Building an SVG Grouped Bar Chart
A grouped bar chart places each series as a separate bar within a category slot, sharing a common baseline for easy comparison.
Drop your image here
Supports PNG, JPG, BMP, WEBP up to 5MB
Dividing Each Category Slot Among Series
Grouped bars require two levels of positioning: an outer scale placing each category's slot along the axis, and an inner division splitting that slot's width among the series so each bar gets an equal share with optional padding between them.
- An outer scale positions each category's slot along the axis
- The slot width divides evenly among the series within it
- Optional padding between bars keeps individual series distinguishable
Why Shared Baselines Aid Comparison
Because every bar in a grouped chart starts from the same baseline, comparing any two values, whether within a group or across groups, requires only comparing bar lengths, which is the perceptual task humans perform most accurately.
- Every bar starts from the same baseline regardless of series
- Comparison reduces to judging bar length, a highly accurate task
- This works equally well within a group and across different groups
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compute the width of each bar in a group?
Divide the category slot's total width by the number of series, then subtract any padding you want between adjacent bars within the group.
How many series can a grouped bar chart handle?
Beyond roughly four or five series the bars become too narrow to read comfortably, at which point small multiples or a different chart type usually communicates better.
Related guides
Ready to Convert Your Image to SVG?
Free online converter — no sign-up, no watermarks, results in under 3 seconds.
Try It Free — Convert Image to SVG