Bullet Chart

What it does.

The Bullet Chart by CBT is a modern, feature-complete implementation of Stephen Few's bullet graph, the compact alternative to gauges for performance dashboards. It shows a performance measure against one or more targets, set within qualitative performance bands, so you can see at a glance whether each KPI is on track.

Unlike a gauge, the bullet chart packs a full performance story into a small, linear footprint, making it ideal for dashboards where you need to compare many KPIs side by side.

Multiple targets. Bind as many target measures as you need (target, forecast, stretch goal). Each renders as its own marker with independent shape, color, and size, formatted by its real measure name.

Comparative series. Show a second measure (such as prior year) as a context bar behind the main measure, for instant period-over-period comparison.

Qualitative bands. Add unlimited performance bands (poor, satisfactory, good) against the shared value axis, with custom colors, opacity, and labels. A single-hue intensity mode generates colorblind-friendly light-to-dark shades.

Variance analysis. Show variance against any target or the comparative series, as absolute value, percentage, or both, with up and down indicators. Choose which baseline to compare against.

Flexible orientation. Switch between horizontal and vertical layouts with a single setting.

Small multiples. Split the chart into a trellis grid to compare a KPI across regions, periods, or categories, the stacked-comparison use case bullet charts were designed for.

Rich formatting. Full control over the measure bar, comparative bar, target markers, bands, data labels, axes, and legend. Currency and percentage formats are detected automatically from your data model.

Conditional colors. Color the measure bar by rules, field values, or gradient using the built-in conditional formatting engine.

Full interactivity. Cross-filtering, drill-down, drill-through, report page tooltips, and bookmark support all work out of the box.

Accessibility. Keyboard navigation, screen-reader labels, high-contrast mode support, and visible focus indication.

Free. Every feature is free. No premium tier, no locked features.

Use Cases • Revenue vs target, forecast, and stretch goal • Actual vs budget with prior-year context • KPI scorecards across regions or products • SLA attainment and quality metrics • Any performance-against-target tracking