Bullet graph

Synonyms:
Bullet chart, Data bar
Graphic of a bullet graph with three horizontal bars each divided into three equal sections and each bar containing a black progress bar, a vertical target line instersects all bars

Bullet graphs encode a single variable as a bar.

It looks a lot like a bar graph, with just one bar represented. However, a bullet chart adds some extra context that makes it powerful. Most bullet graphs also show a target line and, in the background, some shaded performance levels. Typically bullet charts are included in dashboards because they pack a lot of information into a tiny amount of space.

Examples

CIO Dashboard featuring two sets of bullet graphs

Example data dashboard

This dashboard contains many graphs and lots of data but notice the bullet charts in the middle and on the right.

Source: Veronica Smith. Retrieved from http://www.ndedataviz.com/chapter-6--data-dashboard-as-evaluation-and-re...

Advice for choosing this method

If you have a target or benchmark, a bullet chart is a good idea. You do not necessarily have to include levels of performance in the background, even though this is the technical definition of a bullet graph. Bullet graphs can also be used outside of dashboards, in more traditional data displays.

Advice for using this method

Performance areas should be in the background and muted in colour because they are supporting but not primary information. Target lines are often red but can be any colour that will sufficiently pop out to the viewer.

Resources

  • A step-by-step guide to making bullet charts in Excel

    This slidedeck from Jon Schwabish for Policyviz provides step-by-step guidance for creating bullet charts using Excel.

  • Easy bullet charts in Excel

    This blog post from Stephanie Evergreen of Evergreen Data provides step-by-step guidance on creating bullet charts in Excel.

    Each step of the process includes screen shots to make learning this method easier.

  • Adding a benchmark line to a graph

    This blog post by Stephanie Evergreen for Evergreen Data provides guidance on using Excel to add a benchmark line to a graph.

    The blog provides step-by-step instructions including screen shots of each stage of the process.

  • Bullet graph design specification

    Stephen Few, the inventor of the bullet graph, outlines the design specifications and includes performance areas.

Other ways to compare sets of values

  • Bar chart

    A bar chart plots the number of times a particular value or category occurs in a data set, with the length of the bar representing the number of observations with that score or in that category.

  • Block histogram

    A histogram is a graphical way of presenting a frequency distribution of quantitative data organised into a number equally spaced intervals or bins (e.g. 1-10, 11-20…).

  • Bubble chart

    Commonly used on maps, and x/y-axis plots, or no plot at all, bubble charts communicate the raw count, frequency, or proportion of some variable where the size of the bubble reflects the quantity.

  • Deviation bar graph

    Deviation bar graphs are simply two bar charts aligned, where one of the charts runs right to left rather than left to right.

  • Dot plot

    Dot plots encode single data points with circles, often on a line.

  • Small multiples

    Small multiples are an array of graphs on the same scale that are grouped together in a row or grid and are often used to simplify a data display.

Few, S. (2013) Bullet Graph Design Specification. Perceptual Edge. Retrieved from http://www.perceptualedge.com/articles/misc/Bullet_Graph_Design_Spec.pdf

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