Types of Graphs

Top 10 Types of Graphs

Any good financial analyst knows the importance of effectively communicating results, which largely comes down to knowing the different types of charts and graphs and when and how to use them.

In this guide, we outline the top 10 types of graphs[1] in Excel and what situation each kind is best for. Learn how to deliver powerful presentations and clear takeaways with these effective chart types. Learn more in CFI’s Excel Dashboards Course!

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#1 Line Graphs

The most common, simplest, and classic type of chart graph is the line graph. This is the perfect solution for showing multiple series of closely related series of data. Since line graphs are very lightweight (they only consist of lines, as opposed to more complex chart types, as shown below), they are great for a minimalistic look.

Tips:

• Remove all gridlines
• Remove any shading or borders
• Highlight each single series with a different color

#2 Bar Graphs

Bars (or columns) are the best types of graphs for presenting a single data series. Bar charts have a much heavier weight than line graphs do, so they really emphasize a point and stand out on the page.

Source: Dashboards and Data Presentation course

Tips

• Remove all gridlines
• Reduce the gap width between bars

#3 Combo Chart

The above two types of graphs can be combined to create a combo chart with bars and lines. This is very useful when presenting two data series with a very different scale and might be expressed in different units. The most common example is dollars on one axis and percentage on the other axis.

Source: Dashboard Course

Tips

• Delete borders and gridlines
• Add a legend
• Reduce the gap width for the bars
• Adjust the axis

#4 Scatterplot

The scatterplot is excellent for showing the relationship between two data series and determining their correlation. The scatterplot is great for showing what a distribution of data points looks like and drawing a line of best fit for regression analysis.

Source: Budgeting & Forecasting Course.

Tips

• Clearly label each axis
• Add a trendline
• Highlight clusters of data

#5 Waterfall Chart

In Excel 2016, Microsoft finally introduced a waterfall chart feature. In all older versions of Excel, analysts had to create a custom workaround using stacked column charts. If you are in a version of Excel before 2016, then please see our free guide and waterfall chart template. The waterfall chart is excellent for variance analysis and explaining how an “actual” result was different than a “budget” or how something has changed relative to an original data point.

Tips

• Set the start and end points to be “totals”
• Format positive and negatives
• Clear away gridlines

#6 Pie Graph

Pie charts have a bad reputation and are known for being messy and hard to read. However, if you’re trying to illustrate the percentage breakdown of a small number of data points, they can be very effective. For example, the percentage of people who prefer bananas, pineapples, and grapes.

Tips

• Keep it 2-D only
• Don’t graph more than five items in one pie
• Use infrequently

#7 Histogram

Histograms are a type of graph that shows the distribution of a dataset. They graph the percentage or the number of instances of different categories. For example, to show the distribution of age categories (0-10, 11-20, 21-30, etc.), we can clearly see which categories are the biggest and how many people fall into each.

Tips

• Set gap width to zero
• Add a subtle border between bars
• Add data labels

#8 Gauge Chart

The gauge chart is perfect for graphing a single data point and showing where that result fits on a scale from “bad” to “good.” Gauges are an advanced type of graph, as Excel doesn’t have a standard template for making them. To build one you have to combine a pie and a doughnut. Learn how in our data visualization course.

Source: Advanced Excel Course

Tips

• Best for a single data point
• Shows performance on a scale (e.g., bad to good)
• Learn via video instruction

#9 Area Graph

An area chart is a solid area and can be effective when showing stacked, cumulative data series – for example, showing the cumulative sales revenue from different products. This allows the reader to easily visualize the “area” (or weight) of each series relative to each other.

Tips

• Use stacked area
• Graph data that is cumulative
• Use colors carefully

#10 Spider chart / Radar graph

A spider or radar graph is a very useful type of graph for showing qualitative data or the overall “score” or comparison of multiple series. For example, a spider/radar can be easily used to compare three different types of phones based on five criteria (speed, screen size, camera quality, memory, apps).

Tips

• Keep it simple
• Only graph a few series/items
• Format to be minimalistic
• Remove markers

Video Explanation of Types of Graphs

Watch this short video to learn about different types of graphs commonly seen on financial models and dashboards!

Additional Resources

Thank you for reading CFI’s guide on the Types of Graphs. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following CFI resources will be helpful:

• Advanced Excel Formulas Guide
• Dashboard Creation in Excel
• How to Make a PitchBook
• Data Visualization Course
• See all Excel resources