A stacked column chart can be used to see how individual segments contribute to a total value across categories. Instead of placing series side by side as a standard column chart does, a stacked column chart layers them on top of each other within a single column.
The stacked column chart is available on most data sources and works with both the Split by feature and when comparing multiple metrics.
When to use a stacked column chart
A stacked column chart is a great choice when you want to show both the total value and the breakdown of that total at the same time. Each column represents the overall figure, while the colored segments within it reveal how different parts contribute to the whole.
This makes it especially useful when the relationship between the parts and the total is just as important as the individual values themselves.
If you're more interested in comparing the individual values across categories rather than understanding their contribution to a total, a standard column chart with side-by-side series may be a better fit.
Example uses of a stacked column chart
Say you’re tracking deals by stage over time and want to see both total deal volume and how those deals are progressing through your pipeline. A stacked column chart lets you see the total number of deals for each time period while also showing how that total is split across stages, making it easier to spot changes in pipeline activity at a glance.
Or, if you’re monitoring support tickets by ticket type, you could use a stacked column chart to show the total number of tickets each week while also breaking them down into categories such as Task, Question, Problem, and Incident. This makes it easy to see whether a rise in overall ticket volume is being driven by one specific type, such as incidents, or by a broader increase across multiple categories.
Tips for creating stacked column charts
Decide on a clear title
The title should be a brief description of the data you want to show, such as the metric and the time period.
Keep the number of segments manageable
Stacked column charts work best when you have a small number of segments per column, as too many can make the chart harder to read. Five or fewer segments are ideal for readability.
In some data sources, if there are more than 5 split-by values, any values beyond the 5th will be automatically grouped into an "Others" segment. This helps keep the chart readable when there are many possible values.
Adjust the precision of your data
You can use the Fine-tune settings to adjust how values are displayed on the chart:
Abbreviation: Numbers can be shown in their raw state, or as Thousands (K), Millions (M), or Billions (B).
Decimal Places: Control how many decimal places are displayed. The default option is to show numbers with automatic decimal places applied.
Unit: Allows you to manually enter any prefix or suffix up to 3 characters long. For example, you might add a currency symbol, such as $, as a prefix, or a unit, such as hrs, as a suffix.