Forest Plot – Excel

We’ll start with the below data. This dataset shows the Odds Ratio of ten different studies along with their lower and upper Confidence Intervals.

Starting Graph for Forest Plot in Excel

Create a Clustered Graph

  1. Highlight the Study and Odds Ratio Columns
  2. Select Insert
  3. Click Bar Graphs
  4. Select Horizontal Clustered Graph

Clustered Graph Forest Plot Excel

Add Points

Add a points Column that starts at .5 and add 1 to each one until you get to the ending value

Add Points Column for Forest Graph in Excel

Add a Series

  1. Right click on Graph
  2. Click Select Data

Select Data for Forest Graph in Excel

3. Select Add Series

Add Empty Series Plot for Forest Graph

4. Leave everything blank and Click OK

Final Forest Graph for Blank Series in Excel

Change Chart Type

  1. Right click on Graph
  2. Select Change Chart Type

Change Chart Type to Blank Series for Forest Graph in Excel

3. Change Series2 to Scatter

Change Blank Series to Scatter Plot for Forest Plot in Excel

Update Series

  1. Click on Datapoint
  2. Click Select Data

Select Scatterplot Data for Forest Graph in Excel

3. Click on Series2

4. Select Edit

Edit Blank Series <a href=Scatterplot for Forest Graph in Excel" width="583" height="325" />

5. Select Odds Ratio for X Values

6. Select Points for Y Values

Edit Blank Series for Odds Ratio and Points Forest Graph in Excel

7. Click on the Bar Series

8. Select Format

9. Change Shape Fill to No Fill

Change Clustered Bar Format to No Fill Color for Forest Graph in Excel

Add Error Bars

  1. For the Graph Lower, take Odds Ratio – Lower 95% CI

Update Lower Graph Formula for Forest Graph in Excel

2. For the Graph Upper, take Upper 95% CI – Odds Ratio

Update Upper Graph for Forest Plot in Excel

Add Error Bars

  1. Select Scatterplot Series
  2. Select + Sign in top right
  3. Select arrow next to Arrow Bars
  4. Click More Options

Add Error Bars for Forest Plot in Excel

5. Select Custom

6. Click Specify Value

<a href=Specify Value for Error Bar in Forest Plot Excel" width="273" height="610" />

7. For Positive Error Values, Copy Graph Upper 95%

8. For Negative Error Value, Select Graph Lower 95%

Update Error Bar for Positive and Negative Forest Plot Excel

9. Select the Vertical Line and delete to get rid of them so that we only see the horizontal error bars

Delete Vertical Lines for Error Bars in Excel

10. Delete the axis on the right side

Final Graph

After making some optional adjustments, you can see the final graph below.