Waterfall chart

This article is about the 2D floating column diagram showing increases and decreases. For the type of 3D graph representation, see waterfall plot.
An example of waterfall charts. Here, there are 3 total columns called Main Column1, Middle Column, and End Value. The accumulation of successive two intermediate columns from the first total column (Main Column1) as the initial value results in the 2nd total column (Middle Column), and the rest accumulation results in the last total column (End Value) as the final value.

A waterfall chart is a form of data visualization that helps in understanding the cumulative effect of sequentially introduced positive or negative values. These intermediate values can either be time based or category based. The waterfall chart is also known as a flying bricks chart or Mario chart[dubious – discuss] (after the floating bricks in Nintendo's "Super Mario" games) due to the apparent suspension of columns (bricks) in mid-air. Often in finance, it will be referred to as a bridge.

Waterfall charts were popularized by the strategic consulting firm McKinsey & Company in its presentations to clients.[1][2]

Complexity can be added to waterfall charts with multiple total columns and values that cross the axis. Increments and decrements that are sufficiently extreme can cause the cumulative total to fall above and below the axis at various points. Intermediate subtotals, depicted with whole columns, can be added to the graph between floating columns.

  1. ^ "How to Create a McKinsey-style waterfall chart". Idea transplant. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17.
  2. ^ Ethan M. Rasiel. The McKinsey Way. McGraw–Hill, 1999.