Ternary Plots: Understanding Distribution Across Three Variables

Traditional charts like stacked bars are useful for showing proportions, but they fall short when comparing multiple entities across three categories. The sequential layout makes it difficult to see how groups relate to each other or to spot patterns across the entire distribution.

Ternary plots address this by placing data points within a triangular space, where each corner represents 100% of one variable. Every point shows the exact balance across all three variables, making the overall distribution easy to interpret. Patterns emerge naturally — clusters of similar entities, outliers that deviate, and the trade-offs between variables become instantly visible.

Our Use Case: Understanding Sales Mix Across US Counties

This chart helps us answer a critical question:
How do counties balance their sales between Online, Retail, and Wholesale channels?

Key takeaways from our Ternary Plot:
1. Complete Distribution — All counties are visible in one view
2. Clusters & Outliers — Identify counties with similar or unique sales patterns
3. Channel Trade-offs — See how reliance on one channel reduces share in others

Ternary plots reveal the bigger picture by showing how every county fit within the three-way distribution. Instead of just isolated percentages, they uncover structure, spread, and relationships — providing sharper insights for strategic decisions.

At Perceptive Analytics our mission is “to enable businesses to unlock value in data.” For over 20 years, we’ve partnered with more than 100 clients—from Fortune 500 companies to mid-sized firms—to solve complex data analytics challenges. Our services include Advanced Analytics, Generative AI, and Business Intelligence (Tableau, Power BI and Looker) turning data into strategic insight. We would love to talk to you. Do reach out to us.