Charts allow you to communicate data visually in your PowerPoint presentations. With the right charts, you can easily showcase trends, make comparisons, and highlight key data points. PowerPoint 2016 introduced several new, modern chart types while still retaining all the basic chart types you know and love.

Getting Started with Charts

To insert a chart in PowerPoint 2016:

Click the Insert tab

Click the Chart icon in the Illustrations group
Select the chart type you want to add from the dropdown menu

A basic chart will be inserted into your slide with sample data. To edit the chart data:

Click the Chart and select the Design tab under Chart Tools
In the Data group, click Edit Data
An Excel worksheet will open where you can edit your chart data

PowerPoint charts are linked to Excel data, so you can refresh your chart later if the source data changes.

Choosing the Right Chart

With so many chart types available, it can get confusing deciding which one to use. Here are some popular chart types and what they are best for:

Column charts – Comparing values across categories

Bar charts – Also compare values across categories, displayed horizontally
Line charts – Showing trends and changes over time
Pie charts – Showing proportional data or percentages of a whole

Scatter plots – Plotting two different variables together to show correlation

Consider what you want your data to communicate when selecting a chart type. The default chart may not always be the best fit.

Formatting Charts

Once your chart is inserted, you can customize its appearance extensively through chart styles and individual formatting options.

To apply a chart style:

Select the chart and navigate to the Design tab
Click the Chart Styles group dropdown menu to preview and select a style

Chart styles apply preset combinations of formatting to the various chart elements like the plot area, data labels, axes etc.

For more granular control, you can format individual elements like titles, data labels, gridlines etc. Right click the element and choose Format [Element].

New Chart Types in 2016

PowerPoint 2016 introduced 6 new modern chart types:

Treemap – Display hierarchical data categorized like tree branches
Sunburst – Also display hierarchical data in concentric rings
Waterfall – Show gains and losses with intermediate sums

Histogram – Frequency distribution with vertical rectangles
Pareto – Sorted histogram highlighting the most important factors
Box and Whisker – Show distribution of data with percentiles

These new chart types allow you to showcase certain kinds of data in a more meaningful and visual manner compared to traditional chart types.

Tips for Better Charts

Here are some tips to help you create more effective PowerPoint charts:

Label your axes, include a descriptive chart title, and add data labels for clarity

Only include relevant data – don’t overwhelm your audience
Use simple fills, minimal lines and avoid 3D effects and excessive detailing
Maintain consistency in chart type, layout, fonts, colors etc. across your presentation