How to Make a High-Low-Close Stock Market Chart in Excel

Track your stocks with Excel

What to Know

  • Enter your stock data in the worksheet, including date, volume traded, high price, low price, and closing price.
  • Select the data, select Insert > Recommended Charts > All Charts > Stock > Volume-High-Low-Close > OK.
  • To style the chart, select the chart, go to Design, select chart elements, change the chart style and other design options, and save the chart.

This article explains how to track stocks with Excel using a high-low-close chart. Instructions apply to Excel 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, Excel 2019 for Mac, Excel 2016 for Mac, Excel for Mac 2011, and Excel for Microsoft 365.

Entering and Selecting the Chart Data

Selecting chart data

The first step in creating a High-Low-Close stock market chart is to enter the data into the worksheet. Enter the data into cells A1 to E6 as shown in the image.

  • Column A is labeled "Date."
  • Column B has the heading "Volume Traded."
  • Columns C, D, and E are labeled "High Price," "Low Price," and "Closing Price," respectively.

When entering the data, keep these rules in mind:

  • Whenever possible, enter your data in columns as shown in the image.
  • Lay out your worksheet with the title for each data series at the top of the column and the data in the cells below.
  • Don't leave blank rows or columns when entering your data as this will create blank areas in the chart.

This tutorial doesn't include the steps for formatting the worksheet as shown in the image. Information on worksheet formatting options is available in the ​basic Excel formatting tutorial.

Next, you need to highlight the block of cells from A1 to D6.

In Excel 2013 and later, if your data is in continuous cells, as in this example, you can click on any cell in the range, and all of your data will be included in the chart.

Otherwise, there are two options for selecting the chart data: by mouse or by keyboard.

Using the mouse

  1. Click your mouse on cell A1.
  2. Click the left mouse button and drag the mouse to highlight all the cells to D6.

Using the keyboard

  1. Click on the top left of the chart data.
  2. Hold down the Shift key on the keyboard.
  3. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select the data to be included in the stock chart.

Be sure to select any column and row titles that you want to be included in the chart.

Creating a Stock Market Chart

Volume-High-Low-Close chart in Excel

Follow the steps below to generate a Volume-High-Low-Close stock market chart after selecting your data. The chart will be created and placed on your worksheet.

  1. Click the Insert tab on the ribbon.
  2. Click Recommended Charts.
  3. Go to the All Charts tab.
  4. Select Stock in the list of chart types.
  5. Click Volume-High-Low-Close.
  6. Click OK.

Style and Format the Stock Chart

Volume High Low Close Chart

Format the chart the way you want it to appear.

  1. Click the chart to activate the Chart Tools tab of the ribbon.
  2. Click the Design tab.
  3. Select the chart element you want to format.
  4. Choose a different chart style or select other design options, such as fill color, shadow, and 3-D formatting.
  5. Save the changes to your chart.
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