Data over time Column chart
A column chart is a type of chart that uses vertical bars to represent data.
It is typically used to display data across different periods of time.
For data where the categories are not time periods, horizontal bar charts are usually our preferred approach. Refer to our Bar charts guidance for more details.
Visual styles for column charts are detailed in our chart style guide on Notion (opens in a new tab) .
An example of a column chart
When to use a column chart
Column charts are most effective when displaying a single data series. A stacked column chart can be used if you need to show categories that are components of a total. Refer to our Stacked bar charts guidance (opens in a new tab) for more information.
Consider using a column chart instead of a line chart when displaying flow data. Flow data represents the number of occurrences or the rate of change within each time period. For more information on flow and stock data, see our Choosing a chart type guidance (opens in a new tab) .
Column charts may be more suitable than line charts when you want to highlight individual data points or when you have only a few data points.
Axis
The axis of a column chart should always start at zero.
If your data requires starting the axis above zero for clarity, it may be better to use a line chart. For more guidance on axis scaling, refer to our Axes and gridlines guidance (opens in a new tab) .
Irregular and missing data
If data for certain time periods are missing, leave the corresponding columns empty and use annotations to explain the absence of data and the reason behind it.
If your time series has irregular intervals, consider using a line or area chart instead.
Comparing multiple series
Column charts are best suited for displaying one or two data series. If you are showing two series, you can represent the first series with columns and the second series with a point marker.
To compare multiple series using column charts, consider using a small multiple column chart. For more information, see our Small multiple charts guidance.
Use a line chart when it is necessary to make a direct comparison of multiple series on one chart. For flow data, include data markers connected by a line to show individual points.
Avoid using clustered column charts where different categories are shown by different coloured bars within a cluster. This can be confusing, because it breaks up the pattern in time series data, especially if you have more than two series.