-coded (e.g., green for price increases and red for price decreases) to help quickly identify market trends and reversals.
• Customizable for Enhanced Visualization – Excel allows users to modify chart elements such as colors, axis scaling, and data labels, improving readability and making trend analysis more effective.

The Data Setup

A Candlestick Chart has a vertical line that indicates the range of low to high prices and a thicker column for the opening and closing prices:

STEP 1: Highlight your data of stock prices:

STEP 2: Go to Insert > Stock Charts > Open-High-Low-Close

STEP 3: Right click on your Legend and choose Delete as we do not need this.

STEP 4: Go to Chart Tools > Design and select the preferred design to make your chart more presentable!

And there you have it! Your own Candlestick Chart!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create a candlestick chart in Excel?
To create a candlestick chart, ensure your dataset includes columns for Date, Open, High, Low, and Close prices. Select the data, go to the Insert tab, choose Stock Chart, and select Open-High-Low-Close to generate the chart.

Why is my candlestick chart not displaying correctly?
This issue often occurs if the data is not properly formatted. Ensure that your Open, High, Low, and Close values are in the correct order and formatted as numbers. Also, check that Excel recognizes the date column as a date format.

Can I change the colors of the candlestick chart?
Yes, you can customize the colors of the candlestick chart. Right-click on the chart, select Format Data Series, and modify the fill colors for up (bullish) and down (bearish) candlesticks to improve visibility.

Does Excel automatically update the candlestick chart when new data is added?
If you insert new data below the existing range, the chart may not update automatically. You can solve this by converting your dataset into an Excel Table (Ctrl + T) before creating the chart, ensuring dynamic updates when new data is added.

Can I add trend lines or technical indicators to my candlestick chart in Excel?
Yes, Excel allows you to add trend lines by selecting the chart and choosing Chart Elements > Trendline. However, for more advanced indicators like moving averages or Bollinger Bands, you may need to manually calculate and overlay them using additional data series.

Bryan

Bryan Hong is an IT Software Developer for more than 10 years and has the following certifications: Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): Web Developer, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Applications, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA).

He is also an Amazon #1 bestselling author of 4 Microsoft Excel books and a teacher of Microsoft Excel & Office at the MyExecelOnline Academy Online Course.