How do I make a word cloud in Excel?

Excel has no built-in word cloud chart. Copy your text or a two-column word and count list from the sheet, paste it into the generator on this page, and download the image. You can then insert the picture back into Excel or PowerPoint.

Can I use a CSV file?

Yes. Choose a .csv file with the file button, or open it in a text editor and paste it. A word,count list is detected automatically.

Does it work with Google Sheets?

Yes. Select the cells, copy, and paste into the box. Google Sheets copies columns separated by tabs, which the tool reads as word, count.

What if my numbers use a decimal comma?

Numbers such as 2,5 in a field of their own are read as 2.5. If the same line also uses commas to separate columns, use semicolons or tabs instead so the two are not confused.

Is my spreadsheet uploaded?

No. The data stays in your browser and is never sent to a server.

Word Cloud from Excel, Google Sheets or CSV

Two ways to get a spreadsheet into a word cloud

1. Your spreadsheet holds the text. This is the case for survey exports and review lists: a column full of sentences. Select the column, copy it, and paste it into the box. Each cell becomes a line, and the tool counts every word. Put each response on its own line so that phrases do not join two answers. You do not need to count anything in the spreadsheet first.

2. Your spreadsheet already holds counts. This is the case when you have a table of words and how often each occurs (skills mentioned, keywords, tags). Select the two columns, word on the left and count on the right, copy, and paste. A copy from Excel or Google Sheets arrives with a tab between the columns; the tool recognises that as a word, count list, uses your numbers instead of counting, and sizes each word by its number. The generator above is already loaded with an example list.

Excel and PowerPoint have no built-in word cloud chart, so a list of counts has to go through a tool like this one. There is no file upload to a server: the tool reads the text in your browser.

Accepted formats

The tool detects a list when at least 70% of the lines have a number after the word. You can also force the choice with the “This is” menu. These examples were run through the tool’s own parser:

List formats and how they are read
You paste	Format	Result
`apple,4 pear,2`	word,count	apple = 4, pear = 2
`apple;4 pear;2`	word;count	apple = 4, pear = 2
`apple→4 pear→2`	word + tab + count (pasted from Excel or Sheets)	apple = 4, pear = 2
`new york 12 boston 7`	word count (number last)	new york = 12, boston = 7
`"big, cloud",3 small,1`	quoted word with a comma	big, cloud = 3, small = 1
`word,count apple,4 pear,2`	with a header row	apple = 4, pear = 2 (header skipped)
`apple,4.5 pear,2.25`	decimal weights	apple = 4.5, pear = 2.25
`Apple,3 apple,2`	same word twice (added together)	Apple = 5

The word comes first and the number second. A header row such as word,count is skipped automatically.
Separators can be a comma, a semicolon or a tab. If a line has no separator, a number at the end of the line is used.
Counts can be whole numbers or decimals. A line with a zero, a negative number or no usable number is skipped (or counts as 1 if you force list mode and the line has no number at all).
The same word on several lines (ignoring capital letters) is added together.
Remove thousands separators. In Python,1,200 the second field, 1, is used as the count. Write Python,1200, or format the column in your spreadsheet without separators.
The number of words in the cloud is limited by the Max words slider (up to 200); the frequency table and the CSV show everything.

Counting the words in a spreadsheet yourself

If you have one word per row and want the counts first, you can count with a formula and then paste the result. In Excel 365 and Google Sheets, =UNIQUE(A2:A500) lists each different word and =COUNTIF(A2:A500, D2) counts how many times the word in D2 appears. A pivot table with the word column as rows and the count of the same column as values does the same thing. Remember that the spreadsheet treats Apple and apple as the same for COUNTIF but the pivot may differ, so tidy the capitalisation first.

Or skip the counting: paste the whole column of words as it is. The tool counts one word per line itself, so a column of words becomes the same cloud.

Saving your counts

“Download counts (CSV)” saves every counted word with its count and percentage as a CSV file that opens in Excel or Sheets. The file uses the same word,count layout, so you can edit it and paste it back in.

Text on a worksheet: a short walk-through

In Excel or Sheets, click the first cell of the column and select to the last cell of text.
Copy with Ctrl or Cmd plus C.
Click in the box above, select everything with Ctrl or Cmd plus A, and paste.
Choose Single words or Two-word phrases, set the language for filler words, and press Generate.
Download the SVG or PNG, or the CSV of counts.

More word cloud tools and guides

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a word cloud in Excel?: Excel has no built-in word cloud chart. Copy your text or a two-column word and count list from the sheet, paste it into the generator on this page, and download the image. You can then insert the picture back into Excel or PowerPoint.
Can I use a CSV file?: Yes. Choose a .csv file with the file button, or open it in a text editor and paste it. A word,count list is detected automatically.
Does it work with Google Sheets?: Yes. Select the cells, copy, and paste into the box. Google Sheets copies columns separated by tabs, which the tool reads as word, count.
What if my numbers use a decimal comma?: Numbers such as 2,5 in a field of their own are read as 2.5. If the same line also uses commas to separate columns, use semicolons or tabs instead so the two are not confused.
Is my spreadsheet uploaded?: No. The data stays in your browser and is never sent to a server.