# Build a lollipop, dot plot or dumbbell chart

> Compare one value per category with a dot on a thin stem, drop the stem for a dot plot, or join two values with a dumbbell.

Analyze · 3 min read · Updated 2026-10-28

A lollipop chart shows one value per category as a dot at the end of a thin stem. It reads like a bar chart with less ink, which helps when you have many categories. Turn the stem off and you have a dot plot. When you want the gap between two values per category, like last year and this year, use a dumbbell instead. Pick Lollipop / Dot Plot from the chart type selector - it sits with the horizontal bar charts.

## Fill the lollipop shelves

| Shelf | What it holds |
| --- | --- |
| Category | The categories, one lollipop each. |
| Values | The measure that sets where each dot sits. |
| Color | Optional. A dimension groups the dots by color; a measure shades them. |
| Trellis | Optional. One panel per member. |
| Tooltip | Optional. Extra fields to show on hover. |

1. Pick Lollipop / Dot Plot from the chart type selector.
2. Drag a dimension to Category.
3. Drag a measure to Values.

## Format a lollipop or dot plot

Open the format pane and find Lollipop options.

- Show stem draws the line from the axis to each dot. Turn it off for a dot plot.
- Line width sets the stem's thickness. It only appears while the stem is shown.
- Dot size sets how big each dot is.

## Build a dumbbell

A dumbbell is a style of the Range Bar chart, not the lollipop. It draws two dots per category joined by a line. Pick Range Bar, drag two measures to Measures - the first is the start, the second the end - then open the format pane and set Style to Dumbbell under Range bar options.

## Build one from the chat

Ask the Analyst pane, or a dashboard's Storyteller pane, for a lollipop chart, a dot plot or a dumbbell chart and it builds it. A dot plot is a lollipop with the stem turned off. It works the same way in Analyze and on dashboards.

### Related

- [Build a range bar chart](https://goldenanalytics.com/docs/range-bar-charts)
- [Chart types](https://goldenanalytics.com/docs/chart-types)
- [Format a chart](https://goldenanalytics.com/docs/format-a-chart)
- [Reference lines and bands](https://goldenanalytics.com/docs/reference-lines-and-bands)

Source: https://goldenanalytics.com/docs/lollipop-and-dumbbell-charts