What is a Mekko chart?

A Mekko chart is a two-dimensional chart where both the width and height of each column carry meaning. Column width always represents each category's share of the grand total. This page covers the Marimekko variant, where column height always fills the full plot and shows the segment share breakdown within each column, with segments summing to 100%. It encodes three variables: category size, segment share, and segment identity.

What is a Marimekko chart?

A Marimekko chart, named after the Finnish design company, is the classic Mekko layout: every column fills the full plot height, so height shows only the internal proportions within that column, not its absolute size. Column width still carries the size information. It is also called a mosaic plot. If you need column height to reflect actual values instead of shares, see our Bar Mekko chart maker.

Is a Marimekko chart the same as a mosaic plot?

Yes, in practice the terms are used interchangeably: a Marimekko chart is a mosaic plot with each column filling the full height. In statistics, a mosaic plot is sometimes shaded by residuals from a test of independence between variables, while a Marimekko chart is colored by segment category. For business presentations, market landscape, and share analysis, build the same chart here.

What is the difference between a Bar Mekko chart and a Marimekko chart?

In a Marimekko chart (this page), column width is always derived from the sum of that column's stacked segments, and every column fills the full plot height, so height shows only the share breakdown within each column. A Bar Mekko chart is different: width is a separate value you enter directly, unrelated to the segments, and height is driven by the segments' actual total on a shared scale. Use Marimekko when width and height should come from the same underlying data; use Bar Mekko when they're two genuinely different metrics, for example revenue and margin in a profit pool analysis. Build one on our Bar Mekko chart maker.

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.

What export formats are available?

Every chart exports ready to use in PowerPoint or Google Slides, or as an image for reports.

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. AECharts is free to start, exports on the free plan include a watermark. The paid plan removes it, starting at $12/month billed annually. No credit card required to start.

Can I use a Mekko chart in a presentation?

Yes. Charts export ready to drop 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.

Can I make a Mekko chart for Google Slides?

Yes. Build the chart in AECharts, export it as an image, and drop it into Google Slides, it renders exactly as designed, with no add-on to install.

Can I make a Mekko chart for PowerPoint?

Yes. Export the chart as an image and paste it directly into a PowerPoint slide, no add-in required, and it looks the same as it did in the editor.

Does this work with Keynote?

Yes. Export the chart as an image and drag it onto a Keynote slide. Since it's an image, it renders identically no matter which presentation tool you use.

Mekko Chart Maker, Create Marimekko (100% Height) Charts Online for Free

A Marimekko chart encodes two variables at once: column width shows category size, and every column fills the full plot height, so stacked height shows the share breakdown within each column. Use AECharts to build Marimekko charts from your Excel or Google Sheets data for market landscape analysis, competitive positioning, and strategy presentations. Need column height to show actual totals instead of shares? Use the Bar Mekko chart maker instead, same variable-width columns, but height reflects real values on a shared scale.

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.
Export Straight to PowerPoint: Export and drop it directly into PowerPoint, Google Slides, or 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.

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 and drop the chart straight into PowerPoint or Google Slides, or save it as an image for reports.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mekko Charts

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