Surface charts are a good way of displaying 3-dimensional data in Excel. Use them when you have two independent variables and a third variable that’s dependent on both of them.

Our worksheet contains air velocity data for a square duct. There are two independent variables: horizontal position and vertical position. The air velocity is the dependent variable.

The surface chart is used to represent two dimensional data in 3D map. It looks like a topographical map. The higher values are shown as high peaks. It is like a curtain on a 3d column chart. The colors in the chart does not represent any legend like other chart. How to plot interpolate and plot surface from scattered (x,y,z) data points with GRIDXYZ This video demonstrates how to use the function GRIDXYZ to interpolate a set of scattered (x,y,z) data points onto a uniform rectilinear grid in both Excel and Google Sheets. And, how to generate a surface plot in Excel using the interpolated grid data. To calculate the surface area of a sphere, you can use the PI function together with the exponent operator (^). In the example shown, the formula in C5, copied down, is: = 4. PI. B5 ^ 2. If you are running Windows 10, choose Start All apps Windows System Run type Excel /safe in the Run box, then click OK. If you are running Windows 8, click Run in the Apps menu type Excel /safe in the Run box, then click OK. If you are running Windows 7, click Start type Excel /safe in Search programs and files, then click OK.

We’ll use a surface chart to show graphically how the velocity varies at the different positions within the duct. There are two different kinds of surface charts in Excel – contour charts and 3-D surface charts.

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To create a contour chart, select all of the data including the position values. Go to the Insert tab and choose the Insert Surface or Radar Chart button: Choose the third button to create a Filled Contour chart:

The default coloring on the surface doesn’t have a lot of significance. It’s based on the color scheme that has been chosen for the worksheet.

It will be easier to tell whether the values are large or small with a monochromatic color scheme. Go to Design > Change Colors, and choose a monochromatic scheme. The first group of monochromatic schemes will assign a dark color to small values and a light color to large values. The second group, beginning with Monochromatic Palette 8, will do the reverse. Choose one of those color schemes (see below, left) so that the large values are shaded dark which yields the chart on the right:

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As always, we can add axis titles. Select the chart, click the green plus sign at top right, and check the box next to axis titles. The z-axis title will appear at the chart’s lower left. Select it, then triple-click on it to change the title to “Air Velocity(m/s).” If you can recall, we can also set the axis titles to values in existing cells. Triple-click the axis label, go to the formula bar, enter an equals sign and select the cell containing the appropriate title. Add a chart title to finish labeling this chart.

If we want to visualize the data as a 3-D surface chart, we can easily change the chart type by selecting Change Chart Type from the Design tab and choosing the 3-D Surface Chart option. Click OK to apply the change to the chart.

To adjust the orientation of the chart, right-click in the chart area and select 3-D rotation. In the Format Chart Area task pane, we can change the x-axis rotation, y-axis rotation, or the perspective. For this chart, we’ll use an x-rotation of 20°, a y-rotation of 20°, and a perspective of 15°.

You can make the monochromatic gradient finer by decreasing the major units on the z-axis. Right-click on the axis (the numbers ranging from 0-5), select Format Axis, and change the major units to a smaller value (0.1).

This gives the surface a very fine gradient for a smooth, blended appearance, but it also results in too many labels on the z-axis and in the legend:

For this chart, a major unit of 1 is preferable.

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• Excel Charts Tutorial

• Excel Charts Useful Resources

• Selected Reading

Surface charts are useful when you want to find the optimum combinations between two sets of data. As in a topographic map, the colors and patterns indicate the areas that are in the same range of values.

To create a Surface chart, ensure that both the categories and the data series are numeric values.

Step 1 − Arrange the data in columns or rows on the worksheet.

Step 2 − Select the data.

Step 3 − On the INSERT tab, in the Charts group, click the Stock, Surface or Radar Chart icon on the Ribbon.

You will see the different types of available Surface charts.

A Surface chart has the following sub-types −

• 3-D Surface
• Wireframe 3-D Surface
• Contour
• Wireframe Contour

Step 4 − Point your mouse on each of the icons. A preview of that chart type will be shown on the worksheet.

Step 5 − Double-click the chart type that suits your data.

In this chapter, you will understand when each of the Surface chart types is useful.

3-D Surface

3-D Surface chart shows a 3-D view of the data, which can be imagined as a rubber sheet stretched over a 3-D Column chart. It is typically used to show relationships between large amounts of data that may otherwise be difficult to see.

Color bands in a Surface chart −

• Do not represent the data series

• Indicate the difference between the values

You can use a 3-D Surface chart −

• When the categories and the series are both numeric values.

• To show the trends in values across two dimensions in a continuous curve.

Wireframe 3-D Surface

A Wireframe 3-D Surface chart is a 3-D Surface chart shown without color on the surface. This chart shows only the lines. A Wireframe 3-D Surface chart is not easy to read, but it can plot large data sets much faster than a 3-D Surface chart.

You can use a Wireframe 3-D Surface chart −

• To show the trends in values across two dimensions in a continuous curve.

• When the categories and the series are both numeric values.

• When the data curves behind itself.

Contour

Contour charts are Surface charts viewed from above, similar to the 2-D topographic maps.

In a Contour chart,

• The color bands represent specific ranges of the values.

• The lines connect the interpolated points of equal value.

Use Contour chart −

• To show the 2-D top view of a 3-D surface chart.

• To represent the ranges of the values using color.

• When both the categories and the series are numeric.

Wireframe Contour

Wireframe Contour charts are also Surface charts viewed from above. A Wireframe chart shows only the lines without the color bands on the surface. Wireframe Contour charts are not easy to read. You can use a 3-D Surface chart instead.

Use Wireframe Contour chart

• To show the 2-D top view of a 3-D Surface chart only with lines.

• Both the categories and the series are numeric.

Excel Surface Chart Color Gradient

Consider using a Contour chart instead, because the colors add detail to this chart type.