How do I create a funnel chart in R with ggplot2?

Use geom_col() + coord_flip() from the ggplot2 package. Variables needed: 1 ordered categorical + 1 numerical.

What data types work with a funnel chart?

A funnel chart works best with categorical, numerical data. It requires 1 ordered categorical + 1 numerical.

Flow / ProcessComparison CategoricalNumerical

Funnel Chart

ggplot2: geom_col() + coord_flip() · Package: ggplot2 · Variables: 1 ordered categorical + 1 numerical

WHAT IS A FUNNEL CHART?

A funnel chart visualizes progressive narrowing through sequential stages of a process — like a sales pipeline (leads → qualified → proposal → closed) or user conversion flow (visit → signup → purchase). Each stage is a bar whose width or length represents the count or value at that stage. Funnel charts answer "where are the biggest drop-offs in my process?" They are standard in sales analytics, marketing funnels, and UX analysis. Best with 3-8 stages. In ggplot2, funnel charts are built with horizontal bar charts and reversed factor ordering.

BEST FOR

· Conversion funnels
· Pipeline analysis
· Process drop-off
· 3-8 sequential stages

AVOID WHEN

· Non-sequential processes
· Values increasing at later stages
· More than 8 stages

R + GGPLOT2 CODE EXAMPLE

ggplot2

df <- data.frame(
  stage = factor(c("Leads","Qualified","Proposal","Negotiation","Closed"),
    levels = rev(c("Leads","Qualified","Proposal","Negotiation","Closed"))),
  count = c(1000, 600, 300, 150, 50))
ggplot(df, aes(x = stage, y = count)) +
  geom_col(fill = "#ff6a00", width = 0.6) +
  coord_flip() +
  labs(title = "Sales Funnel", x = NULL, y = "Count")