Animated Stacked Bar Chart Generator
Show a total and its parts in one bar. Export as PNG, SVG, GIF or MP4.
Free to try · No design skills · Ready in about two minutes
Overview
What is a stacked bar chart?
A stacked bar chart splits each bar into coloured segments stacked on top of one another, so a single bar shows both a total and the parts that make it up. Across several bars, you see how that total, and its composition, changes from category to category or period to period. It is the natural choice for revenue mix, plan breakdowns and budget composition.
Stacking does two jobs at once: the full bar height reads as the total, and each segment shows a part's contribution. That is its power and its limit. The bottom segment, sitting on the baseline, is easy to compare across bars; segments higher up float on shifting bases and are harder to read precisely. Put the series you most want compared at the bottom.
Reochart stacks and animates each segment and labels the total above every bar, so part-to-whole stories read clearly. It supports up to five segments per bar, each with an editable name and colour. Export as MP4, GIF, PNG or SVG, with your brand palette on Pro.
How it works
How a stacked bar chart works
Within each bar, segments are drawn one on top of the next, so each segment's height is its value and the whole bar's height is the sum. A legend maps colours to series, and the total is labelled above the bar.
Because higher segments rest on a moving base, only the bottom segment shares a common baseline across bars. Order segments so the most important comparison sits at the bottom, and keep to about five segments before the bands get too thin to read.
Examples
Example stacked bar charts
Real charts made in Reochart, each with its own data and theme. They animate automatically as you scroll.
Good fit
When to use a stacked bar chart
- ✓Revenue mix by stream
- ✓Users or accounts by plan
- ✓Part-to-whole change over time
- ✓Budget or spend composition
- ✓Any total you want to break into parts
Reach for something else
When not to use a stacked bar chart
- ✕You need to compare the parts precisely, use a grouped bar.
- ✕There is only one series, a plain bar chart is simpler.
- ✕You have a single total to break down once, a donut may read better.
- ✕You have more than about five segments, the bands get too thin.
Compare
Stacked bar vs other charts
Stacked bar vs the alternatives.
| Chart type | Best for | Avoid when |
|---|---|---|
| Stacked bar | Total and its parts across categories | Comparing the parts precisely |
| Grouped bar | Comparing series side by side | The total is the main message |
| Donut | One total split into parts, once | Tracking the mix across periods |
| Area | A single trend's magnitude | Showing a breakdown by segment |
Your data
What data you need
One row per category, one column per segment (up to five). Reochart stacks them and labels the total. Paste from a sheet or import a CSV.
| Category | Segment A | Segment B | Segment C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 120 | 38 | 12 |
| Q2 | 148 | 44 | 15 |
| Q3 | 176 | 51 | 18 |
| Q4 | 212 | 58 | 21 |
Step by step
How to make a stacked bar chart
Drop your numbers in, or import a CSV.
Choose the chart, theme and animation speed.
Tune colours, labels and add your brand.
Download MP4, GIF, PNG or SVG.
Best practices
Get it right
- ✓Put the series you most want to compare at the bottom.
- ✓Keep to about five segments so each band stays readable.
- ✓Use one consistent colour per series across all bars.
- ✓Show the total above each bar for context.
- ✕Stack so many segments the bands become slivers.
- ✕Use stacking when you need to compare parts precisely.
- ✕Reorder segments between bars, it breaks the legend.
- ✕Mix a part-to-whole story with unrelated totals.
Watch out
Common mistakes to avoid
Only the bottom segment shares a baseline. Judging the height of a middle band across bars is error-prone, put the key series at the bottom.
Five is about the limit. More than that and each band is too thin to read or label.
If the question is 'which part is bigger', a grouped bar answers it better than a stack.
The total is half the value of a stacked bar. Label it above each bar so the whole story is visible.
Why Reochart
Built for sharing, not just charting
- ✓No design skills required
- ✓Animated MP4 and GIF exports
- ✓PNG and scalable SVG too
- ✓Your brand colours and logo (Pro)
- ✓Paste from a sheet or import a CSV
- ✓Presentation and feed ready in minutes
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a stacked bar chart?
A stacked bar chart divides each bar into coloured segments laid end to end, so a single bar shows both a total and the composition that produced it. It answers two questions in one shape: how big is this category overall, and what is the mix inside it. Revenue split by plan tier, headcount split by department, traffic split by channel all fit naturally, because the total genuinely means something and the parts genuinely sum to it. The format has one well-known weakness. Only the bottom segment sits on a shared baseline, so segments higher up the stack are hard to compare across bars, since each one starts at a different height. When comparing a specific component across categories is the actual goal, a grouped bar chart puts every series back on the baseline and reads far more accurately.
Stacked or grouped bars?
Use stacked bars when the total per category and its composition is the story. Use grouped bars when you need to compare the individual series precisely.
How many segments can a bar have?
Up to five, each with its own name and colour, with the total labelled above the bar.
Why is the bottom segment easier to read?
It sits on the shared baseline, so it is directly comparable across bars. Higher segments rest on shifting bases, so put your most important series at the bottom.
Can I make it animated?
Yes. Charts animate by default, and you can export the animation as an MP4 or GIF, or grab a static PNG or SVG if you prefer.
Can I export as SVG?
Yes. Pro exports a crisp, scalable SVG vector, alongside MP4, GIF and PNG. Every export renders at 1080p.
Is Reochart free?
Yes. The free plan lets you make every chart type except the animated bar chart race, and export an animated MP4 with a small watermark, no card needed. Pro adds the bar chart race, removes the watermark, and adds GIF and SVG, your brand colours and logo, longer videos and CSV import.
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