Win/Loss Sparkline for Streaks

2010+Sparklines

A win/loss sparkline ignores magnitude and shows only direction: a block up for every positive value, down for every negative. Ideal for win streaks, daily up/down, or over/under target.

Quick formula: feed it a row of positive/negative numbers:

Insert → Sparklines → Win/Loss → Data: B2:M2

Each positive value draws an up block, each negative a down block — all the same size. Only the sign matters.

Functions used (tap for the full reference guide):

SIGN

The example

Daily result (+ win / − loss) as a win/loss sparkline.

	A	B
1	Player	Last 8
2	Team A	▀▄▀▀▄▀▀▀

The formula

A direction-only sparkline:

Insert → Sparklines → Win/Loss Data Range: B2:M2 // sign only — size is uniform

How it works

Win/loss strips away magnitude:

Build a row where positive = win and negative = loss (or over/under a target as a difference).
Insert a Win/Loss sparkline over that row.
Every win draws an identical up block; every loss an identical down block — zeros show as a gap.
On the Sparkline tab, set distinct colors for positive, negative, and toggle markers.

Turn metrics into wins: if your data is raw values, make a helper row of =value − target — positive means above target (a win), negative below. Feed that to the win/loss sparkline.

Try it: interactive demo

Live demo

Enter + / − numbers.

Variations

From values vs target

Helper row first:

=value - target

Color wins/losses

Sparkline tab → Marker Color → Negative.

Count the wins

Alongside the sparkline:

=COUNTIF(B2:M2, ">0")

Pitfalls & errors

Magnitude is ignored. A +1 and a +1000 look identical. Use a column or line sparkline if size matters.

Zeros are gaps. A zero shows as neither up nor down — decide whether ties should count as wins.

2010+ only. Like all sparklines, unavailable in Excel 2007.

Practice workbook

📊

Download the free Win/Loss Sparkline for Streaks practice workbook

A win/loss data sheet with a values-vs-target helper and win count, plus 4 challenges with answers. No sign-up required.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a win/loss sparkline in Excel?

Insert → Sparklines → Win/Loss over a row of positive/negative numbers. Positives draw up blocks, negatives down blocks, all the same size.

How do I turn metrics into a win/loss view?

Make a helper row of =value - target. Positive means above target (a win), negative below, and feed that to the win/loss sparkline.

Why do some cells show nothing in a win/loss sparkline?

Zero values draw neither up nor down — they appear as gaps. Adjust your data if ties should count as wins.

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Related formulas: Sparklines intro · Count with criteria · Highlight above average

Function references: SIGN