How to Plot an Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets?

Data visualization is the go-to method when you want quick insights into your data.

But not any type of visualization design can be used in your data storytelling. Some charts are designed to visualize information in an exploratory way. And others are designed to display the composition and comparison of sub-variables contributing to the whole in data.

If your goal is to display composition and comparison of key variables in your data, your go-to chart should be an Overlapping Bar Chart (OBC).

Popular and widely used visualization tools, such as Google Sheets, lack ready-made Overlapping Bar Charts.

But you can transform the spreadsheet into a reliable tool by installing third-party add-ons to access visually appealing and ready-to-use Overlapping Bar Chart Google Sheets.

In this blog, you’ll learn:

• How to generate an Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets?
• How to make an Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets?
• We’ll address the following questions:
• What is an Overlapping Bar Chart?
• What is a great way to use a bar chart showing overlap?
• The tested and proven add-on to install in your Google Sheets to access ready-made Overlapping Bar Chart.

How to generate an Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets for your Data Stories?

Before we cover the how-to, let’s address the following question:

What is an Overlapping Bar Chart?

Definition: An Overlapping Bar chart is similar to a standard Stacked Bar Chart. However, unlike a Stacked Diagram, its composite variables that contribute to the whole, start at the baseline.

The chart is best-suited in comparing two distinct variables. An Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets is more useful than the Stacked Bar Chart, especially if your goal is to display comparison insights.

The visualization design requires three data columns or rows from your data set—one for categories, one for the series in each category, and one for values.

Keep reading because, in the coming section, we’ll address the following question: what is a great way to use a Bar Chart showing an overlap?

What is a Great Way to Use a Bar Chart Showing Overlap?

The Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets is best used to compare different items or categories. Besides, it can only compare two numerical variables per item or category in your data. The data points should be closely related to merit a comparison.

Also, you can use the visualization design to display trends and patterns over time based on similar premises.

The conceptual idea behind the Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets is to contrast key data points using color-coded overlaps.

What does an Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets Look like?

An Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets is a two-dimensional graph with two axes -similar to a standard Bar Chart.

Visualization Source: ChartExpo

Its rectangular bars are oriented horizontally or vertically. One axis depicts categories, while the other shows numerical values related to two variables.

Bars representing the same category share the same baseline. We recommend the numerical variables be closely related and share the same scale to get reliable insights.

Take a look at the table below.

Can you provide a reliable data story after going through the table?

City	Planned Orders	Completed Orders
New York	100	80
Houston	150	120
Chicago	100	100
Washington	250	180
Boston	80	120
Dallas	300	250
Los Angeles	120	90
Seattle	100	75
Denver	80	25
Portland	300	250

Note the difference after visualizing the data using Overlapping Bar Chart Google Sheets.

Visualization Source: ChartExpo

Note how easy it is to decode the chart above. For instance, Boston surpassed the target set for orders by 40 units. Chicago achieved its target. Conversely, Portland and Dallas have missed their targets by -50 units.

Keep reading because we’ll cover the following in the coming section: how to make an Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets?

Google Sheets is one of the most used tools for visualizing data because it’s free and easy to use. 

However, a ready-made Overlapping Bar Chart does not exist in Google Sheets’ chart library. But this does not mean you should ditch this freemium data visualization tool.

Did you know you can supercharge your Google Sheets with add-ons to access visually stunning and ready-to-go Overlapping Bar Graphs?

Yes, you can increase the functionality of your tool and access ready-made Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets for your data stories.

The add-on we recommend you to use is ChartExpo.

So, what is ChartExpo?

We recommend this tool (ChartExpo) because it’s super easy to use.

You don’t need to take programming or coding night classes just to extract insights from your data. ChartExpo is more of a ‘drag-and-drop tool,’ which means you’ll only need to scroll your mouse and fill in respective metrics and dimensions in your data.

More so, this Overlapping Bar Chart Google Sheets generator comes with a 7-day free trial period.

ChartExpo empowers you to visualize diverse data types, such as sales and marketing data, annual reports, etc.

More so, the tool produces charts that are incredibly easy to read and interpret. And it allows you to save charts in the world’s most recognized formats, namely PNG and JPG.

How to Make an Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets using ChartExpo?

City	Planned Orders	Completed Orders
New York	100	80
Houston	150	120
Chicago	100	100
Washington	250	180
Boston	80	120
Dallas	300	250
Los Angeles	120	90
Seattle	100	75
Denver	80	25
Portland	300	250

• To get started with ChartExpo, head to the Extensions button>ChartExpo>Open.

• Click the Add New Chart button to access your fully stocked library of charts.

• Click the Search Box and type “Overlapping Bar Chart”.

• It should pop up together with other charts, as shown.
• Select the sheet holding your data and select the Metrics option. Fill in the numerical numbers (in our scenario, we’ll fill in target and achieved orders)
• Select the Dimensions button and fill on the dimensional data (in our example, we’ll use cities)

To Edit your Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets, follow the simple steps below:

• Click the Edit button, as shown below.

• Click the pencil-like icon near the title placeholder.

• Once the Chart Header Properties window pops up, click the Line 1 button and fill in the title.
• Then, click the Show button and toggle the switch to the right-hand side.
• To save the changes, click the Apply button.

• To edit the y-axis’s details, click the pencil-like icon on the left side, as shown below.

• Click the Line 1 box and fill in your details. Complete the process by clicking the Apply button.

To organize the variables in category and subcategories in descending order, follow the simple steps below.

• Click the Settings button, as shown above.
• Once the Chart Settings window pops, click the Sort by Category Box and select

• To convert variables into percentages, follow the steps below.

• Click the Settings button, as shown above.
• Once the Chart Settings window pops, click the Bar Style Box and select Percentage Base.

• Check out the final Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets below.

Insights

Boston surpassed the target set for orders by 40 units. Chicago achieved its target. Conversely, Portland and Dallas have missed their targets by -50 units.

What Makes a Good Data Visualization?

• Consider how figures and background contrast. The standard rule is to have a gradient in similar shades for online observation.
• Identify accepted thresholds for each variable. Doing so provides a benchmark against past performance. Besides, it can guide you on how to avoid displaying misleading differences between categories.
• Label Overlapping Bar Chart, but not to the extent that creates clutter.
• Sort data by value to emphasize scale.

FAQs:

What is the importance of charts and tables?

Both charts and tables are used in handling data. But a chart is more useful to data storytelling than tables. And this is because our brains process visual content 60,000 times faster than numbers in tables.

Secondly, as tables grow and become bigger, they create a massive challenge in data storytelling.

What is an Overlapping Bar Chart?

An Overlapping Bar chart is similar to a standard Stacked Bar Chart. However, unlike a Stacked Diagram, its composite variables start at the baseline.

The chart is best-suited in comparing two distinct variables. More so, it’s more valuable than the Stacked Bar Chart, especially if your goal is to display comparison insights.

What is a Multiple Bar Chart?

A Multiple Bar Chart has multiple bars for each category in data. The visualization design is best suited to display multiple key variables in your data.

Creating a Multiple Bar Graph is just like generating a Bar Graph. Besides, you need a set of contrasting colors in bar graph to bring out distinction insights.

Wrap Up

Data visualization is the go-to method when you want quick insights into your data.

Like we said, not any visualization design can be used in your data storytelling. Some charts are designed to visualize information in an exploratory way. And others are designed to display the composition and comparison of sub-variables contributing to the whole in your data.

If your goal is to display composition and comparison of key variables in your data, your go-to chart should be an Overlapping Bar Chart (OBC).

What’s the best tool to visualize data using an Overlapping Bar Chart in Google Sheets?

Popular and widely used visualization tools, such as Google Sheets, lack ready-made Overlapping Bar Charts.

We recommend our readers to use the ChartExpo because it’s one of the most trusted add-ons. Besides, it has a super-friendly user interface for everyone, irrespective of their computer skills.

Create a simple, ready-made, and easy-to-interpret Overlapping Bar Chart today without breaking a sweat or wasting your time.