How to Make a Mekko (Marimekko) Chart in Excel

A stacked bar chart tells you the split. A Mekko chart tells you the split AND
how big each segment is — because the bars have different widths.

Also called a Marimekko chart, it’s the standard way consultants show market
share: column width shows the size of each market, and the stacked heights show
who holds what within it. One picture, two dimensions of data.

Excel has no Mekko chart type. We build it from a stacked area chart and a
helper table. It takes a while, but once the table is set up, the chart draws
itself.

Watch the full build

Prefer reading? The main stages are written out below the video.

The build, stage by stage

A Mekko chart is a stacked chart with bars of different widths. The width of each bar shows how big a segment is, and the heights inside it show how that segment breaks down. The example compares four markets (North America 20%, Europe 35%, Asia 30% and Australia 15%), each split between companies A to D.

1. Start with a simple data table

Markets go down the rows, each with its share of the total, and the companies’ shares within each market go across the columns.

2. Build the helper table

Excel needs the data in a specific shape. Copy the company names across a new header row (from J2). Below it, paste each market’s company shares three times in a row, and leave a blank row between markets with 0% in every cell. The blank rows separate the segments.

3. Add the horizontal axis values

In the column to the left of the helper table (I3:I19), set a custom number format of 0"%", so typing 20 shows 20%. Then enter each market’s lower and upper bound as a running total: North America 0 to 20, Europe 20 to 55, Asia 55 to 85 and Australia 85 to 100. In the blank buffer rows, repeat the neighbouring bound values.

4. Calculate the label positions

Each market’s label sits at the midpoint of its segment. In I5, enter =(I4+I6)/2, then copy it to the matching rows for the other markets (I9, I13 and I17). That gives 10%, about 38%, 70% and about 93%.

5. Add marker and label columns

Add a Marker column with 100% on each midpoint row, and a Labels column that combines the market name with its share, for example:

=B3&" "&TEXT(C3,"(#%)")

This gives labels like North America (20%).

6. Insert a stacked area chart

Select the helper table including the axis and marker columns (I2:N19) and go to Insert > Stacked Area. It won’t look like a Mekko chart yet.

7. Turn the markers into market labels

Right-click the marker series, choose Change Series Chart Type and set it to Line with Markers. Add data labels, then in Format Data Labels tick Value From Cells, select the Labels column (O3:O19), untick Value and set the position to Above. Then hide the marker series itself: No line and marker None.

8. Switch to a date axis

Right-click the horizontal axis, choose Format Axis and select Date axis. This is the step that turns the chart into a Mekko shape. Set the major and minor units to 10. On the vertical axis, set the maximum to 1.

9. Label each company

Add a small extra table with each company’s percentage on the midpoint rows. For each company series, add data labels using Value From Cells pointing at its column, and untick Value.

10. Finish the design

Change the label fonts, give the areas a white outline so the segments separate cleanly, adjust colours, and delete the chart title if you don’t need it.

Go further

My Excel Charts, Infographics & Data Visualisation course walks through 50+ advanced, dynamic charts in 90 lessons.