Power BI – Create 100% Stacked Column Chart

A 100% stacked column chart is formed by bar lines, which show the proportion of each data value in the form of percentages. This chart is generally, used when we want to match the ratios of different column values, with different fields. For example, if we want to compare the salary and bonus of each employee with one another, a 100% stacked column chart can prove to be very helpful. In this article, we will learn how to create a 100% stacked column chart. 

Creating a 100% Stacked Column Chart in PowerBI

A 100% stacked column chart has multiple options while creating, and customizing it. We will take a look at each of the options. For example, we are given a data set of Employees, and we want to make a 100% stacked column chart, consisting of legends, and small multiples, segregated by year. We will explore each option while creating this 100% stacked column chart. 

The following are the steps: 

Step 1: Given the dataset, Employee. The dataset comprises 5 columns i.e. Department, Employee Id, Employee Name, Salary, and Year. 

Step 2: Under the Visualizations section, click on the 100% stacked column chart. 

Step 3: An empty 100% stacked column chart is created. This stacked area chart does not contain any fields. Our next task is to add columns to it. 

Step 4: Adding Y-Axis in the 100% stacked column chart. Drag and drop Employee Name into the Y-Axis. Currently, we cannot see any changes, in the chart, but the changes will be visible when we will add X-Axis to it. 

Step 5: Adding X-Axis in the chart. Drag and drop the Sum of Salary into the X-Axis. We can see that the 100% stacked column chart has been allotted the sum of Salary on its x-axis. All are set to 100% despite each have same value, as this chart works in terms of percentages and not the values. 

Step 6: This type of chart, work better, when we have multiple fields, in the X-Axis. Drag and drop Bonus in the X-Axis. Now, we can see that, how the Bonus and Salary proportions are related, in terms of percentages, and bars with each other. 

Note: If we add, multiple columns in the X-Axis, then we cannot avail the features of legends in it. So, in further steps we will remove the Bonus column, to explore more about 100% stacked bar chart. 

Step 7: Legends, help sub-categorize the data. It is preferred to use legends, on categorical data. Drag and drop Department, under the Legend section. We can see in the image, that, each department, gets its own color. For example, the IT department got a purple color, and hence the Salary of Arushi and Gautam is shown in purple. 

Step 8: Our next task, is to add Tooltips in the 100% stacked column chart. Tooltips provide additional information that we want to see, whenever we hover at a data bar. In the below image, we can see that, we have hovered at employee name Arushi, and then we can view her name, department, and salary gained by her. Now, think what if we want to add Employee Id, and Bonus to this list? 

Step 9: Drag and drop Employee Id and Bonus under Tooltips. Now, again hover over employee name Arushi. We can see that employee id 1, and Bonus, 20000 has been added to the list. 

Step 10: Small multiple is a feature, introduced in December 2020. It helps segregate the graphs, on the basis of a measure. Small multiples create smaller versions of each graph. For example, if we are adding Year in the small multiples, then each year present in the dataset, will display a separate graph, as shown in the image. We have successfully created a 100% stacked column chart in Power BI. 

Note: Line charts, bar charts, stacked area chart, and different combined combinations chart also have small multiples feature.