Best Practices for Gauge Charts

A gauge chart is a graphical representation of the relative proportions of data. Gauge charts are often used to represent progress in a project or the level of something, such as the temperature.

There are two types of gauge charts: radial and linear. Radial gauge charts show data as a proportional radial diagram with a central point marking the origin. The radius of the circle is proportional to the magnitude of the data. Linear gauge charts are used to compare two or more data sets. The width of the bars represents the magnitude of the data, and the position of the bar shows the relation between the data sets.

With something as simple as this type of chart, it’s important to stick to a few guidelines. By keeping some best practices for gauge charts in mind, you can have successful results with this visual. 

Choose your colors wisely. 

When choosing colors for gauges, it is important to consider how the colors will change. Different colors can be used to indicate different values on the gauge, which can be helpful in understanding the data at a glance. However, care must be taken to ensure that the colors are easily distinguishable from one another.

Start your gauge at zero (in most cases).

When the gauge starts at zero, it is easy to see the difference between the current value and the maximum or minimum value. This can be helpful for quickly understanding how close the current value is to the maximum or minimum. It can also be helpful for comparing the current value to past values. However, in some cases, your starting point may be able to be higher than zero because a zero result is impossible. 

Label your axes.

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Axes on gauge charts should always be labeled to make the data easy to understand. The vertical axis should be labeled with the units of measurement, and the horizontal axis should be labeled with the time period or category being measured.

Size and format your gauge chart appropriately. 

Make sure that your gauge chart is properly sized and formatted to fit the data that you are trying to present. The size of the gauge should be relative to the range of values and should be consistent throughout the chart. The formatting of the gauge should be legible and easy to understand. The marks on the gauge should be evenly spaced, and it is important to choose a scale that will allow for enough marks to be displayed. If there are too many or too few values to be displayed on the chart, the scale should be adjusted.

Use a clear and concise title. 

Gauge charts are a popular choice in the business world, as they can be used to quickly and easily visualize data. Labeling individual gauges on your chart helps make this visualization more clear. It is also important to choose an appropriate title for the chart, so that viewers can quickly understand the data that is being displayed.

Take advantage of visual details. 

In a gauge chart, different data points can be distinguished by their color and shading. This can be helpful in understanding how different data points relate to one another.

Maintain your data.

When creating gauge charts, it is important to keep your data as up-to-date as possible. This will ensure that your chart is as accurate as possible. You can do this by updating your data regularly, or by refreshing your chart whenever new data is available.

Gauge charts are a great way to visualize your data and track progress over time. They can be used to track any type of data, but are often used to track progress towards a goal or target.