Scoop offers a rich library of chart types to visualize your data effectively. Choose the right chart type to communicate your insights clearly—whether you're showing trends, comparing categories, or displaying part-to-whole relationships.
Chart Type Overview
Chart Type
Best For
Data Requirements
Column Time trends, category comparison
1 metric, optional grouping
Line Trends over time
1+ metrics, time dimension
Area Cumulative trends, magnitude
1+ metrics, time dimension
Bar Category comparison, rankings
1 metric, 1 dimension
Pie Part-to-whole (few categories)
1 metric, 1 dimension
Donut Part-to-whole with center stat
1 metric, 1 dimension
Pictorial Creative branded visuals
1 metric, custom images
Gauge Progress toward goal
1 metric, target value
Radial Cyclical or comparative data
Multiple metrics
Choosing the Right Chart
Your Question
Recommended Chart
Why
"How has this changed over time?"
Line, Column, Area
Time axis shows progression
"How do these categories compare?"
Column, Bar
Easy visual comparison
"What's the breakdown?"
Pie, Donut
Shows proportions clearly
"Are we on track?"
Gauge
Visual progress indicator
"What's the ranking?"
Bar (horizontal)
Easy to read top-to-bottom
"How does this relate to total?"
Stacked Area, Donut
Shows part-to-whole
Column
Column charts are the workhorse of data visualization—perfect for comparing values across categories or tracking metrics over time.
VIDEO
Column Chart Features
Feature
Description
Categories Group by any dimension
Category groups Stack or cluster by second dimension
Formatting Colors, labels, gridlines, axis customization
Sorting By value, alphabetical, or custom order
When to Use Column Charts
Scenario
Example
Time-based comparisons
Monthly revenue
Category comparisons
Sales by region
Grouped comparisons
Revenue by product, stacked by region
Before/after analysis
Q1 vs Q2 performance
Line
Line charts excel at showing trends and continuous data over time. Multiple lines allow easy comparison of different series.
Line Chart Features
Feature
Description
Multiple series Compare several metrics simultaneously
Smooth/stepped Choose line interpolation style
Markers Show data points on lines
Dual axis Display metrics with different scales
When to Use Line Charts
Scenario
Example
Trend analysis
Revenue trend over 12 months
Multiple metric comparison
Revenue vs. costs over time
Rate of change
Growth rate visualization
Forecasting
Actuals vs. projected
Area
Area charts combine the trend-showing power of line charts with filled regions that emphasize magnitude and cumulative values.
Area Chart Variants
Variant
Best For
Simple area Single metric magnitude over time
Stacked area Part-to-whole over time
100% stacked Proportion changes over time
When to Use Area Charts
Scenario
Example
Cumulative totals
YTD revenue accumulation
Composition over time
Pipeline by stage over months
Volume emphasis
Order volume trends
Stacked comparisons
Revenue by product line
Bar
Bar charts display data horizontally—ideal when category names are long or when you have many categories to compare.
Bar Chart Features
Feature
Description
Horizontal layout Easy to read category labels
Long labels Accommodates lengthy text
Many categories Scrollable for 10+ items
Sorting Automatic ranking by value
When to Use Bar Charts
Scenario
Example
Rankings
Top 10 products by sales
Long category names
Sales by full product name
Survey results
Response frequency by answer
Leaderboards
Rep performance ranking
Pie
Pie charts show how parts contribute to a whole. Best used with 5 or fewer categories for readability.
Regular Pie
Half Pie
Pie Chart Features
Feature
Description
Regular pie Full circle, classic presentation
Half pie Semi-circle, space-efficient
Labels Value, percentage, or both
Exploded slices Emphasize specific segments
When to Use Pie Charts
Scenario
Example
Market share
Revenue by competitor
Budget allocation
Spend by category
Survey responses
Distribution of answers
Simple breakdowns
Deals by stage (3-5 stages)
Tip: If you have more than 5-6 categories, consider a bar chart or donut with "Other" grouping for better readability.
Donut
Donut charts add visual flair to pie charts while providing space in the center for a key metric or label.
Donut Chart Features
Feature
Description
Center metric Display total or key KPI in center
Modern aesthetic Contemporary look for dashboards
Same data as pie Part-to-whole relationships
Center labels Add context to the visualization
When to Use Donut Charts
Scenario
Example
Dashboard KPIs
Total revenue with breakdown
Progress indicators
Completion percentage
Category breakdown
Support tickets by type
Executive presentations
Clean, professional look
Pictorial Charts
Pictorial charts replace standard bars or areas with custom images, adding visual interest and semantic meaning to your data.
Pictorial Chart Features
Feature
Description
Custom images Upload logos, icons, photos
Semantic meaning Visual matches the data context
Brand alignment Use company imagery
Engagement More memorable than standard charts
When to Use Pictorial Charts
Scenario
Example
Product comparisons
Products represented by their images
Branded presentations
Company-specific visualizations
Infographics
Public-facing reports
Creative dashboards
Marketing and design contexts
Gauge
Gauges display progress toward a goal, making them perfect for KPIs and performance tracking.
Gauge Features
Feature
Description
Target indicator Shows goal line
Color zones Red/yellow/green for status
Percentage display Progress as percentage
Min/max configuration Custom scale range
When to Use Gauges
Scenario
Example
Sales targets
Quota attainment
SLA compliance
Service level percentage
Budget tracking
Spend vs. budget
Goal progress
Quarterly objectives
Radial Charts
Radial charts arrange data in a circular pattern, useful for cyclical data or comparing multiple dimensions.
Radial Chart Features
Feature
Description
Circular layout Unique visual presentation
Multiple metrics Compare several values
Cyclical data Natural for time-of-day, seasons
Space efficient Compact multi-metric display
When to Use Radial Charts
Scenario
Example
Multi-dimensional comparison
Performance across 5 metrics
Cyclical patterns
Sales by hour of day
Compact dashboards
Multiple KPIs in small space
Creative presentations
Unique visual style
All chart types support extensive customization:
Category
Options
Colors Theme colors, custom palettes, conditional coloring
Labels Data labels, axis labels, legend
Axes Scale, range, gridlines, tick marks
Legend Position, visibility, formatting
Title Chart title, subtitle
Borders Chart border and background
Best Practices
General Guidelines
Practice
Why
Match chart to data
Right chart type tells the story clearly
Limit categories
Too many makes charts unreadable
Use consistent colors
Same meaning = same color
Label clearly
Viewers should understand without explanation
Common Mistakes
Mistake
Better Approach
Pie chart with 10+ slices
Use bar chart or group into "Other"
3D effects
Stick to 2D for accuracy
Truncated Y-axis
Start at zero for fair comparison
Too many chart types
Consistency aids comprehension
