In a world where you can present data in myriad forms, bar charts remain among the simplest examples of data visualisation. Quick, easy and impactful, they visualise data in a way we readily understand. With two axes and a handful of bars, you can quickly show your audience quarterly figures, comparisons between store locations, or how many people engaged with your social platforms.

Intuitively, audiences can instantly compare the information presented – bar charts display your key findings without the need for lengthy explanation. Learn how to make your own bar chart, explore different bar chart examples, and see how Adobe Express can help you create them.

What is a bar chart?

A bar chart is a graph or diagram that uses a number of rectangular bars to display a series of values or data points. They come in different formats, such as stacked bar charts or dual bar charts, but the fundamentals are the same — each bar presents a piece of information.

All bar charts share the same basic elements:

• Axes. Whether data is displayed horizontally or vertically, a bar chart will have two axes – an X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) axis. The X axis typically displays categories, and the Y axis typically displays a value.
• Bars. The length or height of the bar represents the value on the graph. If a business sold 10,000 units in March, then the top line of the March bar would align with the 10,000 point on the Y axis. All bars have equal width and space for clarity.
• Scale. A scale is used to ensure the bar chart is legible and accurately reflects the data being presented.
• Labels. Text labels are used to establish what’s shown on the X and Y axis. For example, the X axis may be labelled ‘Month’ and the Y axis may be labelled ‘Visitors’.
• Legends. In some bar charts – such as stacked bar charts – several data sets sit within one single bar. In this case colour schemes are used to represent each variable. For example, a clothing website might break down sales into trousers, jumpers, T-shirts etc. Each item would have its own colour which would sit in a legend to the right of the bar chart.

Free bar chart examples from Adobe Express.

How to make a bar chart.

Although bar charts are simple, it’s important to pay close attention to each of the following steps to get the most out of your data.

1. Gather your chart data.

Start by gathering your data. This might be already accessible in the form of sales or visitor numbers. Alternatively, you may need to conduct a survey or research competitor numbers. Solid data is important for making any decisions.

2. Determine the categories and values.

When you have your data, split it out into categories and values. Categories typically go on the x or the horizontal axis. Values go on the Y axis. You’ll need to establish upper limits for these to contain the size of your bar chart.

3. Draw and label the X and Y axes.

When you’ve established the largest frequencies for both axes, you can draw out each axis. Be sure to label each one clearly, so that each value and annotation is legible. Without clear labels it can be easy to misread a bar chart.

4. Choose the vertical axis scale.

To further ensure your data is readable, choose an appropriate scale for the Y axis. If you use too large a scale the bars will be compressed, the chart tiny and the data confusing. Too small and the chart will be huge and therefore awkward to use in presentations, for example.

5. Draw the bars.

Finally, plot the bars into your bar chart. Be sure to use flat top bars – to make establishing values easy. Also, if you’re not using a linear timeline on your X or horizontal axis, choose how best to lay out your data for easy comparison. A cluttered chart may lose meaning.

When to use a bar chart.

You can use a bar chart when you want to show data changes over time or compare performance or quantities from differing categories. We’ve broken down the many ways bar charts can be used below:

• Illustrating trends. If you were applying for a small business loan to expand your operations, you could plot a bar chart to show an increase in sales or hits to your website over time.
• Comparing categories. Using a dual bar chart, you could compare your customer base, for example the number of dog owners compared to cat owners.
• Visualising qualitative data. Figures and multiple data sources can be overwhelming and take time to understand. Using a bar chart, you can instantly make data more accessible. For example, you might use a dual bar chart to show as an increase in visitors but a drop in sales.
• Showing deviations. To make a case for a switch from one social media platform to another, you could display your data in a bar chart to illustrate how your users have already migrated to the newer platform.
• Comparing differences. Using a stacked bar chart is perhaps the easiest way to compare data. For example, you could track views across your socials in each bar, with the stacks broken down into click throughs, likes and shares.

4 main bar chart examples.

Stacked bar chart examples.

A stacked bar chart shows two or more variables – or sets of data – stacked on top of each other. For example, each complete bar might represent total sales in a year, with each stack coloured to represent a product.

Dual bar chart examples.

A dual bar chart displays two sets of data side-by-side to show distinct comparisons. For example, each bar could represent sales figures in two locations, such as London vs Glasgow or online sales vs in-store sales.

Simple bar chart examples.

Simple bar charts comprise of one data set. They are the most straightforward – and often the first example we think of in terms of bar charts. For example, a set of bars would show sales figures over a decade.

Grouped bar chart examples.

A grouped bar chart displays multiple data sets side-by-side. Comparable to a dual bar chart – but this time displaying sales figures across multiple locations. For example, sales for the last five years in London, Glasgow, Bristol and Cardiff.

How can Adobe Express help you present data in a bar chart?

Easily present your data using Adobe Express. In a few short steps you can choose from thousands of customisable templates and plot your data in other graphs to see if your bar chart example works in other formats.

1. Choose from a library of bar chart templates.

Complex data can be difficult to present in an understandable way. Using the hundreds of bar chart templates in Adobe Express makes it quick and simple to present a professional, polished chart.

2. Customise to fit your company branding.

Each template is fully customisable – from labels and colours to logos and images. Make a brand kit and you’ll be able to easily access your branded assets at the click of a button whenever you create anything in Adobe Express.

3. Experiment with other graphs and charts.

Unsure if the bar chart examples you’ve made are the right fit for your data? Experiment with our chart creator. You can apply your data to pie charts, progress charts and more to choose the most impactful and engaging design.

Showcase your bar charts in meetings and pitches with the AI presentation maker.

It’s easier than ever to make captivating pitches with our AI presentation maker. You can add slides, branded assets and your bar charts into your project and let the AI presentation maker help you make the most of your content.

By adding your own logos and colour schemes, the presentation will still be on brand. And, when your pitch or presentation is complete, you can invite team members to co-edit or comment – let your collaborators experiment with different bar chart examples or ways to include the charts in your presentation. Presenting is easy too and can be done straight from the app, or download your slides to share across socials or other platforms.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

What are the rules of bar charts?

There are two solid rules for bar charts: keep them simple and always start your axis at zero. Beyond that, apply best practices in design to enhance readability. Make sure your bars are flat at the top – so the data is clearly legible. Use colour sparingly and label your chart clearly.

What can be wrong with a bar chart?

Be wary of overloading the bar chart with too many bars. Filter the data – break it down into different categories and use multiple charts rather than try to fit everything into one chart. While 3D effects and image might be appealing, they can make a chart hard to read.

What colours should I use in a bar chart?

In some bar chart examples, too many colours can distract from the meaningful data. Using one colour keeps the focus on the ranging values. A small range of colour can add context – such as teams or company departments. Each bar could also have a colour palette – warming as the data rises.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.