Bar charts (horizontal and vertical) in Tableau - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Bar charts help you compare values across categories using bars. You can show bars vertically or horizontally to make data easy to understand at a glance.

When you want to compare sales amounts for different products side by side.

When you need to show the number of customers by region clearly.

When you want to display survey results for multiple choices.

When you want to highlight the highest and lowest values in a dataset.

When you want to show progress toward goals across departments.

Steps

Step 1: Open your Tableau workbook

- Tableau Desktop start screen or existing workbook

Your data source and worksheet are ready for visualization

Step 2: Drag the dimension you want to categorize by

- Columns shelf for vertical bars or Rows shelf for horizontal bars

Tableau creates headers for each category on the axis

Step 3: Drag the measure you want to measure

- Rows shelf for vertical bars or Columns shelf for horizontal bars

Bars appear representing the measure values for each category

Step 4: Click the Show Me panel

- Right side of the Tableau interface

Available chart types appear, with bar chart options highlighted

Step 5: Select the vertical or horizontal bar chart icon

- Show Me panel

The chart updates to a clean bar chart in the chosen orientation

Step 6: Adjust colors or labels

- Marks card - Color or Label options

Bars change color or show values for easier reading

Step 7: Resize or format axes

- Right-click axis > Edit Axis

Axis titles and scales update to improve clarity

Before vs After

Before

Worksheet shows a table with product names and sales numbers in rows and columns

After

Worksheet shows vertical bars for each product with heights representing sales amounts

Settings Reference

Orientation

📍 Columns and Rows shelves

Controls whether bars go up/down or left/right

Default: Vertical bars

Show Me Chart Type

📍 Show Me panel

Quickly switch between bar chart styles

Default: Vertical Bar Chart

Color

📍 Marks card > Color

Enhances visual distinction between bars

Default: Single color

Labels

📍 Marks card > Label

Displays numeric values on bars for clarity

Default: Hide values

Common Mistakes

Placing the dimension and measure on the same shelf

This causes Tableau to create a text table instead of a bar chart

Place the dimension on Columns or Rows and the measure on the opposite shelf to create bars

Not selecting the bar chart type in Show Me

Tableau may default to a different chart type that is less clear

Always click the Show Me panel and choose the bar chart icon to ensure correct visualization

Summary

Bar charts compare values across categories using bars that can be vertical or horizontal.

Place dimensions and measures on opposite shelves to control bar orientation.

Use the Show Me panel to quickly select the bar chart type and customize colors and labels.

Practice

1. Which of the following best describes a vertical bar chart in Tableau?

easy

A. Dimension on Columns and Measure on Rows

B. Dimension on Rows and Measure on Columns

C. Both Dimension and Measure on Rows

D. Both Dimension and Measure on Columns

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand vertical bar chart layout

   Vertical bars are created by placing the dimension on Columns and the measure on Rows in Tableau.

2. Step 2: Match the layout to options

   Dimension on Columns and Measure on Rows matches this layout exactly.

3. Final Answer:

   Dimension on Columns and Measure on Rows -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Vertical bars = Dimension on Columns, Measure on Rows [OK]

Hint: Vertical bars: dimension columns, measure rows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing horizontal and vertical bar chart layouts
• Placing both dimension and measure on the same shelf
• Swapping rows and columns incorrectly

2. Which Tableau shelf placement creates a horizontal bar chart?

easy

A. Dimension on Rows, Measure on Columns

B. Dimension on Columns, Measure on Rows

C. Measure on Rows only

D. Dimension on Rows only

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall horizontal bar chart setup

   Horizontal bars are made by placing the dimension on Rows and the measure on Columns.

2. Step 2: Identify correct option

   Dimension on Rows, Measure on Columns matches this setup exactly.

3. Final Answer:

   Dimension on Rows, Measure on Columns -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Horizontal bars = Dimension on Rows, Measure on Columns [OK]

Hint: Horizontal bars: dimension rows, measure columns [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mixing up rows and columns shelves
• Placing only measures without dimensions
• Choosing options with missing shelves

3. Given a dataset with 'Category' as dimension and 'Sales' as measure, what will be the result of placing 'Category' on Rows and 'Sales' on Columns in Tableau?

medium

A. A scatter plot comparing categories and sales

B. A horizontal bar chart showing sales per category

C. A line chart showing sales trend

D. A vertical bar chart showing sales per category

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze shelf placement

   Category on Rows and Sales on Columns creates vertical bars representing sales per category.

2. Step 2: Identify chart type

   This layout produces a vertical bar chart, not horizontal or other chart types.

3. Final Answer:

   A vertical bar chart showing sales per category -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Category rows + Sales columns = vertical bars [OK]

Hint: Category rows + Sales columns = vertical bar chart [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming horizontal bars instead of vertical
• Confusing bar chart with line or scatter plot
• Ignoring shelf placement rules

4. You created a bar chart but the bars are vertical when you wanted horizontal bars. What is the most likely fix?

medium

A. Remove the dimension from the view

B. Change the mark type to Line

C. Swap the dimension and measure between Rows and Columns shelves

D. Add a filter to the data

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify cause of vertical bars

   Vertical bars appear when dimension is on Rows and measure on Columns.

2. Step 2: Fix by swapping shelves

   To get horizontal bars, swap dimension to Columns and measure to Rows.

3. Final Answer:

   Swap the dimension and measure between Rows and Columns shelves -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Swap shelves to switch bar orientation [OK]

Hint: Swap dimension and measure shelves to change bar direction [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Changing mark type instead of shelf placement
• Removing dimension causing no bars
• Adding filters unrelated to orientation

5. You want to create a dashboard showing sales by region with horizontal bars, but also want to add a vertical bar chart showing profit by region side by side. How should you set up the shelves for each chart in Tableau?

hard

A. For sales: Dimension on Columns, Measure on Rows; For profit: Dimension on Rows, Measure on Columns

B. For sales: Dimension on Rows, Measure on Columns; For profit: Dimension on Columns, Measure on Rows

C. For sales: Dimension on Columns, Measure on Columns; For profit: Dimension on Rows, Measure on Rows

D. For sales: Measure on Rows, Dimension on Rows; For profit: Measure on Columns, Dimension on Columns

Solution

1. Step 1: Set up horizontal bar chart for sales

   Horizontal bars require dimension on Rows and measure on Columns.

2. Step 2: Set up vertical bar chart for profit

   Vertical bars require dimension on Columns and measure on Rows.

3. Step 3: Match options to setup

   For sales: Dimension on Rows, Measure on Columns; For profit: Dimension on Columns, Measure on Rows correctly assigns shelves for both charts.

4. Final Answer:

   For sales: Dimension on Rows, Measure on Columns; For profit: Dimension on Columns, Measure on Rows -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Horizontal bars = dim rows, measure columns; Vertical bars = dim columns, measure rows [OK]

Hint: Horizontal bars: dim rows; Vertical bars: dim columns [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using same shelf setup for both charts
• Placing measures on wrong shelves
• Confusing dimension and measure roles