Chart templates in Excel - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Chart templates let you save a chart style you like and reuse it with new data. This saves time and keeps your reports looking consistent without rebuilding charts from scratch.

When you create monthly sales charts with the same style and want to apply it quickly to new data.

When your team needs all charts to have the same colors and fonts for branding.

When you want to share a chart style with coworkers so everyone uses the same look.

When you build dashboards and want to keep chart formatting consistent across sheets.

When you often create charts and want to avoid repeating formatting steps.

Steps

Step 1: Create and format a chart with your preferred style

- Excel worksheet

A chart appears with your chosen colors, fonts, and layout

💡 Format everything you want to reuse, like titles, axis labels, and legend

Step 2: Click the chart to select it

- Excel worksheet

Chart is highlighted with sizing handles

Step 3: Go to the Chart Design tab

- Ribbon at the top of Excel

Chart Design options appear

Step 4: Click Save as Template

- Chart Design tab, in the Type group

Save Chart Template dialog opens

Step 5: Type a name for your template and click Save

- Save Chart Template dialog

Chart template is saved with .crtx extension

Step 6: To use the template, select your new data and insert any chart type

- Insert tab > Charts group

A new chart appears

Step 7: With the new chart selected, go to Chart Design tab and click Change Chart Type

- Chart Design tab

Change Chart Type dialog opens

Step 8: Click Templates on the left, select your saved template, and click OK

- Change Chart Type dialog

New chart updates to use your saved style

Before vs After

Before

A formatted sales chart with custom colors and fonts is on the sheet

After

A chart template file is saved and can be applied to new charts to copy the style

Settings Reference

Save as Template

📍 Chart Design tab > Type group

Save current chart style for reuse

Default: No default name

Change Chart Type

📍 Chart Design tab

Apply saved chart template to new chart

Default: Current chart type

Common Mistakes

Trying to apply a chart template to a chart type that is very different

Templates work best with similar chart types; applying to very different charts may cause errors or odd formatting

Use templates with the same or similar chart types, like column to column or line to line

Not selecting the chart before saving the template

Excel needs to know which chart style to save

Click the chart first to select it before saving as template

Summary

Chart templates save your chart style for easy reuse with new data.

You save templates from the Chart Design tab and apply them via Change Chart Type.

Templates keep your reports consistent and save time formatting charts.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using chart templates in Excel?

easy

A. To create a new worksheet with chart data

B. To automatically update data in a chart

C. To save a chart style and reuse it for consistent formatting

D. To export charts as image files

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what chart templates do

   Chart templates save the style and formatting of a chart so you can reuse it later.

2. Step 2: Identify the main benefit

   This helps keep charts consistent and saves time by not reformatting each chart.

3. Final Answer:

   To save a chart style and reuse it for consistent formatting -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Chart templates save styles = To save a chart style and reuse it for consistent formatting [OK]

Hint: Remember: templates save style, not data or export [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing templates with data updates
• Thinking templates create new sheets
• Assuming templates export charts

2. Which of the following is the correct way to save a chart as a template in Excel?

easy

A. Right-click the chart and select 'Save as Template...'

B. Click 'Insert' tab and choose 'Save Chart Template'

C. Double-click the chart and press Ctrl+S

D. Go to 'File' > 'Export' > 'Save Chart Template'

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate the save template option

   In Excel, right-clicking a chart shows options related to that chart.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct menu choice

   The option to save a chart style is 'Save as Template...' from the right-click menu.

3. Final Answer:

   Right-click the chart and select 'Save as Template...' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Save template via right-click = Right-click the chart and select 'Save as Template...' [OK]

Hint: Right-click chart to save template quickly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Looking for save template in Insert tab
• Trying Ctrl+S on chart only saves workbook
• Searching Export menu for chart template

3. You have saved a chart template named SalesTemplate.crtx. What happens when you apply this template to new data?

medium

A. The template deletes the new data and replaces it with old data

B. The new chart uses the saved style but updates with the new data

C. The chart shows old data from the template

D. The chart becomes a static image and cannot update

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what applying a chart template does

   Applying a template applies the saved style and formatting to the current data.

2. Step 2: Check how data is handled

   The chart updates to show the new data but keeps the saved look from the template.

3. Final Answer:

   The new chart uses the saved style but updates with the new data -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Template applies style, data updates = The new chart uses the saved style but updates with the new data [OK]

Hint: Templates style charts; data always updates [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking template stores old data
• Believing template deletes new data
• Assuming chart becomes static image

4. You tried to apply a saved chart template but Excel shows an error saying the template is invalid. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The data range is too large for the template

B. The chart type in the template is not supported by Excel

C. You did not select any data before applying the template

D. The template file was moved or deleted from its folder

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify common reasons for invalid template errors

   Excel requires the template file to be in the correct folder and accessible.

2. Step 2: Check the most common cause

   If the template file was moved or deleted, Excel cannot find it and shows an invalid error.

3. Final Answer:

   The template file was moved or deleted from its folder -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Missing template file = The template file was moved or deleted from its folder [OK]

Hint: Check template file location if error appears [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Blaming data size for template error
• Forgetting to select data before applying
• Assuming Excel doesn't support the chart type

5. You want to create multiple charts with the same style but different data sets. Which steps correctly use chart templates to do this efficiently?

hard

A. Create one chart, save it as a template, then insert new charts using that template for each data set

B. Copy the original chart multiple times and manually change the data range each time

C. Create new charts from scratch and apply formatting manually each time

D. Save each chart as a separate workbook and open them when needed

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand how to reuse chart styles efficiently

   Saving a chart as a template lets you reuse the style without reformatting.

2. Step 2: Apply the template to new charts with different data

   Insert new charts using the saved template and select different data sets for each.

3. Final Answer:

   Create one chart, save it as a template, then insert new charts using that template for each data set -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use template to reuse style = Create one chart, save it as a template, then insert new charts using that template for each data set [OK]

Hint: Save style once, reuse with new data sets [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Copying charts instead of using templates
• Formatting each chart manually
• Saving charts as separate files unnecessarily