Stacked Bar Chart Maker

Show totals and composition in one chart

A stacked bar chart divides each bar into colored segments, so a single bar shows both the category total and how each sub-category contributes to it. InstaCharts builds one from your spreadsheet in seconds, including a normalized 100% variant when you care about proportions.

Make a Stacked Bar Chart Free Open the Demo

A live stacked bar chart example

An interactive stacked bar chart built and embedded with InstaCharts.

What data you need for a stacked bar chart

X-Axis Dates or categorical data
Y-Axis Numerical values, the cumulative total of each bar
Breakdown A category column; each unique value becomes a stacked segment

Paste your spreadsheet, upload a CSV or Excel file, or connect a Google Sheet, and InstaCharts detects your column types and builds the stacked bar chart automatically.

When to use a stacked bar chart

  • Compare totals and composition at the same time
  • Show each sub-category's share of the whole within every bar
  • Track how a mix shifts across time periods
  • Spot which component dominates inside each category

When another chart fits better

  • Many sub-categories blur together; group small ones into Other
  • Precise comparison of middle segments is hard, so use a grouped bar chart
  • Mixed positive and negative values can mislead a stacked layout

How to make a stacked bar chart

  1. 1
    Add your data: Paste a spreadsheet, or upload a CSV, Excel, TSV, or JSON file.
  2. 2
    Pick the stacked bar chart: InstaCharts auto-suggests a chart; switch to this type in one click.
  3. 3
    Map your columns: Choose which columns drive each axis, or accept the smart defaults.
  4. 4
    Customize styling: Adjust colors, labels, and titles to match your brand or report.
  5. 5
    Export or embed: Download as PNG, SVG, or PDF, share a link, or embed a live, auto-updating chart.

Stacked Bar Chart maker FAQ

Is the stacked bar chart maker free?

Yes. You can build and export a stacked bar chart for free, no sign-up needed. The free tier covers up to 500 rows and adds a watermark, which paid plans from $10/month remove.

How do I make a 100% stacked bar chart?

Switch the chart to its normalized variant and every bar is rescaled to the same height, so each segment shows its percentage of the total instead of an absolute value. It is ideal for comparing composition across categories of different sizes.

What data do I need for a stacked bar chart?

A category column for the X-axis, a numeric column for the values, and a second category column to break each bar into segments. InstaCharts can pivot raw data into this shape for you.

Can I keep colors consistent across bars?

Yes. Each sub-category keeps the same color across every bar, and you can customize the palette to match your brand or report styling.

Want the full reference? Read the stacked bar chart documentation.

Related chart makers

Bar Chart Maker

Compare values across categories online, free

Grouped Bar Chart Maker

Compare several series side by side

Mekko Chart Maker

Show size and composition at once

See every option on the chart maker page.

Craft professional charts in seconds

Boost your productivity. Elevate your reports. InstaCharts makes data visualization effortless.

Start Charting for Free