Notion charts are a view of a database that turns your items into a vertical bar, horizontal bar, line, donut or number chart, and you add one by typing /chart on a page or adding a Chart view to an existing database. Everyone on a paid plan can create unlimited charts, while the Free Plan gets one.
Here's the catch. A chart can't edit your data. You can't change database entries from chart view, and drilldowns only open as tables where you can't add pages or take bulk actions. Charts also cap out at 200 groups and 50 subgroups at a time, so a chart of 200 days on the X-axis is the most you'll see in one go.
Notion chart types and what you can change
| Chart type | What you can set, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Vertical bar | X and Y axes, grouping, cumulative, data labels, colour by value |
| Horizontal bar | X and Y axes, grouping, cumulative, data labels, colour by value |
| Line | X and Y axes, smooth line, gradient area, legend |
| Donut | What to show, what each slice represents, value in the centre, legend |
| Number | Picked from the same chart type menu as the others |
Only bar and line charts have X and Y axis settings. Donut charts use a Data section instead.
How to create a chart in Notion
There are two routes, depending on whether the data exists yet.
- On a page, type /chart.
- Pick Vertical bar chart, Horizontal bar chart, Line chart, Donut chart or Number chart.
- Link an existing database, or select New chart to create a new database for it.
If the database is already there, click + next to its name or the current view's name and choose Chart. It works like any other database view and pulls in the items you already have. If you're starting from nothing, my guide to creating a Notion database walks through inline and full-page options first.
One thing trips people up early. If sub-items or sub-tasks aren't showing in your chart, open the database settings, go to More settings, then Sub-items or Sub-tasks, and set Show as to Flattened list.
Setting up the X and Y axes
Open the settings menu at the top right of the database with the chart view open.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| X axis: What to show | The property along the bottom, such as task status |
| X axis: Sort by | The order, plus which groups are visible or hidden |
| Y axis: What to show | A property, or Count for the number of items |
| Y axis: Group by | Splits each bar or line by another property, or None |
| Omit zero values | Hides or shows values with no items, where the option appears |
| Cumulative | Shows a running total over time |
Cumulative only appears when the chart shows Count or Sum and the X axis is sorted ascending. Notion's own example makes it clear: finish two tasks yesterday and three today, and with Cumulative on, today's bar shows five. With it off, it shows three.
There are limits on what the axes can use. They can't show rollups, buttons, unique IDs, files and media, or formulas that return a list. Formulas based on relations and rollups, and other complex formulas, can make a chart slower to load, and big databases update more slowly too.
Styling your chart
Under Style you choose a colour palette, then open More style options for the rest. Height runs from Small to Extra large. You can add grid lines, name the axes and turn on data labels. Line charts get Smooth line, for curves instead of angles, and Gradient area, which fills the space underneath. Donut charts can show the value in the centre. Colour by value, for bar and donut charts whose colour isn't Auto or Colorful, makes data points darker as the value goes up. Line and donut charts can have a legend.
Drilldowns, sharing and exporting
In a chart view you can hover for labels, click a category in the legend to hide it, copy a link to the chart, or click into a group to drill down. That drilldown opens as a table of the items behind it. To edit a page's properties, you'll need to open the page itself. To keep a drilldown, select the three dots at the top, then Save as view in, and pick a page.
To export, open the settings menu, select Save chart as, set the background, then choose Copy as PNG, Download PNG or Download SVG. Those options aren't on the Android app yet. On a paid plan you can drop the background, which also removes the Made with Notion watermark.
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Want several charts on one screen? Add a Dashboard view to the database, name it and click Create. In Edit mode you add widgets like charts, tables, boards, calendars and timelines, and View mode keeps the layout fixed for everyday use. Global filters can filter several widgets at once, as long as they share the property.
The Free Plan chart rule
On the Free Plan you get one chart. You can delete it to make another, but once it's gone you'll need to create a new chart or duplicate an existing one to use it for free. Templates are where this bites: download a template with several charts and you'll only see one, and only if you haven't used your free chart already.
My verdict on Notion charts
I'd use Notion charts if your tasks, content or sales pipeline already sit in a Notion database and you want a quick picture without exporting to a spreadsheet. They're good for status counts and progress over time. Skip them for heavy analysis: 200 groups is the ceiling, the axes can't read rollups, and you can't edit from the chart. If you need more than one, check Notion pricing first, because the Free Plan stops at a single chart.
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Frequently asked questions
Are Notion charts free?
Everyone can try charts. On the Free Plan you can create one chart, and on a paid plan you can create unlimited charts.
How many groups can a Notion chart show?
Charts can display up to 200 groups and 50 subgroups at a time.
Can I edit data from a Notion chart?
No. You can't edit database entries from chart view. Use or create another view to edit your data.
Can I download a Notion chart as an image?
Yes. Use Save chart as to copy as PNG, download a PNG or download an SVG. These options aren't currently available on the Android app.
Why don't sub-items show in my Notion chart?
Open the database settings, go to More settings, then Sub-items or Sub-tasks, and set Show as to Flattened list.
