Chart text horizontal

chart-text-horizontal

Keep chart text horizontal; long categories → horizontal bar, don’t rotate. If a tool forces rotation, cap 45° and keep ≥12px at all viewports. Min sizes: title 16–18px, data labels 12px, notes 11–12px. Y-axis labels right-aligned; X centred. Commas in thousands; no digit spaces (AT).

Description

Keep chart text horizontal; for long categories use a horizontal bar, don’t rotate. If a tool forces rotation, cap 45° and keep ≥12px. Min sizes: title 16–18px, data labels 12px, notes 11–12px. Y-axis labels right-aligned; X centred. Commas in thousands; no digit spaces. Pass when labels stay horizontal (or ≤45° if forced, ≥12px), long categories use a horizontal bar, and thousands use commas. Fail when labels rotate to avoid a horizontal bar or thousands use digit spaces.

When to use

Labeling axes, categories, and data on charts.

Not when

Rotating labels to avoid a horizontal bar, or digit spaces in thousands.

Agent hint

Keep labels horizontal; prefer horizontal bars for long categories; comma thousands.

Pass

Labels stay horizontal (or ≤45° if the tool forces rotation, ≥12px); long categories use a horizontal bar; thousands use commas not spaces.

Fail

Rotated labels to avoid a horizontal bar; digit spaces in thousands.

Citations

NSW — Charts and graphs

https://designsystem.nsw.gov.au/docs/content/methods/charts-and-graphs.html