Specialized
Gauge Chart
Semicircular meter showing a single value against a scale, like a car speedometer.
CPU Utilization
Current server load
View data (2 rows)
| Value | Metric | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | CPU Usage | 0 | 100 |
| 80 | Threshold | 0 | 100 |
Use a gauge chart when…
- Single KPI display
- Progress toward a goal
- Dashboard indicators
Avoid when…
- Multiple values
- When a simple number suffices
- When space is limited (use bullet)
Data it needs
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Min Rows | 1 |
| Min Columns | 2 |
| Column Types | stringnumber |
Visual anatomy
Marks
arcneedlequalitative-bandtick
Channels
anglecolor (zones)threshold marker
Axes
angular scale
Guiding principles
Consider instead
Common mistakes
Using for multiple metrics (use bullet chart instead)
Wasting space with decoration
History
Borrowed from mechanical instrument design; common in business dashboards since the 2000s.
Accessibility notes
Expose value, min, max, and threshold via aria-label or a sibling text node so screen-reader users get the same readout as sighted users (e.g., 'CPU usage 73%, threshold 80%, range 0-100').
Related reading
Got data? Let's see what works.
Drop your CSV. You'll get a Gauge Chart plus four alternatives - ranked by which one actually fits your data best.