Composition
Waffle Chart
A 10x10 grid of squares, each representing 1%. Intuitive for percentages.
Energy Sources
Share of electricity generation
View data (4 rows)
| Percentage | Category |
|---|---|
| 35 | Renewable |
| 25 | Natural Gas |
| 20 | Coal |
| 20 | Other |
Use a waffle chart when…
- Showing percentages to general audiences
- Simple part-to-whole comparisons
Avoid when…
- Precise values
- More than 3-4 categories
Data it needs
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Min Rows | 2 |
| Min Columns | 2 |
| Column Types | stringnumber |
| Notes | Percentage column must sum to 100; round or merge a tail 'Other' row if the source numbers don't reconcile. |
Visual anatomy
Marks
square
Channels
countcolor-hue
Axes
-
Guiding principles
Common mistakes
Parts not summing to 100%
History
Popularized in 2010s data-journalism infographics (e.g., FiveThirtyEight, The Pudding) as an alternative to pie charts for percentage breakdowns.
Accessibility notes
Provide percentage values as text. Use patterns alongside color.
Related reading
Got data? Let's see what works.
Drop your CSV. You'll get a Waffle Chart plus four alternatives - ranked by which one actually fits your data best.