Stacked Area Chart

Key points

A Stacked Area Chart is the extension of a basic area chart. It displays the evolution of a numerical value for several groups on the same chart, stacked on top of each other.
Example Area Chart

Best Practices

Stacked area charts allow the user to see how the whole behaves across time. However, stacked area charts may be misleading for the progression of individual groups within the whole. An individual may be progressing upwards but seem to be diminishing in comparison to the progress of the other groups in the chart.

Use:

  • When there are six or more time periods to compare
  • When you are communicating an overall trend, not specific values
  • To show the rise and fall of data series over time
  • When all data has a relationship with zero

Don't Use:

  • When the differences between the data are small
  • When there is only a single data series
  • When several series of data show volatile changes

Quick Build Notes

  1. Select Area Chart as the Visualization Type.
  2. Upload your data.
  3. Type in the Title and other text fields in the General tab.
  4. Set the Chart Subtype to Stacked in the General tab.Select the Data Series.
  5. Set the Date/Category Axis.

Configuration Options

The example visualizations below highlight options available for stacked area charts. Key configuration selections are in the build notes section under each example.

For in-depth configuration information visit the Configuration Options section.

Example Stacked Area Chart

Use the stacked area chart to show progress as a whole.

Sample Data: Example Stacked Area Chart

Data Format
  • Vertical
  • Multiple series: yes
  • Multiple Rows
  • Row is describing Year
  • Category/date axis is B-value
  • Numeric attribute is Value
General
Chart Subtype: Stacked
Data Series
  • C-value
  • B-value
  • A-value
Date/Category Axis
Data Scaling: Categorical (Linear Scaling)

Example Area Chart with Annotations

Add annotations to provide context or call out specific points of your visualization. In smaller viewports, only the numbers will appear, with the text displaying in the Annotation Dropdown below the Data Table. It is best practice to always include this for mobile users.

Annotations are also available on line, bar, and combo charts as of August 2024.

Sample Data: Area Chart Sample Data

Data Format
  • Vertical
  • Multiple Series: No
Data Series
  • Data 1
  • Data 3
Date/Category Axis
  • Data Scaling Type: Date (Linear Scale)
  • Date Parse Format: %m/%d/%Y
  • Axis Date Display Format: %m/%d/%Y
Legend
  • Position: Bottom
  • Single Row Legend
Annotations
  • Show Annotation Dropdown
  • Annotation Dropdown Title: Annotations
Annotations: Add Annotation
  • Annotation Text: Annotations can have a circle
  • Opacity Slider: middle range
  • Edit Subject
  • Edit Label
  • Connection Type: Elbow
  • Marker: Circle

Annotations: Add Annotation

  • Annotation Text: or they can have an arrow
  • Opacity Slider: upper-middle range
  • Edit Subject
  • Edit Label
  • Connection Type: Line
  • Marker: Arrow

Example Area Chart with Categorical Value Axis

Use a categorical axis to show data by category. Applying a categorical axis will remove numerical values and the axis label from the value axis. It is recommended to use the Message area to describe the categories.

Categorical value axis are also available on line and bar charts as of August 2024.

Sample Data: Area Chart Sample Data

Data Format
  • Vertical
  • Multiple series: No
Data Series
  • Data 1
  • Data 2
  • Data 4
  • Data 6
Left Value Axis

  • Axis Type: Categorical
  • Size (Width): 75
  • Show Gridlines

Left Value Axis: Add Axis Category
  • Category Height: 2000
  • Color: Green
  • Note: the color fields also work with hex values
  • Label: Low
Left Value Axis: Add Axis Category
  • Category Height: 3000
  • Color: Yellow
  • Label: Medium
  • Note: If the label does not show in the category, you may need to widen the axis (see "Size: Width" above).
Left Value Axis: Add Axis Category
  • Category Height: blank (this fills to the top of the chart)
  • Color: Tomato
  • Label: High
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