types of bar charts / Chart type guide
Types of Bar Charts: Examples and When to Use Each One
The main types of bar charts are vertical, horizontal, grouped or clustered, stacked or segmented, 100% stacked, and bar chart race. Choose the type by the question: compare values, compare series, show composition, or show rankings over time.
Vertical bar chart
Use a vertical bar chart for short category labels and simple comparisons across a small number of groups.
- Monthly sales by product
- Revenue by department
- Votes by candidate
Horizontal bar chart
Use a horizontal bar chart when labels are long, rankings matter, or the chart needs to be easy to scan from top to bottom.
- Top countries by population
- Search queries by impressions
- Products ranked by revenue
Grouped or clustered bar chart
Use grouped and clustered bar charts when you need to compare multiple series side by side within each category.
- Sales by region for several years
- Survey answers by age group
- Expenses by department and quarter
Stacked or segmented bar chart
Use stacked and segmented charts when each bar has parts that add up to a total. These charts are best for composition, not exact comparison of every middle segment.
- Budget by department and expense type
- Traffic by channel each month
- Revenue split by product line
100% stacked bar chart
Use a 100% stacked chart when the percentage mix matters more than the raw total. Every bar becomes the same length, so the viewer compares shares instead of totals.
Bar chart race
Use a bar chart race when category rankings change over time and the motion helps explain the story. Avoid it when rankings are almost static.
How to choose the right bar chart type
Start with the question. For one value per category, use a vertical or horizontal bar chart. For several series, use grouped or clustered bars. For parts of a whole, use stacked or segmented bars. For time-changing rankings, use a race chart.
FAQ
Which type is easiest to read?
For long labels, horizontal bar charts are usually easiest.
Are grouped and clustered bar charts the same?
In many tools the terms are used almost interchangeably. Both usually mean side-by-side bars within each category.
Are segmented and stacked bar charts the same?
They are closely related. A segmented bar chart is often a stacked bar chart where each segment shows part of a whole.
When should I avoid a race chart?
Avoid it when rankings barely change or when values are too close to read clearly.
What is the difference between bar chart types and bar graph types?
Most people use bar chart and bar graph to mean the same family of visuals. The important differences are orientation, grouping, stacking, and whether the chart is animated over time.
Which bar chart type is best for Excel?
Excel supports standard bar, column, clustered, stacked, and 100% stacked charts. Use clustered charts for side-by-side series and stacked charts for composition.
Last updated: 2026-07-15