Description

The stacked bar chart stacks horizontal bars that represent different groups one after another. The length of the stacked bar shows the combined value of the groups. They show the cumulative values of a data item and compare the parts to the whole.

When to Use

Stacked bar charts are used to show how a larger group is divided into smaller subgroups and what the relationship of each part has on the total amount. It’s particularly useful when comparing relative and absolute differences across categories. It’s a better option when the category names are long and do not fit underneath of vertical stacked bar chart (stacked column chart)

Dos

• Always start at zero baseline
• Space between bars should be roughly 50% of the bar width

Don'ts

• Don’t use shadow effects
• Don’t use 3D effects
• Don’t stack too many groups at once (five or fewer is ideal)

Tools available

Other chart types of comparison