Summary

A 100% Stacked Area Chart is a built-in Excel chart type, with data plotted as areas and stacked so that the cumulative area always represents 100%. Stacked Area charts can show a progression and composition over time, and the 100% Stacked Area Chart is meant to show the percentage that each component contributes when the cumulative total is not important.

Pros

  • Can show trends over periods of time
  • Can show component contribution changes over time

Cons

  • Non-intuitive presentation may be unfamiliar to many
  • Hard to read as data series are added

Chart Examples

Example 100% stacked area chart - product mix over time

Product mix over time

This is an example of a 100% stacked area chart. This tricky chart type can be quite hard to read. The idea is to visually show a percentage distribution across categories at specific intervals, but you lose the ability to compare absolute numbers, unless you add as data labels. In this case,...Read more