When it comes to dashboards, choosing the right chart can make the difference between actionable insights and confusion. But how do you know which visualization to use for your data?
Why Choosing the Right Chart Matters
Dashboards are designed to communicate insights quickly. Using the wrong chart can mislead users or hide patterns in your data. The goal is to match your visualization type to the story you want to tell. Check out my course on Udemy and learn how to choose the right visualisation for your data!
Common Chart Types and When to Use Them
1. Bar Charts
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Great for comparing categories.
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Use when you want to show differences between groups (e.g., sales by region).
2. Line Charts
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Perfect for showing trends over time.
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Use for monthly revenue growth, website traffic trends, or KPI tracking.
3. Pie Charts
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Show proportions of a whole.
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Best for simple datasets (avoid multiple slices or small percentages).
4. Scatter Plots
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Reveal relationships between two variables.
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Ideal for analyzing correlations, e.g., marketing spend vs. conversions.
5. Maps
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Visualize geographic data.
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Useful for regional sales, customer distribution, or branch performance.
6. Combo Charts
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Combine two chart types to show relationships.
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Example: Bar chart for sales volume + line chart for growth rate.
Tips for Choosing the Right Chart
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Know your data type — quantitative, categorical, or time series.
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Know your audience — executives may prefer simple KPIs; analysts may need more detail.
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Keep it simple — less is often more. Avoid overcomplicating charts with too much data.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right chart is a small step with a big impact. It ensures your dashboard communicates insights clearly and efficiently.
