How to Insert a Graph in Google Docs

To insert a graph in Google Docs, click Insert > Chart and pick Bar, Column, Line, or Pie. Google adds a sample chart linked to a new Google Sheet. Change the numbers in that sheet, then click Update on the chart in your document. To use a chart you already made, choose Insert > Chart > From Sheets.

This guide covers Google Docs in a web browser on a computer. It walks through creating a new graph, importing an existing chart, editing and restyling the data in Sheets, updating one or all linked charts, unlinking, and adding linked tables. Steps come from Google’s Link a chart, table, or slides to Google Docs or Slides and Add & edit a chart or graph help pages, checked in October 2026.

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Before You Start

Use a computer. Google says to add charts, tables or slides to a document, go to docs.google.com on a computer. The phone and tablet apps can’t insert charts.
Charts live in Sheets. Every chart in Docs is backed by a Google Sheet. You change the data and style there, then update the chart in your document.
Linked charts are visible to everyone with the doc. Google warns that people with access to your document can view linked charts even if they don’t have access to the original spreadsheet.

Card showing Insert, Chart, chart type, Open source and Update steps in Google Docs — Illustration: inserting a new graph in Google Docs.

How to Insert a New Graph in Google Docs

Open your document in Google Docs on a computer. Result: the document is ready to edit.
Click where you want the graph. Result: the cursor marks the spot.
Click Insert > Chart and choose a chart type: Bar, Column, Line or Pie. Result: a sample chart appears, linked to a new Google Sheet.
Click the chart, then in its top-right corner click Link options > Open source. Result: the linked Google Sheet opens in a new tab.
Type your own labels and numbers into the sheet. Result: the chart in Sheets updates.
Go back to your document and click Update on the chart. Result: the graph shows your data.

Change the chart type or style

Do this in the linked sheet. Google’s steps: double-click the chart, click Setup on the right, and choose a new chart type under “Chart type.” You can change the data range there too, and use the Customize tab for titles, colors and labels. Then click Update in Docs.

Card showing how to insert an existing Google Sheets chart into Google Docs and update linked charts — Illustration: importing a chart from Google Sheets.

How to Insert a Chart From Google Sheets

Click Insert > Chart > From Sheets. Result: a list of your spreadsheets appears.
Click the spreadsheet that has your chart, then click Select. Result: its charts appear.
Click the chart you want. Result: it’s selected.
Uncheck Link to spreadsheet if you don’t want it to update from the sheet. Result: it will import as a static chart.
Click Import. Result: the chart appears in your document.

If you don’t have a chart yet, make one in Sheets first: select your data and click Insert > Chart in Google Sheets.

Update, Edit or Unlink a Chart

Update one chart: click Update in the top-right corner of the chart.
Update all charts: click Tools > Linked objects, then Update all at the bottom of the sidebar.
Edit the data: click the chart, then Link options > Open source.
Unlink: use the chart’s Link options menu to unlink it so it stops updating from the sheet.

If you don’t see Update or Update all, Google says the chart may not be linked or may already be up to date.

Things to Know About Linked Charts

If you update the chart from the sheet, it replaces any changes you made to the chart in the document.
Changes you make in the document don’t go back to the spreadsheet.
You can place the same linked chart in many documents and presentations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit the graph right in Google Docs?

You can resize and move it, but to change the data or style you edit it in Google Sheets, then click Update.

Can I insert a table from Google Sheets too?

Yes. Copy the cells in Sheets, paste them into Docs, and choose to link them. Google says tables over 400 cells paste unlinked.

Can I add a graph from my phone?

No. Google’s help says to use docs.google.com on a computer to add charts.

Related Guides

Can’t see your cursor in a document? See why your cursor is white in Google Docs.

Matthew Burleigh

Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.

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