Bar and Column charts

Bar and column charts display values across categories using rectangular bars. They make it easy to compare magnitudes between groups, see rankings, or show parts of a whole when stacked. The only difference is orientation: bar charts run horizontally, while column charts run vertically.

Template options

1. Simple bar → shows one measure per category.

2. Stacked bar → layers multiple measures or series within each category.

3. 100% stacked bar → normalizes values to percentages, comparing contribution across categories.

Mapping options

• X → Dimension for category values (column variant) or measure for length (bar variant).

• Y → Measure for column height (column variant) or dimension for categories (bar variant).

• Color → Splits each bar into series, enabling stacked or 100% stacked variations.

• Label → Annotates each bar or segment with text.

Tips

1. Use bars for ranked comparisons, columns for timelines or sequential categories, and stacked versions for part-to-whole analysis.

2. Keep category labels short, or rotate them for readability. You could also flip the visual if you decide to switch between bar and column charts.

3. Use stacked bars to show contributions, but limit the number of series (5–6 max) for clarity.

4. Choose 100% stacked when the focus is on proportions instead of absolute values.