Saving an Excel chart as an image lets you drop it into a presentation, email, website, or document outside Office, without sending the whole workbook. Modern Excel for Windows and Mac has a built-in Save as Picture command, and there are good workarounds for Excel for the web and older versions. This guide covers each method, which image format to pick, and how to get a sharp, high-resolution result.
Quick Answer
Right-click the edge of the chart (the chart area, not a bar or label) and choose Save as Picture. Pick a folder, choose a format such as PNG or SVG, and click Save.
Method 1: Save as Picture (Excel 2016 and Later, Windows and Mac)
- Click the chart once to select it. A border appears.
- Right-click the chart’s outer edge or blank chart area.
- Choose Save as Picture.
- Choose the location, type a file name, and pick the Save as type.
- Click Save.
If you don’t see Save as Picture, you right-clicked an element inside the chart. Click an empty area near the border and try again.
Which Format Should You Choose?
| Format | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Presentations, documents, websites | Sharp edges, supports transparency. The best default. |
| SVG | Printing and resizing | Vector format that stays crisp at any size (supported in recent versions) |
| JPEG | Email and small file sizes | Can blur text and lines |
| GIF / TIFF / BMP | Older software or print workflows | Rarely needed |
Method 2: Copy and Paste into Another App
- Select the chart and press Ctrl + C (Cmd + C on Mac).
- Open Paint (Windows) or Preview (Mac: File > New from Clipboard) and paste.
- Crop if needed, then save as PNG or JPEG.
To paste the chart as a picture in Word or PowerPoint, use Paste Special > Picture (PNG). This prevents it from staying linked to the workbook.
Method 3: Excel for the Web
Excel for the web doesn’t have Save as Picture. Select the chart, press Ctrl + C, and paste it into Paint, PowerPoint, or an image editor. Or take a screenshot with Windows + Shift + S (Cmd + Shift + 4 on Mac).
Method 4: Export All Charts at Once
To pull out every chart in a workbook, save a copy with File > Save As, choosing Web Page (*.htm; *.html). Excel creates a folder next to the file that contains each chart as an image.
Get a Sharper, Higher-Resolution Image
- Make the chart larger on the sheet before saving. The image size follows the chart’s size.
- Use SVG when the destination supports it.
- Increase font sizes in the chart so labels stay readable when scaled down.
- For print, export to PDF (select the chart, then File > Export > PDF with Selected chart) for vector quality.
Troubleshooting
Save as Picture is missing
Right-click the chart area, not a series. Very old versions (Excel 2013 and earlier) don’t have the command, so use copy and paste.
The saved image has a white background
Format the chart area with No fill and save as PNG to keep transparency.
Text looks blurry
Avoid JPEG, enlarge the chart before saving, or use SVG.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I save a chart sheet as a picture?
Yes. Right-click the chart on the chart sheet and choose Save as Picture.
Will the image update when my data changes?
No. A saved picture is a snapshot. Save it again after updating the data.
Summary
- Right-click the chart border and choose Save as Picture.
- Save as PNG for everyday use, or SVG for crisp scaling.
- In Excel for the web, copy and paste the chart or take a screenshot.
- Enlarge the chart before saving for a higher-resolution image.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.