Vary the colors of same-series data markers in a chart

When you create a single-series chart, all data markers that represent the data points in that data series are displayed in the same color. To use different colors for each data marker, you can vary the colors automatically by using the Vary colors by point or Vary colors by slice option.

By default, the colors of slices in pie charts and doughnut charts are varied, but you can turn this option off as needed. For example, you may want to display each ring in a doughnut chart in a single color instead of varied colors.

You can also vary colors by changing the color of each data marker manually.

Important: To successfully complete these procedures, you must have an existing chart. For more information about how to create a chart, see Create a chart.

What do you want to do?

Automatically vary data marker colors by point or by slice

Vary data marker colors manually

Automatically vary data marker colors by point or by slice

1. In a chart, click the data series for which you want to change the colors, or do the following to select the data series from a list of chart elements.

   1. Click anywhere in the chart.
      This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

   2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

      

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.

3. In the Format Data Series dialog box, click the Fill category, and then do the following:

   1. To vary the colors of data markers in a single-series chart, select the Vary colors by point check box.

   2. To display all data points of a data series in the same color on a pie chart or donut chart, clear the Vary colors by slice check box.

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Vary data marker colors manually

1. On a chart, click the data marker that you want to change, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements:

   1. Click anywhere in the chart.
      This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

   2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the data marker that you want.

      

2. On the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click Shape Fill.

   

3. Do one of the following:

   • To use a different fill color, under Theme Colors or Standard Colors, click the color that you want to use.

     Tip: Before you apply a different color, you can quickly preview how that color affects the chart. When you point to colors that you may want to use, the selected chart element will be displayed in that color on the chart.

   • To remove the color from the selected chart element, click No Fill.

   • To use a fill color that is not available under Theme Colors or Standard Colors, click More Fill Colors. In the Colors dialog box, specify the color that you want to use on the Standard or Custom tab, and then click OK.

     Custom fill colors that you create are added under Recent Colors so that you can use them again.

   • To fill the shape with a picture, click Picture. In the Insert Picture dialog box, click the picture that you want to use, and then click Insert.

   • To use a gradient effect for the selected fill color, click Gradient, and then click the gradient style that you want to use.

     For additional gradient styles, click More Gradients, and then in the Fill category, click the gradient options that you want to use.

   • To use a texture fill, click Texture, and then click the texture that you want to use.

4. Repeat these steps for every data marker that you want to change.

Tip: For more information about how to change the look of chart elements, see Change the shape fill, outline, or effects of chart elements.

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