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How to make an in-cell bar chart with REPT in Excel and Google Sheets
Excel & Google Sheets
=REPT("|",A2)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Value | Bar |
| 5 | |
| 8 | |
| 3 |
=REPT("|",A2)→|||||
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Step by step
- 1Enter your numeric values in column A (e.g., sales figures or scores from 0–100).
- 2In column B, enter =REPT("|",A2) to repeat the pipe character once per unit — or scale it: =REPT("|",ROUND(A2/10,0)) to keep bars compact.
- 3Set the font of column B to a monospace font like Courier New for evenly spaced bars.
- 4Apply a color fill or font color to the bar column to make it visually distinct — red, green, or blue work well.
Tips
- Use the block character ■ or █ (Unicode) instead of | for a solid-looking bar — type it directly or paste it into the formula: =REPT("█",ROUND(A2/5,0)).
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Frequently asked
How do I scale my bars so large numbers don't overflow the cell?
Divide by a scaling factor: =REPT("|",ROUND(A2/MAX($A$2:$A$10)*20,0)) makes the longest bar exactly 20 characters.
Can I use REPT for a percentage bar?
Yes — if your value is a percentage (0–1), use =REPT("█",ROUND(A2*20,0))&REPT("░",ROUND((1-A2)*20,0)) for a filled+empty bar.