A stacked bar chart visually compares multiple variables over time using horizontal bars. These are stacked upon one another, commonly used to showcase total value comparisons across various categories.
Plotting total purchase value against basic demographics like age reveals clusters. This enables the creation of precise user personas for targeted marketing and personalized engagement strategies.
Digital marketers can use a stacked bar graph to visualize website traffic sources (direct, socials, search engines). It helps understand each source’s contribution and focus efforts on high-performing channels for optimized traffic generation.
Education researchers can use a stacked bar graph to examine the distribution of resources (such as funding, staffing, or technology) across schools or districts. This helps identify disparities in student resource allocation.
Project managers can use splitted stacked charts to visually represent various tasks’ progress. This enables effective communication with project heads, streamlines status checks, and ensures timely task completion to meet project deadlines.
Economists and policymakers can use stacked bar charts to represent the distribution of demographics like population within a region. This helps inform economic policies and marketing strategies, enhancing economic analysis and decision-making.
Maximize the potential of stacked bar charts to reveal the complete narrative of your data with our expert insights. Let your data tell its story with precision and impact.
Ensure clear visualization: Keep the design of stacked bar charts simple by limiting the number of categories and segments. This ensures the chart is not overly cluttered and makes it easier for viewers to understand the data presented. Too many categories or segments can overwhelm viewers and make it difficult to observe meaningful patterns or trends in the data.
Start the x-axis at zero: In a stacked bar chart, each segment’s width reflects its contribution magnitude. The sum of these widths forms the cumulative total. Therefore, starting the x-axis at zero is essential to maintaining the integrity of both the totals and the series aligned with the vertical baseline. Moreover, when the x-axis doesn’t start at zero, it can exaggerate differences between values, leading to data misinterpretation.
Position important series on the y-axis: Place important series or categories on the y-axis to draw attention to specific data points that are relevant or significant. The y-axis provides a consistent baseline for the cumulative totals and the series directly stacked upon it. This setup lets readers precisely grasp values and easily compare heights between the totals and this particular series. As a result, viewers can quickly identify trends or outliers within the data.
Stack levels consistently: Consistency in stacking levels ensures you represent each segment uniformly across different charts. This improves readability and facilitates comparison between different categories or segments. Inconsistent stacking can lead to confusion among viewers, making it difficult to interpret data presented in the chart accurately.
Choose a strategic order: Analyze your contributing categories to discern a natural order based on size, progression, classification, or significance. Use this order to stack the corresponding series on top of each other. Arranging categories or segments in a logical order is important for highlighting trends and guiding viewers' attention to the most relevant information.
Choose effective colors: While standard bar charts favor using a single color, the nature of a stacked bar chart requires using effective colors to map secondary variable levels. Select a color palette that aligns with the variable type. Qualitative palettes suit purely categorical variables, while sequential or diverging palettes are more suitable for variables with a meaningful order. Use a consistent color scheme across all charts to maintain visual consistency and help viewers associate colors with specific data categories.
Position legends out of the way: Stacked column charts often become visually cluttered. It is advised to position legends either to the left or to the right. Positioning legends outside the main chart area reduces visual clutter and maintains a clean and legible chart area. It helps viewers focus on the data patterns without distraction.
Avoid inappropriate comparison: Stacked bar charts are not suitable for comparing individual segments within a single bar due to potential difficulty in discerning relative sizes. When viewers compare individual segments within a single bar, they may struggle to accurately interpret the data and draw meaningful insights from the chart. It is important to choose appropriate chart types for comparing individual data points to ensure accurate data visualization and interpretation.
Avoid 3D effects: Avoid using 3D bars as they can induce optical illusions or distortions. For instance, some bars may appear longer or shorter than they are, and some may hide behind others. This can affect viewers’ ability to accurately compare and interpret the data. Opt for 2D bars in stacked bar charts for simplicity and transparency.
Use negative values wisely: Use negative values carefully and with a clear explanation to avoid confusion. When negative values are included in a stacked bar chart, it is important to provide context and explain their significance to viewers. Wise use of negative values ensures that viewers accurately understand and interpret the data presented in the chart.
Limit tick marks and gridlines: Minimize the number of tick marks and gridlines in a stacked chart to reduce visual clutter and provide sufficient guidance for reading the data. Excessive tick marks and gridlines can detract from the chart's clarity and make it more difficult for viewers to focus on the data.
Test for accessibility: Ensure stacked chart accessibility for all users when creating stacked bar charts. This involves testing the chart with assistive technologies to ensure compatibility and providing clear labeling and descriptive text for images. Accessibility testing and consideration help ensure the chart is usable by individuals with visual impairments or other disabilities.