Bar graphs are a type of graph that visually displays information using a series of bars, rectangles, or objects.

For example, the bar graph to the left shows the relative number of students according to their age.

How to draw a bar graph

Favorite Color	Number of Students
Red	22
Blue	15
Green	11
Black	5
Pink	2

For the following example, we will make a bar graph of the data set to the right, giving information about a group of children's favorite color.

1. Look at your data to determine how big your bar graph should be and whether horizontal or vertical bars will fit better on your paper. Decide the scale your bar graph will have. This is determined by the biggest and the smallest numbers in your data set. In the data from our example, the biggest number is 22; the smallest is 2. In this case, a scale showing multiples of 5 makes creating and reading the graph easier. Label the scale on your graph.

2. Decide how wide the other axis should be to show all of the type of data (5 colors in this case). Label this axis of your graph.

3. Draw the rectangles the right length to represent the data. Pick a good width for the data bars. Color coding can make a graph easier to read.

4. Give your graph a title.

Printable Activities Involving Bar Graphs:

Graphing Jellybeans Printout Sort by color, count, and graph your jellybeans.	Graphing Dinosaur Data Printout Graph the sizes of the dinosaurs. Then answer the questions at the bottom of the page.	Reading a Bar Graph Worksheet #1: Favorite Doughnut The student uses a bar graph about favorite doughnuts to answer questions on this simple worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Reading a Bar Graph Worksheet #2: Favorite Color The student uses a bar graph about favorite colors to answer questions on this simple worksheet. Or go to the answers.
Reading a Bar Graph Worksheet #3: How I Get to School The student uses a bar graph about methods of getting to school data to answer questions on this simple worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Reading a Bar Graph Worksheet #4: Favorite School Subject The student uses a bar graph about favorite school subjects to answer questions on this simple worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Reading a Bar Graph Worksheet #5: Favorite Sport The student uses a bar graph about favorite sports to answer questions on this simple worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Reading a Bar Graph Worksheet #6: Favorite After-School Activity The student uses a bar graph about favorite after-school activities to answer questions on this simple worksheet. Or go to the answers.
Reading a Bar Graph Worksheet #7: Favorite Lunch The student uses a bar graph about favorite lunches to answer questions on this simple worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Reading a Bar Graph Worksheet #8: Sock Color The student uses a bar graph about sock color to answer questions on this simple worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Reading a Bar Graph Worksheet #9: Continent of Birth The student uses a bar graph of their continent of birth to answer questions on this simple worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Reading a Bar Graph Worksheet #10: Favorite Animal The student uses a bar graph about favortie animals to answer questions on this simple worksheet. Or go to the answers.
Making a Bar Graph Worksheet #1: Shoe Color The student makes a bar graph about shoe color and answers questions about it on this worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Making a Bar Graph Worksheet #2: Favorite Type of Movie The student makes a bar graph about favorite type of movies and answers questions about it on this worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Making a Bar Graph Worksheet #3: Hair Color The student makes a bar graph about hair color and answers questions about it on this worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Making a Bar Graph Worksheet #4: Favorite Breakfast The student makes a bar graph about favorite breakfasts and answers questions about it on this worksheet. Or go to the answers.
Making a Bar Graph Worksheet #5: Preferred Vacation The student makes a bar graph about preferred vacations and answers questions about it on this worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Making a Bar Graph Worksheet #6: Type of Shoe The student makes a bar graph about shoes and answers questions about it on this worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Making a Bar Graph Worksheet #7: Favorite Desserts The student makes a bar graph about favorite desserts and answers questions about it on this worksheet. Or go to the answers.	Making a Bar Graph Worksheet #8: Favorite Pet The student makes a bar graph about favorite pets and answers questions about it on this worksheet. Or go to the answers.