Alex Velez takes us through stacked bar charts:
A few years ago, we posted a question on this blog that is as relevant today as it was years ago: “Is there a good use case for a stacked bar chart?”
Stacked bars are everywhere; you’ve likely seen them in a recent report, a dashboard, or in the media. Despite their prevalence, they are commonly both misused and misunderstood. In this guide, we’ll aim to rectify these mishaps by sharing examples, clarifying when you should (and shouldn’t) use a stacked bar chart, and discussing best practices for stacking bars.
Read on for plenty of good advice around when to use stacked (either regular stacked bar charts or 100% stacked), horizontal vs vertical, and how to format them when it does make sense to drop one in.