types of bar charts / Chart type guide
Types of Bar Charts: Vertical, Horizontal, Grouped, Stacked, and Race
Choose vertical or horizontal bars for simple comparisons, grouped bars for side-by-side series, stacked bars for part-to-whole comparisons, and race charts for rankings over time.
Vertical bar chart
Use a vertical bar chart for short category labels and simple comparisons across a small number of groups.
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.
Grouped or clustered bar chart
Use grouped and clustered bar charts when you need to compare multiple series side by side within each category.
Stacked or segmented bar chart
Use stacked and segmented charts when each bar has parts that add up to a total or percentage.
Bar chart race
Use a bar chart race when category rankings change over time and the motion helps explain the story.
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.
Last updated: 2026-07-06