This step-by-step tutorial teaches you how to create a Pareto Chart in Google Sheets in a quick, simple, and scalable manner.  In a hurry? Click here to download a Google Sheets Pareto Chart template. Click here to watch the video explaining how to build a Pareto Chart in Google Sheets. It’s free and ready for immediate use. Wondering why you should create a Pareto Chart in Google Sheet or simply what Google Sheets is? If yes, click-here otherwise keep reading!

Pareto Chart In  Google Sheets – Step by Step Tutorial

This tutorial has 2 macro steps:

1. Prepare the dataset
2. Create the Pareto Chart from the dataset

1 – Prepare the dataset

1.1 – Build a 3-column dataset

• 1 column for the causes
• 1 column for the total effect of each cause with a numerical value – Here labelled as “Complaints”
• 1 column for the relative effect of each cause with a percentage value – Here labelled as “% of total Complaints”

3-column dataset example 

The dataset above is generated automatically by the query formula located in cell B5 of the “DataPreparation” sheet

To build automatically the dataset above, use this query formula in Google Sheet:

=QUERY(RawData!A1:B,“SELECT A,SUM(B), SUM(B)/” & SUM(RawData!B:B) &” WHERE A IS NOT NULL GROUP BY A ORDER BY SUM(B) DESC LABEL SUM(B) ‘Complaints’, SUM(B)/” & SUM(RawData!B:B) & ” ‘% of to Total Complaints’ “)

What does this formula do?

• It extracts, consolidates and sorts the “Raw Data” the right way: It assumes that your  “Raw Data” is located in columns A & B of a distinct sheet called “RawData” like below.
• It tailors the columns’ names using ‘LABEL’: Feel free to change it your way in the formula depending on your context.

“Raw Data” located in columns A and B of the “RawData” sheet

If you use the Google Sheet Query formula above, the data is already sorted the right way. If you use a different method to build this dataset, ensure that data is sorted by “Effect” descending order. In this example, the “Effect” is the number of “Complaints” for each product (“Cause”).

1.2 – Extend The 3-Column Dataset With a “% Cumulative” Column

To do so apply the Google Sheet array formula below (in the cell E5 of the Pareto Chart template):

={“Cumulative %”;ArrayFormula(IF(LEN(B6:B),(SUMIF(ROW(D6:D),”<=”&ROW(D6:D),D6:D)),))}

What does this formula do?

• Like the first formula, it generates the rights numbers and adjusts automatically to the size of your data.
• It calculates the cumulative effect of each  cause: sum of the relative effect of the cause with the relative effects of the previous causes having a greater effect.

“% Cumulative” column in the “DataPreparation” sheet is generated automatically

by the array formula located in the cell E5

1.3 – Hide the Third Column of the Dataset

Hide the column D “% of total effect” (Labelled here as “% of total Complaints”) as this data is not required for the Pareto Chart.

2 – Create the Pareto Chart from the dataset

2.1 – Select the dataset:

2.2 – Select “Insert” then “Chart” in the Menu

In the Menu, select “Insert” then “Chart”

The initial Pareto Chart  has a format that needs to be adjusted via the Chart editor

2.3 – Adjust the Pareto Chart format for the series “Cumulative %”

In the “Chart Editor”, under the right tab “Customize”, select “Cumulative %” under > “Series”. Then select “Right axis” under “Axis”

Adjust the Format: Chart Editor > Customize > Series > Cumulative % > Axis > Right Axis

Final Pareto Chart

Congratulations for making it till the end!

Feel free to reuse the template used in this Google Sheets Pareto Chart tutorial by using the link below.

Pareto Chart Google Sheets – Video Tutorial

Pareto Chart Google Sheets – Template

The Google Sheets Pareto Chart template used in this tutorial can be downloaded here:

  >> Access and Make a Copy of the Google Sheets Pareto Chart Template <<

 Pareto Chart In Google Sheets – Conclusion

A Pareto Chart or Pareto Diagram is not a built-in chart type in Google Sheet, unlike Excel. It remains easy and quick to create a Pareto Chart in GSheet, though. Therefore, it’s a good practice to always look at the data you are working with via a Pareto Chart. You may find insightful results and “quick wins” to optimize your business operations or a significant and exciting business fact to start a professional presentation.

What Is Google Sheets and Why building a Pareto Chart With Google Sheets?

Google Sheets is a cloud-based spreadsheet software meaning that you can access it from everywhere as long as you have an internet connexion. You can access Google Sheets with a free Google account (for personal use) or G Suite account (for business use) here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/

A Pareto Diagram or Pareto Chart in Google Sheets helps to turn data into clear visualizable actionable insights. It highlights what really matters by putting emphasis on the most important drivers of a phenomenon.

A Pareto Chart illustrates the Pareto distribution that may exist with your data.  A Pareto Distribution is observed when the Pareto Principle holds. The Pareto Principle (or “20-80 rule” or “Law of the Vital Few”) states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. As an example, illustrations in this tutorial will show that 80% of the customer complaints ensue from only 20% of the products. For more details about the Pareto Principle, please refer to the FAQ by clicking here.

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