14 Types of Graphs and Charts (Plus When To Use Them)

What Is the Difference Between a Graph and a Chart?

People often use “graph” and “chart” interchangeably, and the distinction is not always strict.

A graph typically presents quantitative relationships using axes. Line graphs, scatter plots and histograms are common examples. They help viewers examine changes, distributions and relationships between variables.

A chart is a broader visual representation of information. It may use axes, shapes, sections, stages or timelines. Pie charts, flowcharts and Gantt charts are examples.

In practice, the most important question is not whether a visual is technically a graph or a chart. It is whether the format communicates the data accurately and efficiently.

Why Are Graphs and Charts Useful?

Graphs and charts can help people:

• Compare categories
• Track changes over time
• Identify patterns and unusual results
• Explain relationships between variables
• Show how a total is divided
• Monitor progress toward a goal
• Present a process or schedule
• Summarize large data sets
• Support business decisions
• Make presentations easier to understand

A well-designed visualization helps the audience identify the central message quickly. It should not require viewers to decode unnecessary colors, labels or decorative elements.

14 Types of Graphs and Charts

1. Line graph

A line graph displays changes in one or more values across a continuous interval. The horizontal axis typically represents time, while the vertical axis represents the measured value.

Points are plotted at each interval and connected by lines, making trends easier to identify.

When to use a line graph:

• Showing sales by month
• Tracking website traffic over time
• Monitoring temperature changes
• Comparing annual revenue
• Displaying customer growth
• Following stock prices
• Tracking project costs

A line graph is most useful when the order of the data matters and the intervals are consistent.

Avoid using too many lines in one graph. If viewers cannot distinguish the series, divide the data into separate graphs or highlight only the most relevant lines.

2. Bar graph

A bar graph compares values across separate categories. Each bar represents a category, and its length or height corresponds to the value.

Bar graphs can be vertical or horizontal. Horizontal bars work particularly well when category names are long.

When to use a bar graph:

• Comparing sales by product
• Showing survey responses
• Comparing performance by department
• Displaying expenses by category
• Ranking competitors
• Presenting inventory levels

Bar graphs should normally begin at zero because bar length communicates magnitude. Starting the value axis above zero can exaggerate small differences.

Grouped bar graphs can compare several series, while stacked bar graphs can show both category totals and their components.

3. Pie chart

A pie chart displays how a total is divided into separate parts. The complete circle represents 100%, and each slice represents one category’s proportion.

When to use a pie chart:

• Showing a simple budget allocation
• Presenting market share
• Displaying customer segments
• Showing responses to a single-choice question
• Explaining how a total is distributed

Pie charts work best when there are only a few categories and the differences between slices are easy to see.

Avoid using a pie chart when:

• The categories do not add up to a meaningful whole
• There are many small slices
• Values are very similar
• You need viewers to make precise comparisons
• The data includes negative values

In these cases, a bar graph is usually clearer.

4. Histogram

A histogram shows how continuous numeric data is distributed across intervals called bins. Its bars touch because each interval is part of a continuous scale.

A histogram may look similar to a bar graph, but the two have different purposes. Bar graphs compare separate categories, while histograms show the frequency of values within numeric ranges.

When to use a histogram:

• Displaying customer age ranges
• Reviewing delivery times
• Analyzing test scores
• Measuring product dimensions
• Examining transaction values
• Evaluating response times

The size of the bins affects what the viewer sees. Bins that are too wide can hide important variation, while bins that are too narrow can make the distribution appear unnecessarily noisy.

5. Scatter plot

A scatter plot uses points to show the relationship between two numeric variables. One variable appears on the horizontal axis and the other on the vertical axis.

The pattern of points can indicate whether the variables have a positive relationship, negative relationship or no obvious relationship.

When to use a scatter plot:

• Comparing advertising spend with sales
• Examining price and demand
• Comparing employee training hours with performance
• Studying product weight and shipping costs
• Looking for unusual observations
• Testing whether two measurements move together

A scatter plot can reveal correlation, but correlation does not prove that one variable causes the other. Additional research may be required before drawing a causal conclusion.

6. Area graph

An area graph resembles a line graph, but the space between the line and the horizontal axis is filled with color.

It can emphasize the scale of change over time. A stacked area graph can also show how several categories contribute to a total.

When to use an area graph:

• Showing cumulative revenue
• Displaying website traffic by source
• Tracking energy use
• Comparing sales regions over time
• Showing how product categories contribute to total sales

Area graphs become difficult to interpret when they contain too many overlapping series. Use them when the total volume or composition is as important as the trend.

7. Bubble chart

A bubble chart expands on a scatter plot by using the size of each bubble to represent a third variable. Color may represent a fourth category.

For example, a company could plot products according to price and growth rate while using bubble size to show annual revenue.

When to use a bubble chart:

• Comparing market opportunities
• Analyzing product portfolios
• Evaluating investment options
• Mapping customer segments
• Comparing countries or regions
• Prioritizing projects

Bubble charts can communicate several dimensions at once, but they are less suitable for precise comparisons. People find it harder to compare bubble areas than bar lengths.

Use clear labels and limit the number of bubbles to prevent the visualization from becoming crowded.

8. Flowchart

A flowchart displays the steps and decisions in a process. It uses connected shapes to show sequence and alternative paths.

Common flowchart elements include:

• Ovals for starting and ending points
• Rectangles for actions
• Diamonds for decisions
• Arrows for direction
• Parallelograms for inputs and outputs

When to use a flowchart:

• Explaining an approval process
• Documenting customer support procedures
• Mapping employee onboarding
• Showing troubleshooting steps
• Designing a software workflow
• Explaining decision criteria

Keep flowcharts focused on one process. If the diagram contains too many branches, divide it into several linked flowcharts.

9. Gantt chart

A Gantt chart displays project activities against a timeline. Tasks usually appear vertically, while dates appear horizontally.

Each task is represented by a bar showing its start date, duration and completion date. Some Gantt charts also show dependencies and milestones.

When to use a Gantt chart:

• Planning a product launch
• Managing a construction project
• Scheduling a marketing campaign
• Coordinating research activities
• Planning an event
• Tracking software development

Gantt charts are helpful for understanding timing and dependencies, but they need regular updates. An outdated Gantt chart can create false confidence about a project’s status.

10. Waterfall chart

A waterfall chart shows how positive and negative values affect an initial amount and produce a final amount.

The chart begins with a starting value. Each subsequent bar represents an increase or decrease, allowing viewers to see how the final result was calculated.

When to use a waterfall chart:

• Explaining profit changes
• Comparing budget with actual spending
• Showing changes in cash flow
• Breaking down revenue growth
• Explaining headcount changes
• Analyzing inventory movement

Use consistent colors for increases, decreases and totals. Label important values so viewers do not need to calculate them manually.

11. Funnel chart

A funnel chart shows how a quantity changes through sequential stages. The shape normally becomes narrower as items leave the process.

When to use a funnel chart:

• Tracking sales leads
• Analyzing recruitment stages
• Reviewing website conversions
• Monitoring customer onboarding
• Showing order fulfillment
• Studying subscription retention

For example, a sales funnel might show the number of prospects, qualified leads, demonstrations, proposals and completed purchases.

A funnel should represent a genuine sequence. Avoid using one for unrelated categories simply because the values happen to decrease.

12. Gauge chart

A gauge chart displays a single value within a defined range. It often resembles a speedometer with a needle or progress indicator.

When to use a gauge chart:

• Showing progress toward a sales goal
• Displaying system performance
• Monitoring customer satisfaction
• Tracking service availability
• Presenting capacity utilization

Gauge charts can be visually engaging but use a large amount of space to display one value. A bullet chart or simple number may communicate the same information more efficiently.

Use a gauge when the position within the range is more important than precise comparison with several other values.

13. Bullet chart

A bullet chart compares actual performance with a target. It generally includes:

• A bar showing the actual value
• A marker showing the target
• Background ranges indicating performance levels

When to use a bullet chart:

• Monitoring key performance indicators
• Comparing revenue with a target
• Tracking expenses against a budget
• Measuring customer service performance
• Reviewing project completion
• Displaying employee goals

Bullet charts are compact and work well in dashboards. Unlike gauge charts, several bullet charts can appear together without using excessive space.

14. Heat map

A heat map uses color intensity to represent values across a grid, map or other structured area. Darker or stronger colors usually indicate higher values, although the meaning depends on the legend.

When to use a heat map:

• Showing website click behavior
• Comparing activity by day and hour
• Mapping sales by region
• Displaying correlations between variables
• Identifying high-risk areas
• Reviewing attendance patterns
• Analyzing customer concentration

Choose a color scale that remains understandable for people with color-vision differences. Do not rely on red and green alone to communicate performance.

Heat maps are effective for identifying clusters and patterns, but they may not be suitable when viewers need exact values.

How To Choose the Right Graph or Chart

Determine the main message

Decide what the audience should understand after viewing the visualization.

Common purposes include:

• Comparing categories
• Showing change over time
• Explaining composition
• Displaying a distribution
• Showing a relationship
• Tracking a process
• Monitoring progress

Choosing the purpose first makes selecting the format easier.

Consider the type of data

Identify whether your data contains:

• Categories
• Time periods
• Continuous measurements
• Percentages
• Geographic locations
• Process stages
• Targets
• Relationships between variables

A line graph suits time-series data, while a histogram suits continuous measurements divided into ranges.

Consider the audience

Executives may need a clear summary, while analysts may need additional detail. A chart for a public presentation may require more explanation than one designed for specialists familiar with the data.

Limit unnecessary complexity

Do not add a second axis, additional color or decorative element unless it communicates meaningful information.

A simpler chart with one clear takeaway is often more effective than a technically impressive visualization containing several competing messages.

Test the chart without explanation

Ask someone unfamiliar with the data to review the visualization. If they cannot identify the main point, revise the title, labels, colors or chart type.

Common Graph and Chart Mistakes

Using the wrong format

A pie chart cannot show a trend clearly, and a line graph is not ideal for unrelated categories. Match the format to the analytical purpose.

Removing important context

Always provide enough information for viewers to interpret the data. This can include units, time periods, sources and category definitions.

Distorting the scale

Manipulating an axis can make small differences appear dramatic. Use scales that represent the data fairly.

Adding too many categories

Large numbers of colors, lines or slices make a visualization harder to read. Combine minor categories or create separate charts.

Using decorative 3D effects

Three-dimensional bars and pie slices can distort proportions. Use simple shapes unless depth represents an actual variable.

Relying only on color

Labels, shapes and patterns can make charts more accessible and ensure that important differences remain visible when printed.

Writing a vague title

A title such as “Sales Chart” provides little value. Use a descriptive title such as “Monthly Subscription Revenue Increased After the April Launch.”

Create Data-Driven Presentations With Dokie

Choosing the right chart is only one part of communicating data effectively. Dokie can turn reports, documents, URLs and research into structured presentations that combine key findings with clear visual storytelling. This can help users organize business data around a focused narrative instead of placing disconnected charts on separate slides.

Dokie also supports custom templates and editable PowerPoint exports, allowing teams to maintain their company’s branding and refine the final presentation. Users can update the data, adjust the charts and add context before presenting performance reports, research findings or project updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common graphs and charts?

Bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, histograms and scatter plots are among the most common data visualizations. Flowcharts, Gantt charts and funnel charts are also widely used for processes, schedules and business pipelines.

Which chart is best for comparing categories?

A bar graph is usually the clearest choice for comparing separate categories. Viewers can compare bar lengths more accurately than pie slices or bubble sizes.

Which graph is best for showing change over time?

A line graph is generally best for displaying a trend across days, months, quarters or years. An area graph can also work when you want to emphasize volume or composition.

Can one presentation use several types of charts?

Yes. Different data questions may require different charts. Keep the visual style consistent and ensure each chart supports a specific part of the presentation’s overall message.