How to choose a data visualization
If your data has a changing variable
You can use these visualizations Which look like this
Line charts Single: Stacked:
Individual data points for a changing variable when the changing when the changing variable applies to
are connected with a continuous line variable is for a single more than one category and you want
category to compare categories
Download a stacked line chart in Google
Sheets
Column charts Single: Grouped: Stacked:
when the changing when the variable change applies when the variable change applies
(vertical bar charts) variable is for a single to more than one category and
Individual data points for a changing variable to more than one category and
category you want to compare categories you want to compare categories
are represented as ve tical columns without the spread of a group
Note: If the values being compared are vastly
different, a column chart might be too tall. You
can use a horizontal bar chart instead.
Download examples in Google Sheets
Horizontal bar charts Grouped: Stacked:
Single:
when the variable change applies when the variable change applies
Individual data points for a changing variable when the changing
to more than one category and to more than one category and you
for one or more categories; these appear like variable is for a single
you want to compare categories want to compare categories
rotated column charts category
without the spread of a group
Download examples in Google Sheets
How to choose a data visualization
If your data has a changing variable measured over time
You can use these visualizations Which look like this
Line charts Single: Stacked:
Individual data points for a changing when the change over when the change over
variable are connected with a time is for a single item time is for multiple items
continuous line or classification or classifications
The line charts are similar to
Download a stacked line chart in those for a changing variable 200 200
Google Sheets but time is shown on the x-axis 150 150
100 100
50 50
0 0
2000 2010 2015 2020 2000 2010 2015 2020
Area charts Single: Unstacked: Stacked:
Individual data points for a changing when the variable change when data doesn’t align on when data aligns on the x-axis
variable are connected with a is for a single category the x-axis (data is from (data is from the same time
continuous line and the area under over time different time points) points)
the line is filled in
300 300 300
Download a stacked area chart in
Google Sheets 250 250 250
200 200 200
150 150 150
100 100 100
50 50 50
0 0 0
2020 2010 2005 2015 2020 2010 2005 2015 2005 2010 2015 2020
2
How to choose a data visualization
If your data has a numeric trend
You can use these visualizations Which look like this
Histograms 40
Individual data points are categorized into columns
that each represent a different range of values 30
Download a histogram in Google Sheets 20
10
0
0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80
Scatter charts
Individual data points are displayed, but without a
connecting line like in a line chart 30
Download a scatter chart in Google Sheets
20
10
0
10 20 30 40 50
Bubble charts 30
Individual data points are displayed as bubbles like in a
scatter plot, but numeric values are compared by the 25
relative size of the bubbles
20
Download a bubble chart in Google Sheets 15
10
0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80
3
How to choose a data visualization
If your data has partial and whole results
You can use these visualizations Which look like this
Pie charts
2D or 3D proportions (slices) are shown adding up to a Two-dimensional: Three-dimensional:
whole or 100%
Download a 2D pie chart in Google Sheets
19% 19%
44% 6% 44% 6%
31%
Donut charts
2D or 3D proportions (segments) adding up to a whole Two-dimensional: Three-dimensional:
or 100% 4.4%
4.4% 4.4%
4.4%
Download a 2D donut chart in Google Sheets
19.3% 19.3%
38.6%
38.6%
14.0%
19.3%
14.0%
19.3%
4
How to choose a data visualization
If your data is progressive
You can use these visualizations Which look like this
Gauge charts 20-30
Single result is shown within a progressive range of
10-20 30-40
values allowed
Download gauge charts in Google Sheets
0-10 40-50
Bullet charts
Progressive result is shown as a horizontal or
vertical bar chart moving towards a desired
value
If your data has intensity or frequency
You can use these visualizations Which look like this
Heat maps 100
Results are shown by color gradations
representing the strength or frequency of values; 80
higher or more frequent values have more intense
color 60
40
20
10
5
How to choose a data visualization
If your data has intensity or frequency (continued)
You can use these visualizations Which look like this
Density maps
Results are shown by color representing the
number or frequency of data points in a given
area on a map
