Create Stunning Lollipop Charts in Excel and Python: Step‑by‑Step Guide

Excel Lollipop Chart

Data preparation: duplicate the original data column to obtain two identical columns. Select the data and insert a combo chart, combining a column chart and a scatter plot, which yields a basic lollipop chart.

Adjust styles as needed, especially the x‑axis position, which is relatively complex. Right‑click the y‑axis, choose "Format Axis", then set the horizontal axis position and label. Set the x‑axis value (e.g., 0.8) and place the label at the bottom of the chart.

You can also customize the bar and scatter styles, such as colors and shapes, by selecting individual elements.

Python Lollipop Chart

Bar + Scatter Method

Combine plt.bar and plt.scatter to create a lollipop chart. Different styles can be set for each component.

n = len(values)
colors1 = ["red"] + ((n-1)*["olive"])
colors2 = ["red"] + ((n-1)*["blue"])
plt.rcParams['figure.figsize'] = (23.5, 10)
plt.bar(values.index, values.values,
        color=colors1, width=0.05)  # set bar color and width
plt.scatter(values.index, values.values,
            color=colors2, s=50)   # set marker size
plt.show()

Styling

Move the x‑axis upward by adding a constant offset v (negative) to all y values and setting the lower limit of the y‑axis.

Shift all y values: y = y + v Set y‑axis lower limit: plt.ylim(v, 0.6) Draw a baseline using either plt.plot or plt.axhline:

plt.style.use('ggplot')
plt.rcParams['figure.figsize'] = (23.5, 10)
plt.rcParams['axes.unicode_minus'] = False
v = -0.8
plt.bar(values.index, values.values+v, color=colors1, width=0.05)
plt.scatter(values.index, values.values+v, color=colors2, s=60)
plt.axhline(y=0, xmin=0.045, xmax=0.955, color='darkblue', linestyle='--')
plt.ylim(v, 0.6)
plt.show()

Stem Function Method

Matplotlib’s stem function can draw a lollipop chart in a single line. Main parameters are stem(x, y, linefmt=None, markerfmt=None, basefmt=None).

stem(x, y, linefmt=None, markerfmt=None, basefmt=None) x : array‑like Data for the x‑axis y : array‑like Data for the y‑axis linefmt : str, optional Color and line style for vertical lines, e.g., 'r-' markerfmt : str, optional Marker type and color, default 'C0o' basefmt : str, default: 'C3-' Format for the baseline (y=0)

Customize colors with plt.setp and adjust the baseline using the bottom argument.

n = len(values2)
colors1 = ["red"] + ((n-1)*["olive"])
(markers, stemlines, baseline) = plt.stem(values2, markerfmt="C0o")
plt.setp(stemlines, linestyle="-", color=colors1, linewidth=0.5)
plt.setp(baseline, linestyle="--", color="darkblue", linewidth=2)
plt.show()

Set the baseline position with bottom=0.8 and apply a dark background style for better contrast.

plt.style.use('dark_background')
plt.grid(0)
(markers, stemlines, baseline) = plt.stem(values2, bottom=0.8, markerfmt="C3o")
plt.setp(stemlines, linestyle="-", color="y", linewidth=2)
plt.show()

When the dataset is large, the lollipop chart still displays clearly, as demonstrated by the following examples.