Grouped Bar Chart
A grouped bar chart (also known as a clustered bar chart) arranges multiple bars side by side within each category group, allowing direct comparison of different metrics or data series across categories. Each group of bars represents a category, with individual bars showing different measurements or variables within that category. This arrangement facilitates comparison both within categories (between different metrics) and across categories (the same metric across different groups).
Definition
A grouped bar chart (also known as a clustered bar chart) arranges multiple bars side by side within each category group, allowing direct comparison of different metrics or data series across categories. Each group of bars represents a category, with individual bars showing different measurements or variables within that category. This arrangement facilitates comparison both within categories (between different metrics) and across categories (the same metric across different groups).
Examples
Monthly comparison of sales, returns, and exchanges over a quarter, allowing direct comparison of all three metrics for each month
Chart Visualization
This example includes an interactive chart visualization with 4 data points.
Chart type: bar-grouped
Usage
Best Used For
- Comparing multiple metrics or variables across categories
- Showing data breakdowns by subgroups within main categories
- Visualizing survey responses with multiple options or ratings
- Tracking multiple KPIs over time periods or organizational units
- Comparing performance across different segments or products
- Displaying before/after or actual/target comparisons across categories
Data Requirements
[Object]
Limitations
Important Considerations
- ⚠Can become visually complex and difficult to interpret with too many groups (>4-5) or categories (>8-10)
- ⚠Limited by space when using many bars per group, requiring wider chart area
- ⚠May be harder to read precise values compared to single bars, especially with many groups
- ⚠Color differentiation becomes challenging with many groups, requiring careful palette selection
- ⚠Less effective at showing part-to-whole relationships than stacked bars
Best Used For
- Comparing multiple metrics or variables across categories
- Showing data breakdowns by subgroups within main categories
- Visualizing survey responses with multiple options or ratings
- Tracking multiple KPIs over time periods or organizational units
- Comparing performance across different segments or products
- Displaying before/after or actual/target comparisons across categories
