I can't find 3D surface plotting in excel? Help ASAP.

Question

Hello. I'm looking for 3D surface plotting in excel for a physics class, and am following a tutorial provided by my professor to create a 3D surface plot of data. However I do not have the same excel layout as him, and cannot find any option to make a 3D or 3D surface plot. Any explanation of why I do not have the same excel format, or just any info on how to plot in microsoft 365 excel would be very helpful, thank you.

Answer 1

Hello. I'm looking for 3D surface plotting in excel for a physics class, and am following a tutorial provided by my professor to create a 3D surface plot of data. However I do not have the same excel layout as him, and cannot find any option to make a 3D or 3D surface plot. Any explanation of why I do not have the same excel format, or just any info on how to plot in microsoft 365 excel would be very helpful, thank you.

1.

Highlight the data that you wish to include in your chart then:-

Insert tab

Charts group

Click on the arrow in the far lower right-hand corner to open the window called:-

Insert Chart

2.

In the window called:-

Insert Chart

 - click on the tab called:-

All Charts

 - then on the left-hand side click on:-

Surface

EXCEL should default to the chart called:-

3-D Surface

 - so just click on:-

OK

 - in the lower right-hand corner.

That’s it.

3.

If you’re on the WEB VERSION I’ve just checked and can’t see that that version offers the possibility of a 3-D Surface Chart.

TESTED ON

Microsoft 365 - en-us 16.0.17726.20160

 - on Windows 11 Home Version 23H2 / OS build 22631.3880

4.

If the above doesn’t work for you please be more specific as to exactly which EXCEL version and operating system you’re on.

Answer 2

Select your data.

Click on the small arrow in the bottom right-hand corner of the Charts group on the Insert ribbon.

Select 'All Charts' and you should see Surface in the list.

If not, please show what you do see.