Notion’s chart view turns any database into a vertical bar, horizontal bar, line, donut, or number chart. Add it with + next to your database views, or type /chart on a page. Everyone on a paid plan can create unlimited charts; members on the Free plan can try one chart, according to Notion’s chart help page, checked October 14, 2026.
I implement work-management tools for teams (SSPM is a Smartsheet partner; we also build Notion workspaces). Charts are good for a team dashboard. They are not a BI tool, and the limits below are where people get stuck.
Chart types and what they are good for
| Chart | Good for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical bar | Counts by category | Tasks by status |
| Horizontal bar | Long category names | Requests by client |
| Line | Change over time, cumulative totals | Tasks completed per week |
| Donut | Share of a whole, few categories | Bugs by severity |
| Number | One headline figure | Open tasks right now |
Set up a chart in five minutes
- Open your database and click + next to the view tabs. Choose Chart.
- Pick a chart type in the settings menu.
- X axis: choose the property (for example, Status) and the sort order. Hide groups you do not want using the eye icon.
- Y axis: choose Count or a number property to sum or average. Optionally Group by another property, such as Assignee.
- Add a filter to the view (for example, this quarter only). Charts respect the view’s filters.
For a running total over time, use a line chart with the X axis sorted ascending and turn on Cumulative. Notion only offers that option when the Y axis shows Count or Sum.
The limits that matter
- 200 groups and 50 subgroups. A chart can display at most 200 groups (for example, 200 days on the X axis) and 50 subgroups. Group by week or month for long ranges.
- No editing from the chart. You cannot edit entries in chart view. Keep a table view next to it.
- Axis restrictions. X and Y axes cannot use rollups, buttons, unique IDs, files and media, or formulas that return a list. Workaround: create a formula that returns a single value, if your data allows it.
- Slow formulas. Charts built on formulas that use relations and rollups can load slowly.
- Sub-items. If sub-tasks are missing, set the database’s sub-items display to Flattened list (More settings > Sub-items).
Build a simple project dashboard
On one page, link the same Tasks database four times with different views:
- Number chart: open tasks (filter Status is not Done).
- Vertical bar: tasks by Status, grouped by Assignee.
- Line chart: tasks completed by week, cumulative on.
- Table: overdue tasks, sorted by due date, for action.
That page answers “where are we?” without anyone opening the database. For database structure, see our Notion database guide; for formula help, Notion Formulas 2.0.
When to use something else
If you need charts across multiple databases, calculated metrics from rollups, or scheduled reports to stakeholders, export to a spreadsheet or a BI tool. Notion charts work on one database at a time.
Pricing context
Notion lists Free at $0, Plus at $10 and Business at $20 per member per month on its pricing page (checked October 14, 2026). If charts are the main reason to upgrade one workspace, Plus is enough. Full breakdown: Notion pricing 2026.
Three charts I build for most teams
1. Work by status, split by person
- Type: vertical bar.
- X axis: Status. Hide “Done” so the chart shows open work only.
- Y axis: Count, grouped by Assignee.
- Why: in one glance, you see who has too much in progress.
2. Finished work over time
- Type: line.
- Add a “Completed on” date property. Fill it with an automation or a button when status changes to Done.
- X axis: Completed on, grouped by week, sorted ascending.
- Y axis: Count, with Cumulative on.
- Why: a rising line shows steady delivery. A flat line for two weeks means something is stuck.
3. Budget used by project
- Type: horizontal bar.
- X axis: Project.
- Y axis: Sum of a “Cost” number property.
- Why: long project names fit better on a horizontal chart.
Gotchas from real workspaces
Dates group by day by default. A line chart over six months then has about 180 points and looks like noise. Change the grouping to week or month.
“Done” needs a date. Notion’s built-in “Last edited time” changes every time someone edits a page. It is not a completion date. Add your own “Completed on” date.
Charts follow view filters. If someone adds a filter to the chart view, the chart changes for everyone. Lock the database views, or keep the dashboard page view-only for most people.
Relations slow things down. A chart built on a formula that reads relations and rollups (values pulled from linked pages) can take seconds to load. If a chart drags, move the math into a simple number property updated by an automation.
Guests and permissions. People only see data they have access to. If someone sees a smaller bar than you, check their page access before you blame the chart.
When NOT to use Notion charts
- You need data from two databases in one chart. A chart reads one database. Combine the data first, or use a spreadsheet.
- Finance numbers that must be exact. Use your accounting tool or a spreadsheet with clear formulas.
- Big, busy databases. With many thousands of rows and heavy formulas, charts get slow. Archive old rows into a separate database.
- Charts for people outside Notion. Charts look best inside Notion. For a board meeting, export the data and build the chart in Sheets or Excel.
Free plan: what one chart gets you
On Free, you can try one chart. That is enough to test the feature on a real database. If the team will use charts every week, the Plus plan ($10 per member per month) gives unlimited charts. On a 5-person team, that is $50 a month. A team of one or two who only need a single chart can stay on Free.
A quick setup checklist
- Add the properties first: Status, Assignee, Completed on, and any number you want to sum.
- Make one chart per question. “Who is overloaded?” and “Are we shipping?” are two charts.
- Put the charts on one dashboard page, with a table of overdue work below.
- Name each chart view with the question it answers.
- Review the dashboard once a week in your team meeting. If nobody looks at a chart for a month, delete it.
Common questions
Can I use Notion charts on the Free plan?
Free plan members can try one chart. Paid plans allow unlimited charts.
Why can’t I edit data in a Notion chart?
Chart view is read-only. Add a table or board view of the same database to edit entries.
Why are my sub-tasks missing from the chart?
Set sub-items to display as a flattened list in the database’s More settings so every item is included.
Can a Notion chart use a rollup?
Not directly. Axes cannot show rollups or formulas that return lists. Use a formula that returns a single value where possible.
How do I show tasks completed per week in Notion?
Add a “Completed on” date, make a line chart with that date on the X axis grouped by week, set the Y axis to Count, and turn on Cumulative if you want a running total.
Can a Notion chart combine two databases?
No. Each chart reads one database. Combine the data first or use a spreadsheet.
Features and limits checked against Notion’s Help Center and pricing page on October 14, 2026.
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