Design · 4 min read
Choosing the Right Chart: Bar, Line, Pie, and More
The right chart makes the point obvious at a glance; the wrong one hides it. The choice starts with one question: what do you want the reader to compare?
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Match the chart to the question
Comparing categories — sales per region — is a bar chart. Change over time is a line chart. Parts of a whole is a stacked bar or, with few parts, a pie or donut. The relationship between two numbers is a scatter plot. Distribution is a histogram.
When pie charts work
People judge angles poorly, so pie charts only work with two to five slices that differ clearly, and when the point is "this is about a quarter". To compare similar values, use a bar chart sorted by size.
Keep it honest
Bar charts must start at zero, or small differences look enormous. Line charts can start elsewhere, but label the axis. Avoid 3D effects, which distort sizes, and avoid dual axes, which invite false correlations.
Make it readable
Write the takeaway as the title — "Signups doubled after launch" rather than "Signups". Label lines directly instead of relying on a legend, use one highlight colour for what matters and grey for the rest, and do not rely on colour alone to tell series apart.