Chart Selection (Which Chart to Use & When?)

Choosing the right chart is the most important step 👇

1. Column Chart

Best For: Category comparison

Example: Department-wise Sales

Best for comparing different categories clearly.

2. Line Chart

Best For: Trend analysis (time-based data)

Example: Month-wise Sales

Perfect for showing growth or decline trends over time.

3. Pie Chart

Best For: Percentage distribution

Example: Department contribution to total sales

⚠️ Use only when the number of categories is small (maximum 3–5).

4. Bar Chart

Horizontal version of a Column Chart.

Useful when category names are long.

5. Area Chart

Best For: Showing trend + volume together.

Similar to a Line Chart but filled with color to emphasize quantity.

6. Combo Chart

Best For: Showing two different data types together.

Example: Sales + Profit %

Great when comparing value and percentage in the same chart.

Quick Chart Selection Guide

Formatting for Dashboards

A dashboard should look clean and professional.

1. Use Consistent Colors

• Use only 2–3 main colors.
  

• Use the same color for the same metric everywhere.
  

• Avoid over-coloring.
  

2. Remove Unnecessary Elements

• Remove extra gridlines.
  

• Keep background white.
  

• Keep borders minimal.

3. Use Proper Labels

• Add Axis Titles.
  

• Use data labels only when necessary.
  

• Write a clear and meaningful chart title.
  

Example:

• ❌ "Chart1"
  

• ✅ "Department Wise Sales – 2026"
  

4. Alignment & Spacing

• Keep charts the same size.
  

• Maintain proper spacing.
  

• Place top KPIs at the top of the dashboard.
  

Use Slicers (Interactive Dashboards)

Use slicers with Pivot Charts to make dashboards interactive and easy to filter.