Choosing the right type: Bar diagrams vs Column diagrams

A chart is used to display data and further investigate a topic when tabular data does not adequately demonstrate meaningful relationships or patterns between data points. Bar charts and column charts are the most commonly used charts for tracking changes over time between different groups. You may use a graph maker made by FusionCharts to help you create the chart you need.

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The Difference Between Bar Chart and Column Chart

Both the Bar and the Column charts display data using rectangular bars where the length of the bar is proportional to the data value. Both charts compare two or more values. However, the difference lies in their orientation. A bar chart is oriented horizontally, whereas a column chart is oriented vertically. Although alike, they cannot always be used interchangeably because of the difference in their orientation.

Example of Bar Chart

Figure: Bar chart

Example of Column Chart

Figure: Column chart

When to Use Bar Diagrams vs. Column Diagrams

Bar charts are suitable for displaying long data labels.

Column charts have limited space in the category axis. So, when your data labels are long, the category axis may look cluttered.

Column chart with limited space in the category axis

You can reduce clutter by either slanting or rotating the labels.

Column chart with slanting or rotating labels

However, using the bar diagram will significantly improve the readability of your chart.

Bar chart displaying long data labels

Bar charts are good for displaying a large number of data sets on the category axis.

The column chart is a good fit for a maximum of 10-12 data sets. However, using a column chart is not the best way forward when large numbers of data sets are needed.

Column chart with many data sets

A bar chart with the data sets placed one below the other would be a better choice in this case as it makes optimum use of space.

Bar chart with many data sets

What about column charts?

Column charts are suitable for displaying data sets with negative values.

In a bar graph, negative values are displayed as bars on the left.

Bar chart with negative values

However, we associate negative values with the downward direction (as used by the column chart) than leftward (as used by the bar chart).

Column chart with negative values

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Therefore, use the column chart when you have negative values in your data set.

In conclusion, while the column chart is helpful to facilitate all comparison-based analysis, it is better to use the bar chart when your data labels are long, or you have too many data sets to display.