Bar Chart
Compares values across different categories. Excellent for showing magnitude and ranking.
Sales by regionSurvey responses
PlotPerfect
Match your data story to its perfect visual.
Interactive chart selection tool for data analysts, business intelligence developers, and anyone working with data visualization. Choose from over 15 chart types with detailed guidance.
How to Choose the Right Chart
Define Your Purpose
Are you comparing values, showing trends over time, or displaying relationships between variables?
Know Your Audience
Consider who will view your chart and their level of data literacy when choosing complexity.
Match Data Type
Different data types (categorical, numerical, time-series) work better with specific chart types.
Comparison Charts
Compare values across different categories or groups.
Line Chart
Shows trends and changes in data over time. Ideal for continuous data.
Stock prices over timeWebsite traffic trends
Area Chart
Similar to a line chart but emphasizes the volume or magnitude of change over time.
Revenue growth over timePopulation changes
Data Visualization Best Practices
Choose Appropriate Colors
Use colors that are accessible, meaningful, and consistent. Avoid using too many colors that can confuse your audience.
Label Everything Clearly
Include clear titles, axis labels, legends, and units. Your chart should be self-explanatory without additional context.
Keep It Simple
Remove unnecessary elements that don't add value. Focus on the key message you want to communicate.
Start Axes at Zero
For bar charts and most comparisons, start your y-axis at zero to avoid misleading visual proportions.
Consider Your Medium
Design charts differently for print vs digital, presentation vs dashboard, mobile vs desktop viewing.
Test with Users
Get feedback from your target audience to ensure your visualizations are clear and actionable.