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Waterfall chart maker

From calendar time to productive time, from price to profit or from budget to actual: enter what adds and what takes away and download the finished waterfall, with subtotals and the % of each loss.

Pre-sizing and estimating tool: results do not replace design, calculations or reports signed by a licensed professional, nor verification against the applicable codes and standards.

CheckRevised 11/03/2026
Template

Switching the template loads its example; then edit the items as you like.

Items, in bar order
See what was read

Paste two columns from Excel (item and value) or three (with the type). Without a type, the 1st row is the starting value and the others are changes; a row with a blank value becomes a subtotal. The final total is computed.

Your inputs stay only on this browser and are not sent anywhere. Untick to delete them.

—From start to total
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Waterfall chart

Blue = starting value, subtotals and total; green = increase; red = decrease. Each bar shows its value and % of the base.

Tap the chart to see the values.

Details: bar table

Next step

Take this page’s results to another calculator with the fields already filled in.

The calculation report gathers this page's inputs, results, equations, assumptions and references, with fields for project, engineer and revision. The full report also includes the charts and interpretations, in color. In the print dialog, choose Save as PDF.

Method, assumptions and references

Equations used

Running total: A₀ = starting value; Aₖ = Aₖ₋₁ + vₖ for each change; each change bar spans Aₖ₋₁ to Aₖ; subtotal and total = Aₖ (full bar from zero)
Bar % = |vₖ| ÷ base (change) or Aₖ ÷ base (subtotal), with base = starting value, or the row marked as 100% base from that row on
OEE = net productive time ÷ available time = availability × performance × quality (ISO 22400-2)

Assumptions and limits

  • Subtotals entered with a value are checked against the running total (0.5% tolerance); if they differ, the running total is used and a warning appears.
  • In the OEE template, speed loss is what remains between run time, recorded small stops and ideal cycle time × output, as in the OEE calculator; startup and rejects are converted to time at the ideal cycle.
  • Values in the "From price to profit" template are illustrative; real taxes and costs depend on the tax regime and the company’s cost allocation.

Standards and technical documents

  • ISO 22400-2:2014 Automation systems and integration — Key performance indicators (KPIs) for manufacturing operations management — Part 2
  • Nakajima, S. Introduction to TPM: Total Productive Maintenance. Productivity Press, 1988
  • Few, S. Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten, 2nd ed. Analytics Press, 2012
  • Horngren, C. T.; Datar, S. M.; Rajan, M. V. Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis, 16th ed. Pearson, 2017

U.S. regulations

  • ISO 9001:2015, 9.1.3: analysis and evaluation
  • ISO 22400-2:2014 (manufacturing KPIs)

Frequently asked questions

What is a waterfall chart?

A bar chart that shows how a starting value reaches a final value: each intermediate bar floats and shows an increase (green) or a decrease (red), and the full bars show the start, the subtotals and the total. It explains losses and results without a table.

How do I build the OEE loss waterfall?

Choose the "OEE losses" template and replace the times with your machine’s for the period: calendar time, unscheduled time, planned stops, breakdowns, setups, small stops, speed loss, startup and rejects (in hours). The "Available time" row is the 100% base, and the last bar divided by it is OEE. Coming from the OEE calculator, the numbers arrive ready.

How do I build the price-to-profit waterfall?

Use the "From price to profit" template: start from the selling price, take off sales taxes, commission and freight (subtotal net revenue), then variable costs (subtotal contribution margin) and allocated fixed costs. The total is profit per part, and each bar shows its % of the price.

What are subtotals for?

To show intermediate steps, such as net revenue or available time. Leave the value blank and choose the Subtotal type: the page computes the running total. If you type a value, it checks it and warns when it does not match.

How do I paste from Excel?

Copy two columns (item and value, with a minus sign on decreases) or three (with the type: ini, var, sub or base) and use "Paste from Excel". Without the type column, the 1st row is the starting value and a row without a value becomes a subtotal.

What does the % on each bar mean?

It is the size of the bar compared with the base: the starting value or, from the row marked as 100% base on, that row. In OEE, each loss after available time shows as OEE points lost.

Can I use the waterfall to compare budget and actual?

Yes, with the free template: start from the budget (or last year’s result), enter each variance with the right sign (volume, price, raw material cost, energy) and the final total shows the actual. It is the "bridge" used in results meetings.