What is a radar chart?
A radar chart uses radial axes — one per item — connected as a polygon to express balance. Also known as a spider chart, it lets you grasp balance across categories, asymmetries, and comparisons between subjects at a glance. It's used widely in skill assessments, product comparisons, and survey analysis.
The first choice when you want to see "where the strengths and weaknesses are" or "what overall character emerges." It pairs especially well with three to eight evaluation axes.
When to use it
Tips for making one well
1. Use five to eight axes
Three axes form a triangle and lose the polygon advantage; nine or more become hard to read. Five to eight axes is the sweet spot.
2. Normalize the scale across axes
A radar chart draws every axis on the same scale. Normalizing each axis to the same range (e.g., 0–100) makes the chart easy to compare.
3. Limit comparisons to two or three subjects
Polygons that overlap quickly become hard to tell apart beyond three subjects. Two-way comparisons (you vs. competitor, A vs. B) are ideal.
4. Make fills semi-transparent
To see overlapping series, set fill opacity around 20–30%. Keep line colors crisp and clear.