Comparison
Dumbbell Chart
Two dots connected by a line showing the gap between two values per category.
Salary Changes After Promotion
Before vs after, by role ($K)
View data (6 rows)
| Before | After | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 290 | 400 | Principal → Distinguished |
| 220 | 290 | Staff → Principal |
| 175 | 220 | Senior → Staff |
| 130 | 175 | Mid → Senior |
| 100 | 130 | Junior → Mid |
| 82 | 100 | Entry → Junior |
Use a dumbbell chart when…
- Before/after comparison
- Showing gaps between two groups
- Gender/demographic differences
Avoid when…
- More than two comparison points (use slope chart)
- Single values per category
Data it needs
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Min Rows | 2 |
| Min Columns | 3 |
| Column Types | stringnumber |
Visual anatomy
Marks
circleline
Channels
position-xposition-ycolor
Axes
x-quantitativey-categorical
Guiding principles
Consider instead
Common mistakes
Not sorting by gap size to reveal patterns
Using inconsistent dot sizes for the two endpoints
Missing a legend explaining which color is which group
History
Variation of the connected dot plot, popularized in policy and demographic analysis (e.g., gender pay gap reports, before/after policy studies).
Accessibility notes
Pair the two endpoint colors with shape (circle vs square) or direct labels so the comparison reads without color. Report each row's gap value as text in the accompanying data table.
Related reading
Got data? Let's see what works.
Drop your CSV. You'll get a Dumbbell Chart plus four alternatives - ranked by which one actually fits your data best.