Reverse Waterfall Chart in Excel: How to Make One

To make a reverse waterfall chart in Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, enter the starting total and the changes in the order you want them applied, select the data, then choose Insert > Insert Waterfall, Funnel, Stock, Surface or Radar Chart > Waterfall. For a true backward bridge, start with the ending total, list the original changes in reverse order with their signs flipped, and mark the first and last columns as totals.

What “reverse waterfall chart” can mean

Excel does not have a separate chart type named Reverse Waterfall. People use the phrase for two different things: displaying the categories in the opposite visual order, or working backward from an ending amount to recover a starting amount. Those approaches are not interchangeable. The first changes how the chart reads on the page; the second changes the order and direction of the underlying movements.

A standard waterfall chart, also called a bridge chart, shows how a sequence of positive and negative changes moves a value from a beginning point to an ending point. Each change appears as a floating column, positioned according to the running total. A reverse calculation is useful when the ending value is known and you want to show which earlier changes lead back to the beginning.

Before building one, decide which question the visual should answer. If the data itself must be applied backward, reverse and invert the movements. If the values and calculation order are already right but the chart should read from the other side, change the category display or rearrange the source data carefully.

How a waterfall chart calculates movement

A waterfall chart treats ordinary entries as changes to the running balance. Positive values raise the balance, and negative values lower it. For example, a beginning balance of 100 followed by changes of +30, -20, and +15 ends at 125: 100 + 30 – 20 + 15 = 125. The columns for those changes float from one running balance to the next rather than all starting at zero.

The beginning and ending values are different from the intermediate changes. In Excel, a total column can be anchored to the baseline rather than treated as another change. This is why marking totals matters: otherwise, a starting balance such as 100 may be interpreted as an increase of 100, producing a misleading bridge.

For a reverse bridge, the same example starts at 125 and works backward through the original movements in reverse order: -15, +20, and -30. The arithmetic is 125 – 15 + 20 – 30 = 100. Each movement is both reordered and sign-reversed. Merely moving the categories around does not perform this inverse calculation.

Build a true reverse waterfall from an ending value

Prepare a two-column table. Put the category names in the first column and the amounts in the second. Make the first row the known ending total, followed by the original changes in reverse order with opposite signs, then the recovered starting total. For the example, use Ending balance 125, Reverse March adjustment -15, Reverse February adjustment +20, Reverse January adjustment -30, and Starting balance 100.
Insert the chart. Select the category and value cells, including the two total rows. On Windows, choose Insert > Insert Waterfall, Funnel, Stock, Surface or Radar Chart > Waterfall. Excel creates a chart from the selected data.
Set the first and last columns as totals. Click the first column once to select the series, then click that individual column to select the data point. Right-click it and choose Set as Total. Repeat for the final column. Excel may automatically identify totals in some layouts, but check both points instead of assuming they are anchored correctly.
Check the bridge. Confirm that the first total is 125, that each floating bar moves the running balance in the intended direction, and that the final total is 100. If the final column is not the expected value, check the signs, sequence, and whether both endpoints were marked as totals.
Add context. Use a descriptive chart title, clear category labels, and number formatting appropriate to the data. If the source includes many small movements, group or explain them rather than making the labels unreadable.

This method preserves the original story while walking through it backward: each original increase becomes a decrease when undone, and each original decrease becomes an increase. Do not simply reverse the row order while retaining the original signs; that would show a different calculation.

Reverse only the displayed category order

If the goal is to put the first category on the right and the last on the left, try reversing the category axis instead of changing the values. Select the horizontal category axis, open Format Axis, and under Axis Options select Categories in reverse order. The Format Axis pane can be opened by right-clicking the axis and choosing Format Axis.

This setting changes the visual order of the category labels. It is not a substitute for reversing the calculation: the values, signs, and intended starting and ending totals should still describe the original sequence. After changing the axis, inspect the connector lines and totals to make sure the chart remains understandable. A visually reversed chart can be harder to read if viewers assume that movement still proceeds left to right.

If the axis option does not produce the intended visual, or if you need a specific reading order, rearrange the source rows and verify the chart again. In a true reverse calculation, use the backward sequence and inverse signs described above; for a display-only change, retain the original data and explicitly label the chart so its direction is clear.

Format totals, colors, and labels

Waterfall charts distinguish increases, decreases, and totals with different column colors. Excel uses its chart formatting controls to let you adjust the series and individual data points, so use colors with adequate contrast and keep their meaning consistent. For example, a business report might use one color for increases, another for decreases, and a neutral color for starting and ending totals. Do not rely on color alone if the chart will be printed in grayscale or viewed by people with color-vision differences.

To make a change to one bar, select the series and then select that specific data point before using the formatting controls. This avoids accidentally applying a total color to every movement. Data labels can make small changes easier to interpret, but labels on every bar may crowd the chart. Add labels where they clarify the balance or a particularly important movement.

Also consider units and precision. A chart mixing dollars with percentages, or values rounded inconsistently, can suggest a false reconciliation. Put units in the title or axis labels, use consistent number formats, and check that the ending total agrees with the source calculation before sharing the workbook.

Common problems and how to fix them

The first bar floats instead of starting at zero. It may not be set as a total. Select that individual data point, right-click, and choose Set as Total.
The ending bar is treated as another change. Mark the final data point as a total too. A final balance is not normally an additional movement.
The chart ends at the wrong number. Recheck the signs and order. For a backward calculation, invert each movement and reverse the sequence; the example must reconcile to 100.
The bars look right but the labels read backward. Decide whether you reversed the calculation or only the category display. Add a title or note such as “Bridge from ending balance to beginning balance.”
There is an unexplained gap in the reconciliation. Add a clearly named adjustment for rounding or an omitted movement only when it is supported by the underlying data. Do not use a hidden plug value just to force the chart to balance.
The chart changes after editing the table. Confirm the selected chart range includes the intended rows and that inserted categories have been included. When adding data, check that the first and final totals remain correctly identified.

One common misconception is that flipping the chart or reversing its axis automatically reverses the arithmetic. It does not. A category-axis setting changes presentation; a backward bridge requires new data values representing the inverse steps. Keeping that distinction clear prevents a chart that looks plausible but tells the wrong numerical story.

When to use a custom chart instead

The built-in Waterfall chart is usually the simplest choice for a conventional bridge with one sequence of increases and decreases. Consider another chart type if the purpose is different. A horizontal bar chart may work better when the main challenge is comparing many categories rather than showing a running balance. A line chart is often clearer for changes over time when the exact path or trend matters more than the contribution of each movement.

A custom stacked-column construction can offer more control over layout and labels, but it requires helper data to position each change and extra care when the source values change. It is not automatically more accurate than Excel’s native waterfall. For a simple reverse bridge, the native chart plus correctly ordered, sign-inverted values is easier to maintain and audit.

In Excel for Mac, the chart type is also available through the Insert tab, although ribbon layout and context menus can vary slightly by release. Excel for the web supports many charting tasks, but some chart-formatting controls may differ from the Windows desktop app. If you cannot find the category-axis or Set as Total control in your version, use the desktop app or check that version’s available formatting options rather than assuming the chart has reversed its calculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Excel make a reverse waterfall chart automatically?
Excel can create a standard Waterfall chart, but it does not provide a separate one-click reverse-waterfall chart type. For a backward calculation, arrange the movements in reverse order, flip their signs, and mark the start and finish as totals.

How do I reverse the order of categories in an Excel waterfall chart?
Select the horizontal category axis, open Format Axis, and select Categories in reverse order under Axis Options if that control is available for the chart. Then inspect the chart carefully; this changes display order, not the underlying movement arithmetic.

Do I need to reverse the signs as well as the order?
Yes, if you are undoing the original sequence from its ending value. An original increase must be subtracted when working backward, and an original decrease must be added. For display-only reversal, do not alter the values just to flip the labels.

Why does my starting total appear as a floating bar?
Excel may be treating the starting value as an ordinary change. Right-click the individual first column and choose Set as Total. Do the same for the ending balance when needed.

Can I reverse a waterfall chart without changing the source data?
You can change the category display order without editing the values, but that does not calculate the bridge backward. If the chart must show the ending amount being reconciled to the beginning amount, create a reverse-ordered set of inverse movements, ideally in a separate table so the original data remains intact.

Try it: the Percentage Formula Generator: percent of, percent change, increase and decrease, with the formula.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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