How to Create a Mekko Chart
Data Format
One row per column (category). Each value column becomes one segment stacked inside that column.
| Category | Value 1 | Value 2 | Value 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 52 | 38 | 30 |
| Europe | 34 | 29 | 22 |
| Asia Pacific | 41 | 45 | 54 |
| Latin America | 18 | 16 | 14 |
- Category (required): the label under each column.
- Value 1, Value 2, Value 3... (required, numeric, ≥ 0): one column per segment, stacked bottom to top. Add more value columns to add more segments.
Column width is always proportional to that category's total (the sum of its value columns) against the grand total across every category, in both height modes. This is what makes it a Marimekko chart rather than an ordinary stacked column chart, where every column is the same width.
Chart Elements
Every part of the chart maps to a section in the style panel.
Bars
Each segment is one value column's share within its category.
- Fill - one color row per value column.
- Stroke / Stroke Width - segment border.
Mode lives in the Settings panel: Value height (this guide) scales each column's height to its share of a shared Y max, so columns with a smaller total sit shorter than columns with a larger one. 100% height always fills every column to the full plot height, showing only the internal proportions, see the 100% Mekko Chart guide.
Labels
The value shown inside each segment, always centered. A segment too short to fit its label cleanly just hides it rather than overlapping.
- Color - text color.
- Font / Font Size - text styling.
- Prefix / Suffix - e.g. "$", "B". Labels show the segment's actual value in both height modes, they don't switch to a percentage in 100% mode.
Stack Connectors
Dashed lines linking each segment's seam to the same series' seam in the next column, the signature Marimekko visual cue. Hidden by default.
- Color - line color.
- Stroke Width - line weight.
Axis
Only meaningful in Value height mode, since 100% height mode has no shared scale for an axis to mark. Y Min / Y Max / Y Ticks live under Axis Labels below, not here.
- X Axis / Y Axis - show or hide each axis line independently.
Grid
Horizontal gridlines only, and only rendered in Value height mode.
- Color / Stroke Width - gridline styling.
Axis Labels
Category names along X are always shown. The numeric labels along Y only appear in Value height mode.
- Color - applies to both axes.
- Font / Font Size - applies to both axes.
- Y Min / Y Max / Y Ticks - override the auto-calculated Y range (Value height mode only).
- Rotation - set independently for X and Y.
Legend
Appears automatically once there are two or more value columns.
- Position - Top, Bottom, Right, or Direct.
- Color - legend text color.
- Font / Font Size - legend text styling.