Stacks data series horizontally to show cumulative values while highlighting the contribution of each segment.
When to use a Horizontal bar stacked chart
This format is ideal when you need to:
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Show how multiple values contribute to a total within each category.
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Visualise part-to-whole relationships using a horizontal layout.
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Work with longer category labels that are easier to read left to right.
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Compare both overall totals and individual segments across different groups.
How to build a Horizontal bar stacked chart
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In the Explore Data tool, go to the Build Your Chart step.
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Under the Type tab, select Horizontal bar stacked.
- Here is an example:
💡 Tips for Horizontal bar stacked chart
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Shows composition + total: Horizontal stacked bars allow readers to understand both total value and category composition at once.
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Use when category labels are long: Better than vertical stacked when category names are long or you have many of them.
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Beware hard-to-compare segments: Only the first segment in each bar aligns easily so avoid using this chart if precise comparison of internal segments is critical.