# The best chart to compare items

> Nineteen charts, and when each one fits.

**Short answer.** To compare amounts, use bars; with long names or many items, horizontal bars. For two values per item, use a dumbbell; for before and after, a slope chart. Against a target, use a bullet chart.

Updated Nov 2, 2026 · Fintech sample data

## 007 · Horizontal bars

One value per region, sorted: South leads Q3 with $596K.

New deposits by region, Q3 2026. New deposits in Q3, $1,935K in total, high to low: South $596K, East $478K, Midwest $386K, North $301K, West $174K.

| Region | Q3 |
| --- | --- |
| South | $596K |
| East | $478K |
| Midwest | $386K |
| North | $301K |
| West | $174K |

## 002 · Grouped bars

Q2 and Q3 side by side in each region.

New deposits by region, Q2 and Q3 2026, $K. New deposits per region, Q2 next to Q3: $1,739K in Q2, $1,935K in Q3.

| Region | Q2 | Q3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| East | $412K | $478K |
| Midwest | $398K | $386K |
| South | $471K | $596K |
| West | $203K | $174K |
| North | $255K | $301K |

## 066 · Dumbbell

The gap is the story: South grew the most, +$125K.

Change in new deposits, Q2 to Q3 2026. From $1,739K to $1,935K: East +$66K, Midwest −$12K, South +$125K, West −$29K, North +$46K.

| Region | Q2 | Q3 | Change |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| East | $412K | $478K | +$66K |
| Midwest | $398K | $386K | −$12K |
| South | $471K | $596K | +$125K |
| West | $203K | $174K | −$29K |
| North | $255K | $301K | +$46K |

**Same $1,935K.** The bars rank Q3, the grouped bars put it next to Q2, and the dumbbell shows the change: deposits rose from $1,739K to $1,935K, but Midwest and West fell.

## If you ask

| Question | Use a |
| --- | --- |
| Which item is biggest? | 001 · Bars |
| Which of many items lead, with long names? | 007 · Horizontal bars |
| How do two values per item compare? | 066 · Dumbbell |
| What changed between before and after? | 044 · Slope |
| How far is each from its target? | 008 · Bullet |
| Who leads, period by period? | 045 · Bump |

## All nineteen

| Type | Use it when | Data shape |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [001 · Bars](https://usechartory.com/charts/bars) | One value per item, side by side | One value per item or period |
| [002 · Grouped bars](https://usechartory.com/charts/grouped-bars) | A few series, side by side in each period | Two to four series, one value per period |
| [004 · Diverging bars](https://usechartory.com/charts/diverging-bars) | In and out, from one zero line | A positive and a negative value per period |
| [007 · Horizontal bars](https://usechartory.com/charts/horizontal-bars) | Ranked items with room for their names | One value and a scheduled total per item |
| [008 · Bullet](https://usechartory.com/charts/bullet) | Each number against its target | Actual, target and ranges per measure |
| [009 · Lollipop](https://usechartory.com/charts/lollipop) | A slim bar with a marker at the value | One value per item |
| [021 · Gauge](https://usechartory.com/charts/gauge) | One reading on a dial, with a limit marked | One value from 0 to 100%, a threshold and a label |
| [023 · Radar](https://usechartory.com/charts/radar) | Two profiles across the same axes | Scores on five to eight shared axes |
| [044 · Slope](https://usechartory.com/charts/slope) | Before and after, one line per item | Two values per item, at two points |
| [045 · Bump](https://usechartory.com/charts/bump) | Who leads, week by week | Items with a rank per period |
| [065 · Ring grid](https://usechartory.com/charts/ring-grid) | One small ring per site, in a grid | A rate and a count per item |
| [066 · Dumbbell](https://usechartory.com/charts/dumbbell) | Two values per item, and the gap between them | Two values per item |
| [073 · Term cloud](https://usechartory.com/charts/term-cloud) | The words people use, sized by count | Terms with a weight from 0 to 1 and an optional tone |
| [078 · Battery cells](https://usechartory.com/charts/battery-cells) | Charge per unit, like a row of batteries | A charge level and a state per unit |
| [102 · Eval suite bars](https://usechartory.com/charts/eval-suite-bars) | Pass rate per eval suite, against its own target | Passed and total per suite, a target |
| [108 · Case strip dumbbell](https://usechartory.com/charts/case-strip-dumbbell) | Where the new version fixed or broke cases | Two scores per area, case outcomes |
| [114 · Burn-rate tracks](https://usechartory.com/charts/burn-rate-tracks) | Burn rate in four windows, against the paging rules | A burn rate and a rule per window |
| [119 · Traffic vs set](https://usechartory.com/charts/traffic-vs-set) | Real traffic against the test set, cluster by cluster | Two shares per cluster, an optional gap or under flag |
| [128 · Limit tracks](https://usechartory.com/charts/limit-tracks) | Each plan limit, used so far and forecast | Used, limit and forecast per item |

## Common mistakes

- **Bars that don't start at zero** Length carries the value. Start bars at zero, or use dots.
- **Unsorted bars** Sort by value unless the order means something, such as time.
- **Two series as two charts** Put them on one chart, grouped or as a dumbbell, so the eye compares directly.

## Every comparison chart, and the other 113 types.

In Figma and React, in four sizes, light and dark. Pay once, every update. [See the nineteen in Charts](https://usechartory.com/charts#compare-items)

## Questions

### Bars or horizontal bars?

Vertical bars for a few items or periods, horizontal bars for long names or many items.

### When is a dumbbell better than grouped bars?

When the change between the two values is the point.

### How many items can a bar chart hold?

About twelve vertical bars; many more as horizontal bars.

### Do these charts come in every size?

Yes. All of them come in XS, S, M and L, each laid out again for its size, in light and dark.

## Other questions

- [Change over time](https://usechartory.com/questions/change-over-time)
- [Part of a whole](https://usechartory.com/questions/part-of-a-whole)
- [Distribution](https://usechartory.com/questions/distribution)
- [Flow between steps](https://usechartory.com/questions/flow-between-steps)
- [Relationship](https://usechartory.com/questions/relationship)
- [Schedule and status](https://usechartory.com/questions/schedule-and-status)
- [Space and place](https://usechartory.com/questions/space-and-place)

Not sure you are comparing items? Start from what the chart has to show. [Open the Chart Chooser](https://usechartory.com/chooser)