Choosing the Right Chart Type for Your Data
The chart type should match the story in your data. Use a pie chart when showing part-to-whole relationships with 5 or fewer categories — if you have more slices, a bar chart is clearer. Bar charts are best for comparing discrete categories side by side. Line charts excel at showing trends over time — the slope of the line communicates change at a glance. If you are showing distribution or frequency, a histogram or area chart adds context. Before building a chart, ask: what is the single most important thing the viewer should understand? Let that answer drive your chart choice.







