I want to…
You have a set of things — products, regions, quarters — and you want to show how they stack up against each other. Bars are the honest default; the variants below handle long labels, rankings, two-way comparisons and targets.
The everyday comparison. Bars grow from zero so the differences read true.
Long category names, or a ranked top-N list sorted high to low.
Two series side by side — before vs after, this year vs last.
A lighter, cleaner take on ranked values for minimal decks.
Values that split two ways — agree vs disagree, gain vs loss.
A single value measured against a target or threshold.
A before-vs-after comparison where the change itself is the story.
Comparing entities across several metrics at once, on one web.
I want to…
When the x-axis is time, the shape of the trend is the message. Lines and areas draw the curve; a bar chart race animates a ranking shifting across the years.
I want to…
You want to show composition — how a total splits up, or how the mix changes. Keep the number of parts small so each slice or segment stays legible.
The familiar split of one whole, with each share printed on its slice.
Parts of a whole, a few clear slices, with the total in the middle.
Composition across categories or over time — revenue mix by month.
A ratio made human — the classic "1 in 10" made of icons.
Many exact figures where the numbers themselves are the point.
A percentage split shown as a literal, countable 100-square grid.
A budget or portfolio, sized by value and grouped by category.
I want to…
Sometimes the story isn't a single value but how things connect or where they sit relative to each other.
I want to…
When one figure is the whole story, don't bury it in a chart — give it the frame. These make a number the hero, or show progress toward a target.
I want to…
These narrative charts don't just report a number — they explain the why, the drop-off, or the sequence. Most don't exist in a spreadsheet at all.
What moved a number — a revenue or headcount bridge, step by step.
Conversion and drop-off across stages — signup to paid.
Milestones revealed in order — company story, launch recap.
Plans grouped into lanes — Now / Next / Later, or by quarter.
Retention by signup cohort — a heatmap that fills in as it builds.
FAQ
Reaching for a pie or donut when there are too many slices, or using a line chart for categories that aren't ordered in time. Match the chart to the job: comparison → bars, trend over time → line, one number → counter.
Use a bar chart to compare distinct categories (products, regions, quarters as buckets). Use a line chart when the x-axis is continuous time and the trend between points matters.
Only for parts of a whole with a few clearly different slices (ideally 3–6). If slices are similar in size or there are many of them, a bar chart is easier to read. Between the two: a pie is the more familiar shape and prints each share on its slice, while a donut frees up the centre for the total.
A waterfall (bridge) chart. It starts at an opening value, steps through each gain and loss, and lands on the closing value — ideal for revenue bridges and P&L walks.
An animated number counter. It counts up to the figure with an optional prefix, suffix and trend arrow, giving a single metric the weight a full chart would dilute.