A Pareto chart template needs four things: sorted categories, counts, cumulative percentages, and the 80% threshold line. You have two options — the online maker (instant, zero setup) or a spreadsheet template you build yourself.
Option 1: Free Online Template (Recommended)
Online Pareto Chart Maker
No spreadsheet setup. Enter your categories and counts — chart builds instantly with bars, cumulative line, 80% marker, vital few callout, and PNG export.
Use Free Online Template →No signup · Works on mobile · PNG export
Excel / Google Sheets
Build it manually in a spreadsheet. More work, but useful if you need to embed it in a report or share with a team.
See step-by-step guide below ↓
What a Pareto Chart Template Includes
📋 Template Structure
| Category | Count | % | Cumulative % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 — highest | — | —% | —% (vital) |
| Category 2 | — | —% | —% (vital) |
| Category 3 | — | —% | —% |
| Category 4 | — | —% | —% |
| Other | — | —% | 100.0% |
Categories above the 80% cumulative line = vital few → prioritize these.
How to Build a Pareto Chart in Excel (5 Steps)
- Enter categories in column A, counts in column B — sorted from highest to lowest
- Column C: cumulative % formula:
=SUM($B$2:B2)/SUM($B$2:$B$[n])— drag down for all rows - Select columns A, B, C → Insert → Combo Chart → bars for count, line for cumulative %
- Right-click the line → Format Data Series → Secondary Axis
- Add an 80% reference line: add a helper column with 0.8 in every row, plot as a flat line
When to Use a Pareto Chart Template
- Quality defect analysis (manufacturing, software)
- Customer complaint prioritization
- Safety incident categorization
- Process improvement (Lean, Six Sigma DMAIC Analyze phase)
Free Pareto Chart Maker — No Setup Required
The fastest Pareto chart template online. Enter data, get a chart with vital few callout and PNG export in 60 seconds.
Build Pareto Chart Now →Related
- Pareto Analysis: Complete Guide with Examples
- Pareto Chart Examples: 6 Real-World Cases
- 5 Whys vs. Pareto: When to Use Each
- Free Pareto Chart Maker (tool)
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Pareto chart template?
Yes. The fastest option is our free online Pareto Chart Maker — enter your category names and counts, and the chart builds automatically with the 80% threshold, vital few callout, and PNG export. No signup required. For spreadsheet users, you can replicate the same output in Excel or Google Sheets by sorting data descending, adding a cumulative % column, and creating a combo chart with bars and a line.
How do I make a Pareto chart in Excel?
To make a Pareto chart in Excel: (1) Enter categories in column A and counts in column B, sorted highest to lowest. (2) In column C, calculate cumulative percentage: =SUM($B$2:B2)/SUM($B$2:$B$10). (3) Select all three columns and insert a Combo Chart — bars for counts, line for cumulative %. (4) Add a secondary axis for the % line. (5) Add a horizontal reference line at 80% by adding a helper column with 80% in every row. The online tool does all of this automatically.
What should a Pareto chart template include?
A complete Pareto chart template should include: a title row for the problem/period being analyzed, a data table with category names + count + percentage + cumulative percentage, the Pareto chart itself (descending bars + cumulative line + 80% threshold), a “vital few” callout highlighting the categories above 80%, and a section for corrective actions. Our free online maker generates all of these automatically.
What is the difference between a Pareto chart and a bar chart?
A regular bar chart shows values for categories without any particular order. A Pareto chart specifically sorts categories from highest to lowest count and adds a cumulative percentage line — the combination of sorted bars + cumulative line is what makes it a Pareto chart. The 80% threshold line further separates “vital few” from “useful many” categories, which is the whole point of the tool.