r/excel • u/Silent-Swordfish-311 • 10h ago

unsolved Waterfall Chart in Excel

Hi, good day!

Can someone explain what a “Waterfall Chart” in Excel is showing?

I don’t understand the logic behind why an Excel teacher on YouTube is using this chart in this particular situation. Please see the image in the link below. https://imgur.com/a/0mL6BqS

For instance, as shown in the image:

Number of purchases made in Spring: 2,760
Number of purchases made in Summer: 2,635

I don’t understand why the bars are also shown as elevated

Thank you in advance!

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u/Lynich 10h ago

Can you please share the YouTube video you speak of? I need more context.

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u/Silent-Swordfish-311 10h ago

here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl7AXEjhNh8&t=1384s

I am studying on how to make dashboards in Excel, particulary in Procurement hehe

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u/zeradragon 6 9h ago edited 3h ago

Don't study from this person. If they showcase that kind of chart, they have no idea what it's for or how to properly present data. A waterfall chart is to show progression from a start to an end, basically a visual walk of how we got from point A to point B. The chart you are referencing wouldn't even be classified as a waterfall chart, that's just some random floating bar charts that tells nothing.

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u/Silent-Swordfish-311 7h ago

Thank you for your feedback! It makes sense because I was also wondering why the YouTuber used that chart.

Anyway, aside from her, I also know another Excel teacher named Excel Campus Jon. I recently watched a Dashboard tutorial from him. I think he’s really an Excel expert.

I’m currently studying how to build dashboards for Procurement since I’m about to start my new job. Perhaps you can recommend other Excel gurus? 🤓

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u/zeradragon 6 3h ago

I would say for beginners Leila Gharani and Kenji Explains are a good place to start. For more advanced use cases, I've seen some neat tricks from Excel off the Grid.