Error bars graphically express potential error amounts relative to each data marker in a data series. For example, you could show 5 percent positive and negative potential error amounts in the results of a scientific experiment:
Chart types that support error bars You can add error bars to data series in column, bar, line, xy (scatter), bubble, area, radar, stock, and polar charts. For xy (scatter), polar, and bubble charts, you can display error bars for the x-values or the y-values. If you change a chart to a type that does not support the associated error bars, you lose the error bars.