Word Export Charts as Images? Yes, Here’s How

Yes, Microsoft Word can export charts as standalone image files, even though the program does not offer a direct “Save chart as PNG” button. You can do this by copying the chart and pasting it into a dedicated image editor, or by saving the entire Word document as a web page and extracting the image files it generates. This article explains both methods in detail, along with the pros and cons of each, so you can choose the one that fits your workflow.

Formula

The calculator above computes your average running pace and speed. The formula for pace is simply the total time divided by the distance:

Pace (min/km) = Total Time (minutes) ÷ Distance (km)

Speed is the inverse, converted to hours:

Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Total Time (minutes) ÷ 60)

Where:

• Total Time is the time it took to finish the run, in minutes.
• Distance is the length of the run, in kilometers.
• Pace is the average time per kilometer, in minutes per kilometer.
• Speed is the average speed, in kilometers per hour.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: you run 10 km in 50 minutes.

1. Calculate pace: 50 minutes ÷ 10 km = 5.00 min/km.
2. Calculate speed: 10 km ÷ (50 minutes ÷ 60) = 10 km ÷ 0.8333 hours = 12.00 km/h.

The calculator shows the same results: a pace of 5.00 min/km and a speed of 12.00 km/h.

Why Export a Chart as an Image?

There are several common reasons you might want to take a chart out of Word and use it as a standalone image:

• Use in a presentation: You may need the chart in PowerPoint, Google Slides, or another tool that doesn’t easily import Word objects.
• Share on social media or a website: Images are the standard format for online content.
• Edit the chart in a dedicated image editor: You might want to add annotations, crop it, or change colors using Photoshop, GIMP, or Paint.
• Reduce file size: A Word document with many embedded charts can become large; exporting charts as compressed images can shrink the file.

Method 1: Copy and Paste into an Image Editor

This is the quickest method for a single chart. It works on both Windows and Mac versions of Word.

1. Open your Word document and locate the chart you want to export.
2. Click on the chart to select it. You’ll see a border around it.
3. Right-click the chart and choose Copy, or press Ctrl+C (Windows) / Cmd+C (Mac).
4. Open any image editing program, such as Microsoft Paint, Paint.NET, GIMP, Photoshop, or even the Preview app on Mac.
5. Create a new image file (usually File > New).
6. Paste the chart using Ctrl+V (Windows) / Cmd+V (Mac).
7. Save the file as a PNG, JPEG, or other image format.

One caveat: when you paste a Word chart into a raster image editor like Paint, it becomes a flat bitmap image. This means you lose the ability to edit the data or the chart’s style later. If you need to keep the chart editable, you could paste it into a vector editor like Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator, but that’s a more advanced workflow.

Method 2: Save as Web Page and Extract Images

This method is useful when you have multiple charts in a document and want to export them all at once. Word saves each chart as a separate image file when you save the document as a web page.

1. Open your Word document.
2. Go to File > Save As.
3. Choose a location for the new folder.
4. In the “Save as type” dropdown, select Web Page (*.htm; *.html).
5. Click Save.
6. Navigate to the folder where you saved the file. You’ll see an HTML file and a folder with the same name ending in “_files”.
7. Open that folder. You’ll find all the images from your document, including your charts, saved as PNG files (usually named something like “image001.png”).

This method is efficient for batch export. However, the image files may have a lower resolution than you’d like, and you might need to sort through many files to find the charts.

Method 3: Use a Screenshot (for Quick Needs)

If you only need a quick, low-effort capture and the chart fits on your screen, you can take a screenshot:

• Windows: Press Windows + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool, then drag a rectangle around the chart.
• Mac: Press Command + Shift + 4 and drag a rectangle around the chart.

The screenshot is immediately copied to your clipboard, and you can paste it into an image editor or directly into an email. The downside is that the resolution is limited to your screen’s resolution, and you may capture unwanted background elements.

How to Choose the Best Method

Consider the following factors when deciding which method to use:

• Number of charts: For one chart, copy-paste is fastest. For many charts, the web page method saves time.
• Image quality: Copy-paste into an image editor generally yields the highest quality because it preserves the chart’s vector graphics. Screenshots are the lowest quality.
• Need for editing: If you need to edit the data or style later, keep the chart in Word. If you only need a static image, any method works.
• File format: If you need a transparent background, PNG is the best choice. JPEG is better for photos but can introduce artifacts on text and lines.

Common Problems and Solutions

Here are a few issues you might encounter when trying to export charts:

• Chart is pasted as a blurry image: This usually happens when you paste into a low-resolution editor. Try pasting into a vector editor or use the web page method.
• Chart is not copying: Make sure you click directly on the chart to select it, not just the text around it. You should see a border with handles.
• Images from the web page method are too small: The web page method may downsample images. You can try saving the document as a single-file web page (.mht) and then opening that in a browser to copy the image, but it’s often simpler to use copy-paste.
• Can’t find the “_files” folder: Make sure you chose “Web Page” and not “Single File Web Page” in the save dialog. The single file format (.mht) doesn’t create a separate folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export a chart as a PDF from Word?

Yes, you can save the entire Word document as a PDF, and the chart will be included as a vector element. However, this doesn’t give you a standalone image file. To get just the chart as a PDF, you would need to use a PDF printer driver and select only the chart area, which is less straightforward.

Does the chart lose quality when I copy and paste it?

It depends on where you paste it. If you paste into a vector-based program like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape, the chart remains sharp and scalable. If you paste into a raster program like Paint, it becomes a bitmap, and the resolution is fixed. For most on-screen uses, the quality is perfectly acceptable.

Why is my chart pasted as a picture with no editable data?

When you copy a chart from Word and paste it into an image editor, the data and chart structure are lost—it becomes a static picture. If you need to edit the data, you must keep the chart in Word or paste it into a program that supports OLE objects, like another Microsoft Office application.

Can I export a chart as an SVG file?

Word does not have a direct “Export as SVG” option for charts. However, you can save the document as a web page, and Word may save some charts as SVG files, depending on the version and the chart type. Alternatively, you can copy the chart and paste it into a vector editor, then export it as SVG from there.

Is there a way to export all charts at once without saving as a web page?

Not directly. The web page method is the only built-in way to export multiple charts at once. There are third-party macros and add-ins that can do this, but they are not part of standard Word.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0 | 100000
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2