Bullet
The Bullet Chart is a compact and information-rich visualization designed to compare a single primary measure (the “bullet”) against target values and qualitative ranges (performance bands). It is widely used as an alternative to gauges and meters because it conveys more data in less space.
Bullet Charts are directional in nature and can be rendered in horizontal or vertical orientations, with options to reverse their orientation for specific design needs.
Best Situations to Use
Use a Bullet Chart when you want to:
Compare actual performance against a target or benchmark.
Display KPIs such as sales vs. target, revenue vs. forecast, or utilization vs. capacity.
Provide a compact summary of performance within a dashboard or scorecard.
Replace gauges or thermometers with a more space-efficient alternative.
Not Recommended for:
Scenarios requiring multiple categories (consider bar charts or grouped bars instead).
Visualizations where relative comparisons across multiple measures are critical.
Properties
Style Properties
Customize the look and feel of the Bullet Chart to align with dashboard themes.
Control orientation, color schemes, and visual emphasis.
Indicator Properties
Define the primary measure (actual value) and comparative measure (target value).
Configure performance bands or thresholds (e.g., poor, satisfactory, excellent).
Adjust indicator size, color, and formatting for readability.
Variants
By adjusting orientation and direction properties, the following Bullet Chart variants are available:
Horizontal Bullet
Standard layout with the bullet moving from left to right.
Horizontal Bullet with Orientation Reverse
Reversed layout with the bullet moving from right to left.
Vertical Bullet
Vertical layout with the bullet moving bottom to top.
Vertical Bullet with Orientation Reverse
Reversed vertical layout with the bullet moving top to bottom.
Notes
Bullet Charts are highly effective in dense dashboards where space is limited.
Use consistent target markers across multiple charts for comparability.
Limit the number of performance bands (3–5 is recommended) to maintain clarity.