Lipstick Bar Chart

Compact and precise visual comparison of two measures with a Lipstick Bar Chart

Regularly the standard Bar Chart is used to compare two measures within a number of categories. If one of these measures has been added as a reference (secondary measure) to increase the context of the primary measure it would be better to clearly show this priority difference.

This is precisely what the Lipstick Bar Chart does: It shows the primary measure per category on the foreground, and places the secondary measure behind it for a precise comparison of both values. Since both values are placed on top of each other it also becomes a more compact alternative to show both measures per category.