What is a Mekko chart?

A Mekko chart, also called a Marimekko chart, is a two-dimensional chart where both the width and height of each bar carry meaning. Column width represents one variable, typically market size or revenue, while the stacked heights within each column show the share breakdown, with segments summing to 100%. It encodes three variables: market size, segment share, and segment identity.

What is a Marimekko chart?

Marimekko is another name for the same chart type, named after the Finnish design company. The terms Mekko chart and Marimekko chart are used interchangeably. Both refer to a stacked bar chart where column widths are proportional to a size variable rather than uniform.

When should I use a Mekko chart?

Use a Mekko chart when you need to show market size and share simultaneously. For example, segment revenue by geography, product revenue by customer size, or category spend by department. It answers the question: which segments are large, and who has what share within each? It is common in strategy consulting and market analysis presentations.

Can I import data from Excel or Google Sheets?

Yes. Import from Excel or Google Sheets directly into the editor. Format: one row per segment per column, with columns for the column category, the segment, the column size, and the segment value or share. AECharts calculates widths and heights automatically.

How many columns and segments should a Mekko chart have?

Three to eight columns with two to five segments per column is the readable range. Too many columns compress the narrow markets until they are illegible. Too many segments per column creates sliver-thin slices. Group minor segments into Other if needed.

What is the difference between a Mekko chart and a stacked bar chart?

In a standard stacked bar chart, all columns have the same width. Only the stacked heights vary. In a Mekko chart, column width is also variable, proportional to a size value. This means a wide, tall stack in a Mekko chart represents both a large market and a dominant share, a combination that a regular stacked bar cannot show in a single chart.

Do I need design skills?

No. Templates are professionally designed. Import your data and the chart builds automatically. Most users create their first Mekko chart in under two minutes.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. All features are free with unlimited image exports. Video exports at 1080p require a Pro plan starting at $19/month billed annually. No credit card required to start.

Can I use a Mekko chart in a presentation?

Yes. The MP4 export drops directly into PowerPoint and Google Slides. Mekko charts are a staple in strategy consulting decks and board presentations where you need to show market landscape in a single, dense slide.

Mekko Chart Maker — Create Marimekko Charts Online for Free

Q: What export formats are available?

Export as MP4 at 1080p or as a static image. MP4 works in PowerPoint, Google Slides, LinkedIn, and reports. Image export is available on all plans.

A Mekko chart, also called a Marimekko chart, encodes two variables at once: column width shows market or category size, and stacked height shows the share breakdown within each column. Use AECharts to build Mekko charts from your Excel or Google Sheets data for market landscape analysis, competitive positioning, and strategy presentations.

How to Create a Mekko Chart

Select the Mekko chart type

Open the AECharts editor and select Mekko Chart from the chart type picker. If you want a different visual style, browse the template explorer on the right panel and click any template to apply it instantly.

Enter your data

Click "Edit Data" in the top-right corner to open the spreadsheet. Put your category names in the first column — each row becomes one stacked column in the chart. Add values in the columns to the right — each additional column becomes a segment stacked within each category. AECharts calculates column widths and stacked heights automatically. Import directly from Excel or Google Sheets, or upload a CSV or Excel file.

Adjust styling

Use the top menu bar to customize the look. Set a color for each segment so they stay consistent across all columns. Adjust stroke color and stroke width on the bars, plus the usual label, tick, axis, and grid options — font, size, and color. Every change previews instantly.

Export

When you're ready, export as a static image (PNG), an animated video (MP4 at 1080p), or a PowerPoint file. MP4 embeds directly into slides and social posts; PNG works for reports and print; PPTX lets you keep editing in PowerPoint.

Mekko Chart Maker Features

Two Dimensions, One Chart

Column width encodes market or revenue size. Stacked heights encode segment share. A single chart communicates what usually takes two charts plus a table.

Automatic Width Scaling

AECharts calculates column widths proportionally to your size values. No manual pixel sizing. Change a market size value and the chart redraws instantly.

Video & Image Export

Export as MP4 at 1080p or as a static image. Works in PowerPoint, Google Slides, LinkedIn, and reports.

Consistent Segment Colors

Each segment keeps the same color across all columns. Audiences can track a segment through the full market landscape without reading labels at every bar.

Real-time Preview

See every change instantly. What you see in the editor is exactly what exports.

No Design Skills Needed

Templates are professionally designed. Import your data, adjust colors if needed, and export. Most users are done in under two minutes.

When to Use a Mekko Chart

Mekko charts work best when both the size and the composition of categories matter, when a stacked bar chart would miss the fact that some markets are much larger than others.

Market Landscape

Column width = total market size per segment. Stacked height = market share by competitor. One chart shows where the large markets are and who dominates them.

Revenue by Customer Segment

Column width = total revenue per product. Stacked height = share by customer size (enterprise, mid-market, SMB). Reveals where revenue is concentrated and how exposure varies by product.

Portfolio Analysis

Column width = category spend. Stacked height = vendor share. Procurement teams use this to find consolidation opportunities across a complex supplier landscape.

Channel Mix

Column width = total sales per region. Stacked height = channel share (direct, partner, online). Compare how channel strategy differs across markets.

Competitive Positioning

Column width = segment size. Stacked height = share of wallet. Used in strategy consulting to surface where a client is strong, weak, and where white space exists.

Budget Allocation

Column width = total budget per function. Stacked height = sub-category share. Finance teams use this to visualize how resource allocation compares across departments.

Mekko Chart vs Stacked Bar Chart: Which Should You Use?

Both show segment breakdown, but Mekko charts also show size.

Mekko Chart

Best for: Market analysis where both the size of each market and the share within it matter.

Strength: Encodes three variables in one chart: column size, segment share, and segment identity. Standard in consulting and strategy decks.

Use when: Market landscape, competitive positioning, portfolio analysis, channel mix by region.

Stacked Bar Chart

Best for: Showing part-to-whole breakdown across categories when all categories are comparable in scale.

Strength: Cleaner and easier to read. Better when the audience does not need to account for differences in category size.

Use when: Revenue mix, budget allocation, survey results, when columns represent comparable totals.

If the columns in your stacked bar chart all have the same total, use a stacked bar. If the column totals differ significantly and that difference is part of the story, use a Mekko chart.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mekko Charts

Create Your Mekko Chart Today

Import your data, pick a template, and export in under two minutes. Free to start, no credit card required.

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