Embedding charts in Docs and Slides in Google Sheets - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Embedding charts from Google Sheets into Google Docs or Slides helps you show your data visually in reports or presentations. This saves time by linking charts so they update automatically when your data changes.

When you want to include a sales chart from Sheets in a monthly report document in Docs.

When preparing a presentation in Slides and need to show a live-updating chart from your data sheet.

When collaborating with a team and want everyone to see the latest chart version in Docs or Slides without copying images.

When you want to keep your presentation charts consistent with the source data in Sheets.

When you want to avoid manually updating charts in Docs or Slides after changing data in Sheets.

Steps

Step 1: Open

- Google Sheets file containing your chart

You see your data and the chart you want to embed

Step 2: Click

- the chart to select it

Chart is highlighted with a blue border

Step 3: Click

- three vertical dots menu on the top right of the chart

A menu appears with options related to the chart

Step 4: Select

- "Copy chart" option in the menu

Chart is copied to your clipboard

Step 5: Open

- Google Docs or Slides where you want to embed the chart

Your document or presentation is ready for editing

Step 6: Place cursor

- in the document or slide where you want the chart

Insertion point is set

Step 7: Paste

- using Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac) or right-click > Paste

Chart appears embedded with a link to the original Sheets chart

💡 You can also use Edit > Paste from the menu

Step 8: Click

- the "Link to spreadsheet" button on the pasted chart

Chart is linked and will update if the source data changes

Before vs After

Before

Google Docs document without any charts, and Google Sheets with a sales chart

After

Google Docs document shows the embedded sales chart linked to the Sheets data

Settings Reference

Link to spreadsheet

📍 Appears as a button on the embedded chart in Docs or Slides

Keeps the chart connected to the original data so updates reflect automatically

Default: Link to spreadsheet

Update chart

📍 Appears as a button on the embedded chart when source data changes

Allows you to refresh the embedded chart to show the latest data

Default: Ignore until clicked

Common Mistakes

Pasting the chart as an image instead of using the copy-paste method

The chart will not update automatically when the data changes

Use the chart's menu in Sheets to copy the chart, then paste it directly into Docs or Slides to keep the link

Not clicking the 'Link to spreadsheet' button after pasting

The chart will be pasted but not linked, so it won't update with data changes

Always click 'Link to spreadsheet' on the pasted chart to maintain the connection

Summary

You can embed charts from Google Sheets into Docs and Slides to show live data visuals.

Copy the chart from Sheets using its menu, then paste it into Docs or Slides to keep it linked.

Remember to click 'Link to spreadsheet' so the chart updates automatically with your data.