The Chart Selection Framework
- Comparison → Bar chart (vertical for few items, horizontal for many)
- Trend over time → Line chart
- Part of a whole → Pie chart (max 5 slices) or stacked bar
- Distribution → Histogram or box plot
- Relationship → Scatter plot
- Geographical → Map/choropleth
Common Mistakes
- Pie charts with 10+ slices — use a horizontal bar chart instead
- 3D charts — they distort perception. Always use 2D.
- Dual Y-axes — these mislead readers. Use two separate charts.
- Missing zero baseline — truncated bar charts exaggerate differences
From CSV to Chart
Upload your data to our Data Analyzer and get automatic chart suggestions based on your data types. Export clean CSV from our CSV Viewer for use in any charting tool.