OriaMekko chart

A practical guide by Oria

Mekko
chart

See segment size and market share together
A clear example and six editable slide templates

Read the market map
Enterprise is half the market and the leader holds 60% of itColumns are 50%, 30% and 20% of total width The leader holds 60%, 30% and 20% respectively The challenger holds 30%, 50% and 25% All others hold 10%, 20% and 55%Illustrative market · $1bn totalScale changes the competitive picture60%30%10%Enterprise50% of market30%50%20%Mid-market30% of market20%25%55%SMB20% of marketLeaderChallengerOthers

01 / The essentials

Width shows size
Height shows share

A Mekko, or Marimekko, is a stacked chart with variable column widths — each column represents a segment; its width shows the segment’s share of the total, and its coloured bands show the split within it

Because width and height both carry meaning, each rectangle’s area represents its share of the whole — use this when market size and competitive position matter together

01

Width

How large is the segment?

02

Height

What share does each competitor hold?

03

Area

How much of the whole market is that worth?

02 / The example

The leader is strongest
in the largest segment

In this illustrative $1bn market, Enterprise accounts for half of all spending — the leader’s 60% share there is worth $300m: 30% of the total market

Illustrative market map · shares within each segment
SegmentMarket sizeLeaderChallengerOthers
Enterprise$500m · 50%60%30%10%
Mid-market$300m · 30%30%50%20%
SMB$200m · 20%20%25%55%
Leader’s share across the whole market50% × 60% + 30% × 30% + 20% × 20% = 43%

The challenger holds 35% of the market and all others hold 22% — segment shares sum to 100% in every column

03 / Build the chart

Four steps to a useful market map

  1. 1

    Start with one consistent data set

    Use segment totals and competitor values for the same market, period and currency — reconcile each column before drawing it

  2. 2

    Calculate the widths

    Divide each segment total by the whole market — in the example, use 50%, 30% and 20% of the available plot width

  3. 3

    Calculate the internal shares

    Divide each competitor’s value by its segment total — stack these percentages to 100%, keeping the same series order across columns

  4. 4

    Label size and share separately

    Place segment names and sizes outside the plot — use percentages inside the rectangles — give the focal competitor a strong colour and keep the other fills quieter

04 / Before you share

Make the geometry earn its place

  • Widths match the data Columns occupy their exact share of total width — keep them flush so spacing does not suggest extra market area
  • Shares sum to 100% Every segment must be complete — keep “Others” defined consistently across columns
  • Labels remain readable Use callouts for narrow bands instead of shrinking the text — move precise detail to a table when necessary
  • The format fits the finding For equal-sized segments, use a 100% stacked bar; if only one competitor matters, a ranked bar may be easier to compare

05 / The template collection

Start with a slide
Make it your own

Six layouts for market maps, portfolio mix, competitive landscapes and variable-width bars Preview a PDF or download an editable PowerPoint

Illustrative data · Editable text and shapes · No sign-up required

06 / Questions

A few useful answers

Is Mekko the same as Marimekko?

Yes, Mekko is a common short name for a variable-width 100% stacked chart — it combines the size of each category with the composition inside it

What does the area of a rectangle mean?

It is the category’s share of the total multiplied by the series share within that category — in the example, 50% times 60% means 30% of the whole market

How is it different from a stacked bar?

A standard 100% stacked bar gives each category equal width; a Mekko makes the widths proportional to category size, adding a second dimension to the comparison

Can I build one in Excel?

A regular stacked column chart does not provide different widths for individual categories — use a specialised chart tool or a calculated construction, then recheck the geometry whenever the source data changes

When should I choose a bar Mekko?

Choose a bar Mekko when you need variable widths but do not have an internal percentage split; its height can show a second metric, so explain both axes explicitly

Are the templates linked to market data?

No, the PowerPoint templates use editable text and shapes with illustrative values — update the labels and rectangle dimensions together — the PDFs show each layout before you download