Best Data Viz
Comparison

Bar Chart

Compare quantities across categories using vertical bars positioned on a common baseline.

Revenue by Region

Aggregated from raw transactions

View data (14 rows)
Chart data table: Revenue by Region
RegionRevenue sumRevenue
East16000
East13500
East15000
North12000
North9500
North14000
South8000
South11000
South9000
Central10500
Central8500
West6000
West7500
West4500
Make a bar chart with your data

Use a bar chart when…

  • Comparing 3-15 discrete categories that share a unit of measure
  • Showing rankings
  • Highlighting absolute differences in magnitude

Avoid when…

  • Continuous data (use histogram)
  • Trends over many time points (use line)

Data it needs

PropertyValue
Min Rows2
Min Columns2
Column Types
stringnumber

Visual anatomy

Marks
rectangle
Channels
position-xlength-ycolor-hue
Axes
x-categoricaly-quantitative

Guiding principles

Consider instead

Horizontal Bar Chart

When category labels are long or there are >8 categories

Lollipop Chart

For a lighter visual weight when bars look heavy

Dot Plot

When precise value comparison matters more than magnitude

Common mistakes

  • Truncating the y-axis

  • Using 3D effects

  • Too many categories (>15)

History

Invented by William Playfair in 1801 in his Commercial and Political Atlas.

Accessibility notes

Avoid relying solely on color to differentiate adjacent bars — use direct value labels alongside the legend. Maintain WCAG AA contrast against the page background. The accompanying data table makes the values screen-reader friendly.

Related reading

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