Hi, I'm Tom Blessing. I'm an expert at helping small to mid-sized companies adopt Power BI. I'm also a recovering investment banker, with deep experience applying technology to otherwise manual data problems. I have dual degrees in Finance and Technology Management from Indiana University. 

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Clustered column charts are a popular choice in Power BI for visualizing data comparisons across categories or time periods.

They provide a clear way to display multiple data series side by side.

However, you may encounter situations where the default bar width in a clustered column chart does not suit your preferences or data visualization needs.

In this guide, I'll explore how to adjust the width of bars in clustered column charts in Power BI to customize your visualizations and enhance data clarity. 

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Understanding Clustered Column Charts

Before we dive into adjusting bar width, let's briefly review what clustered column charts are and why they are valuable:

1. Data Comparison: Clustered column charts are ideal for comparing data across different categories or groups.

2. Default Bar Width: Power BI automatically sets the bar width in clustered column charts based on factors such as the number of data points and the available chart space.

3. Customization Needs: There may be scenarios where you want to modify the bar width to emphasize certain aspects of your data or improve the chart's aesthetics. I find that experimenting with your data and just iterating can help you figure out the best way to modify your charts for clarity. 

Now, let's explore how to adjust the bar width in clustered column charts: 

1. Select your clustered column visualization.
2. Click on "Format Your Visual". 
3. Scroll down to the Spacing section. Changing the percentage displayed here changes the white space between columns. The minimum is 0% and the maximum is 75%.

Conclusion

Adjusting the bar width in clustered column charts in Power BI helps your visualization to look right when you increase or decrease its size. It's super easy if you just know where to look.