Waterfall Chart Maker

Show how a value builds up step by step

A waterfall chart is a bar chart variant where each bar starts where the previous one ended, so you can see how a starting value grows and shrinks through a series of positive and negative steps to a final total. InstaCharts builds one from your spreadsheet, ideal for profit-and-loss and budget reconciliations.

Example waterfall chart made with InstaCharts
Make a Waterfall Chart Free Open the Demo

A live waterfall chart example

An interactive waterfall chart built and embedded with InstaCharts.

What data you need for a waterfall chart

X-Axis Categorical steps in order, such as line items or stages
Y-Axis Numerical values, the positive or negative contribution of each step

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

When to use a waterfall chart

  • Show a running cumulative total across a sequence of steps
  • Break down a profit-and-loss statement from revenue to net
  • Reconcile a budget from its starting to its ending value
  • Explain what drove the change between two totals

When another chart fits better

  • Unordered categories belong in a standard bar chart
  • Part-to-whole at a single point in time suits a pie or stacked bar chart
  • Continuous trends read better as a line graph

How to make a waterfall chart

  1. 1
    Add your data: Paste a spreadsheet, or upload a CSV, Excel, TSV, or JSON file.
  2. 2
    Pick the waterfall 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.

Waterfall Chart maker FAQ

Is the waterfall chart maker free?

Yes. Creating and exporting a waterfall chart is free with no account. The free tier supports up to 500 rows and adds a watermark; paid plans from $10/month remove it.

What is a waterfall chart used for?

Waterfall charts explain how an initial value reaches a final value through a series of positive and negative steps. They are most common for profit-and-loss breakdowns, budget reconciliations, and showing what drove the change between two numbers.

What data do I need for a waterfall chart?

A column of ordered step labels for the X-axis and a numeric column of contributions, where increases are positive and decreases are negative. InstaCharts plots each step from where the last one ended.

Can a waterfall chart show negative values?

Yes. Unlike pie, stacked bar, and area charts, a waterfall chart is designed for mixed positive and negative steps, which is exactly what makes it suited to gains-and-losses analysis.

Want the full reference? Read the waterfall chart documentation.

Related chart makers

Bar Chart Maker

Compare values across categories online, free

Stacked Bar Chart Maker

Show totals and composition in one chart

Line Graph Maker

Plot trends over time online, free

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