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Analyzing part-to-whole relationships of key variables within your data is easier said than done. The situation is further made worse with an increase in the size of data.
It would help if you had a chart that’s primarily designed to help show the comparison between categories within your data. Tables are not recommended, especially if the size of your data is enormous.
In other words, you need a Segmented Bar Graph.
The visualization design can help you display how a larger category is divided into smaller sub-categories and their relationship to the whole.
Each bar in a Segmented Bar Graph represents the whole. The segments within the bars represent different parts that contribute to the aggregate value.
Data visualization tools, such as Google Sheets, come with basic Segmented Bar Graphs. Essentially, you have to do a ton of customizations and editing, which takes significant amounts of time. You can transform Google Sheets into a reliable tool by installing third-party add-ins.
In this blog, you’ll learn:
Lastly, we’ll recommend the best tool to use to access ready-made Segmented Bar Graphs (also known as Stacked Bar Chart).
Definition: The Segmented Bar Graph (also known as Stacked Bar Chart) is essentially an extension of the standard Bar visualization.
Each bar in the chart is divided into several sub-bars stacked end-to-end. The Stacked Bar Chart is best suited for tracking the trends of key data points over time. Besides, it outperforms other visualization designs in displaying part-to-whole relationships.
Why?
The chart is easy to read and interpret. Besides, it can handle bulky data without appearing cluttered. You can leverage the chart to display how the composition of the subcategory changes over time.
To get the most from a Stacked Bar Chart, incorporate highly contrasting colors to ease interpretation. Avoid almost similar colors because they may distort the composition of the respective bars.
Furthermore, numerical values should be indicated within or above each subcategory to facilitate comparison. But be aware of using these annotations judiciously to avoid visual clutter.
For instance, the Segmented Bar Graph above depicts revenue from a fictional fitness retailer for a particular period, across two categorical variables: store location and department.
The primary categorical variable is store location.
Apple Road and Lime have the highest revenue. Each bar is subdivided into clothing, equipment, and accessories. According to the Segmented Chart above, equipment is the key driver of revenues for the brand.
If you’re wondering how to make a graph from a table to visualize such data, you can use tools like Excel or Power BI to create segmented bar charts that highlight these key revenue drivers effectively.
Segmented bar diagrams, also known as stacked bar charts, are important because they make complex data easy to understand. By stacking different segments in a single bar, they show both individual parts and the total value at a glance.
This helps in comparing categories and their components, highlighting proportions clearly, and analyzing trends over time. They’re visually appealing, making data presentations more engaging, and they support better data-driven decision-making by presenting detailed information in a clear, structured way.
There are three types of Segmented Bar Chart, namely:
The chart (mentioned above) places the absolute value of each subcategory after or over the previous one.
You can use the graph to show the absolute value of each subcategory and their totals relative to the aggregate value of the category. Usually, the bars have varying heights or lengths.
Just like a typical Bar Chart, the bars in this visualization design can be oriented horizontally (with primary categories on the vertical axis) or vertically (with primary categories on the horizontal axis).
Suppose variables in your data represent the whole that has been subdivided into parts across two major categorical variables. In that case, your go-to chart should be the Hierarchical Segmented Bar Chart.
A Hierarchical Segmented Bar Chart is made up of bars split into subcategories.
Each of the primary bars may have a similar height but vary within subcategories. The aforementioned interprets sub-bars easier, especially when comparing multiple categories for in-depth insights.
Each primary bar in a Percentage Stacked Bar is scaled to have the same height. But its subcategories have varying heights depending on their respective numerical values.
Each subcategory within a Percentage Stacked Bar Chart adds up to 100%.
The similar heights of each primary bar create a baseline at the top of the chart, which eases interpretation.
Segmented bar graphs are great for comparing parts of a whole. They show how different categories contribute to a total. Let’s look at some examples.
Imagine a company that wants to compare sales across different regions. A segmented bar graph can help. The bar for each region is split into sections. Each section shows sales for a product type.
This makes it easy to see which products are popular in each region. You can quickly trends analysis and differences. This helps businesses make informed decisions.
Surveys often gather data on customer satisfaction. A segmented bar graph is perfect for displaying these results. Each bar can represent a different question. The segments show the percentage of responses in each category, such as “satisfied,” “neutral,” and “dissatisfied.”
This visual helps identify areas where improvements are needed. It also highlights strengths.
Demographic studies often use segmented bar graphs. These graphs can show population distribution by age and gender. Each bar represents an age group.
The segments within the bar display the percentage of males and females. This helps in understanding demographic trends. It is also useful for planning services and resources.
Keep reading because we’ll address the following in the coming section: when should you use a Segmented Bar Graph?
The chart places the absolute value of each subcategory after or over the previous one.
You can use this graph as well as different types of graphs, such as a Side-By-Side Bar Chart example, to show the absolute value of each subcategory and their totals relative to the aggregate value of the category. Usually, the bars have varying heights or lengths.
The key goal of a Segmented Bar Graph is to show part-to-whole relationships in your data. The chart can also be expressed in percentage form depending on the context. For instance, you can easily showcase the subcategories making the whole in percentages summing up to 100%.
The main objective of a standard Bar Chart is to compare numeric values between levels of a categorical variable. A bar is plotted for each level of the categorical variable.
On the other hand, a Segmented Bar Graph achieves the aforementioned objective and still targets the second goal’ of displaying relative decomposition insights.
The chart is plotted for each level of the categorical variable. More so, each bar’s length indicates the value of the variables under study.
Use the visualization design if your goal is to display the relative composition of key data points. You can also use the Stacked Bar Chart with multiple data to display comparisons between key data points.
So, how do you make a Bar Graph with segments?
Google Sheets has built-in charts you can use to extract answers from your data.
However, you’ll never find a ready-to-use Segmented Bar Graph for your data analysis. The most viable option available for you is installing a particular third-party add-on (we’ll talk about later) to access ready-made Segmented Bar Graphs.
You don’t need to do away with Google Sheets in favor of other expensive tools; you can effectively create a Stacked Bar Chart in Google Sheets to visualize your data without breaking the bank.
We recommend you try the ChartExpo add-on for Google Sheets because of the reasons listed below.
ChartExpo does not require coding or programming skills, unlike other data visualization add-ons. More so, it has an ultra-friendly user interface (UI) for everyone to use.
This tool comes pre-loaded with over many ready-made charts to offset the missing ones in Google Sheets.
Use ChartExpo to produce Segmented Bar Graphs that are incredibly easy to read and understand.
Generating a Segmented Bar Graph should never be time-consuming. Use ChartExpo to overcome this. You’ll learn more about this cutting-edge tool in the next section.
So, what is ChartExpo?
ChartExpo comes as an add-on for Google Sheets.
Essentially, it turns your Google Sheets into a usable data visualization tool capable of delivering hidden insights into your data, irrespective of the size or complexity.
The premium Segmented Bar Graph Maker comes with a 7-day free trial period.
The key benefit of ChartExpo is the fact that it produces charts that are easy to read and interpret. More so, it allows you to save charts in the world’s most recognized formats, namely PNG, SVG, PDF, and JPG.
This section will use a Segmented Bar Graph (also known Stacked Bar Chart) to visualize the data below.
| Quarters | Items | Los Angeles | Houston | Chicago | New York |
| Q1 | Notepad | 571 | 535 | 93 | 308 |
| Q1 | Pencil | 83 | 701 | 744 | 518 |
| Q1 | Whitener | 756 | 569 | 385 | 227 |
| Q2 | Notepad | 640 | 279 | 497 | 628 |
| Q2 | Pencil | 700 | 525 | 131 | 137 |
| Q2 | Whitener | 497 | 728 | 151 | 768 |
| Q3 | Notepad | 441 | 707 | 405 | 707 |
| Q3 | Pencil | 686 | 551 | 428 | 512 |
| Q3 | Whitener | 561 | 404 | 146 | 612 |
| Q4 | Notepad | 366 | 739 | 432 | 571 |
| Q4 | Pencil | 84 | 86 | 151 | 98 |
| Q4 | Whitener | 95 | 152 | 117 | 104 |
To Get Started with the Segmented Bar Chart, install the ChartExpo add-on for Google Sheets from this link and then follow the simple and easy steps below.
Segmented bar charts, also known as stacked bar graphs, offer a visually compelling way to represent data. However, like any data visualization method, they come with their own set of pros and cons.
Comparison of Parts to Whole: Segmented bar charts allow you to illustrate both the individual components and the total, making it easy to compare parts to the whole. This is particularly useful when dealing with data that can be segmented into different categories.
Visualizing Composition: These charts effectively show the composition of a whole in terms of its segments. For example, you can use them to represent the contribution of different product categories to total sales.
Time-Series Comparison: When used over time, segmented bar charts help visualize how the composition of a category changes. For instance, you can track the market share of various products over multiple periods.
Ease of Interpretation: Segmented bar charts are generally easy to understand, even for individuals who may not be familiar with complex data visualizations. The stacked nature of the bars simplifies the representation.
Complexity Issues: As the number of segments increases, the chart can become complex and challenging to interpret. Too many segments may overwhelm the viewer, leading to confusion.
Difficulty in Exact Value Reading: Determining the exact value of each segment can be challenging, especially in cases where the segments are relatively thin. This may impede precise data analysis.
Limited to Part-to-Whole Comparison: While effective for comparing parts to a whole, segmented bar charts may not be the best choice for other types of data comparisons or patterns.
Risk of Misinterpretation: Depending on the scale and design, there is a risk of misinterpretation. Viewers might perceive differences in segment lengths inaccurately, leading to incorrect conclusions.
Besides, you cannot compare corresponding segments rigorously because they depart from different baselines.
Yes, The Segmented Bar Graph (also known as Stacked Bar Chart) works well with categorical data types.
Each bar in this chart is divided into several sub-bars stacked end-to-end. Use the graph if your goal is to display a part-to-whole relationship.
You can use the Segmented Bar Graph to show the absolute value of each subcategory and their totals relative to the aggregate value of the category.
In other words, the key goal of a Segmented Bar Graph is to show part-to-whole relationships in your data.
Analyzing part-to-whole relationships of key variables within your data is easier said than done. The situation is further made worse with the increase in the size of data.
It would help if you had a chart that’s primarily designed to help show a comparison between categories within your data. Tables are not recommended, especially if the size of your data is enormous.
In other words, you need a Segmented Bar Graph.
The visualization design can help you display how a larger category is divided into smaller sub-categories and their relationship to the aggregate value. Each bar in a Segmented Bar Graph represents the total value.
Data visualization tools, such as Google Sheets, come with basic Segmented Bar Graphs. Essentially, you have to do a ton of customizations and editing, which takes significant amounts of time.
So, what’s the solution?
We recommend you install third-party apps, such as ChartExpo, into your Google Sheets to access ready-made and visually appealing Segmented Bar Graphs.
ChartExpo is a Google Sheets-based add-on that’s loaded with an insightful and easy-to-interpret Stacked Bar Chart, and many ready-made charts. You don’t need programming or coding skills to visualize your data using the tool in your Google Sheets.
Sign up for a 7-day free trial today to access easy-to-interpret, ready-made, and visually appealing Segmented Bar Charts for your data story.
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