A data visualization style guide helps your organization produce charts, graphs, and tables that are consistent, clear, and accessible — whether you’re publishing a report, updating a website, or sharing data with colleagues and the public.

Based on the collection of data visualization style guides we have collected as part of the Data Visualization Style Guide website project, this tool guides you through the steps to build your own custom style guide. Start by entering your organization’s name, defining your color palettes, and providing a Google Fonts link to your font. Then, select the chart types you use most often, which additional sections to include in your guide, and export the finished product in the format that works best—HTML, Word, plain text, or a ready-to-paste version for Google Docs. You can also download all of the sample graphs in a single .zip file for sharing and posting.

The sample graphs are illustrative rather than fully formatted—this tool doesn’t let you manually position labels, titles, or legends. Think of it as a starting point for your style guide, not a finished product. If you want to bring your styles into Excel, contact me about building a custom style guide add-in.

The final product is yours to edit, share, and adapt. Use it to onboard new staff, align with collaborators, or document decisions you’ve already made about how your organization presents data. If you need inspiration or further guidance, check out the Resources section of this website and the Data Visualization Style Guide website, which includes dozens of style guide examples and other resources.

Reach out with comments or questions.

Updated on April 15, 2026, v1.1

April 9, 2026
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