Power BI – Create a Combo Chart

Last Updated : 16 Jan, 2023

A combo chart is a combination of a line chart and a bar chart. Combo charts help us display, different types of data, in different ways on the same chart. It helps us determine different sets of data visually. By default, in Power BI, we have generally two types of combo charts, i.e. Line and Stack Column chart, and Line and Clustered Column chart. In this article, we will learn how to create combo charts in Power BI.

The difference in Stack chart and Clustered chart

To have a good understanding of combo charts. We, firstly need to understand the stack and clustered charts.

Stack Column Chart

As, the name suggests, the data values are shown in the form of stacks. If we have multiple field values, in the Y-Axis, then in a single bar, all the measures will be displayed accordingly. For example, we have created a stack column chart, where X-Axis has Employee Id, and Y-Axis has Salary and Joining Bonus. We can observe from the below image that, for each employee, Salary and Joining Bonus have been proportionated in a single stack only.

Clustered Column Chart

Clustering means unstacking of the chart. If we have multiple field values, in the Y-Axis, then each field value, will shown as a different bar. For example, we have created a clustered column chart, where X-Axis has Employee Id, and Y-Axis has Salary and Joining Bonus. We can observe from the below image that, for each employee, we have two different bars, to represent Salary and Joining Bonus.

Creating a Combo Chart in Power BI

Now, we are ready to know combo charts in Power BI. We have two combo charts, in general, Power BI i.e. Line and Stacked column chart, and Line and Clustered column chart. Both, are almost identical, the only difference which lies, is explained above.For example, we are given a data set of Employees, and we want to make a combo chart, consisting of legends, column axis and line axis. We will explore each option while creating a combo chart.

The following are the steps:

Step 1: Given the dataset, Employee. The dataset comprises 7 columns i.e. Department, Employee Id, Employee Name, Salary, and Year, Bonus, and Joining Bonus.

Step 2: Under the Visualizations section. We have two choices here, rather select Line and Stack chart or select Line and Cluster chart. For example, we select Line and Stack chart.

Step 3: An empty Line and stack column chart is created. This line and stack column chart does not contain any fields. Our next task is to add columns to it.

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

Step 5: Adding Y-Axis in the Line and stack column chart. Drag and drop the Sum of Salary into the Y-Axis. We can see that the Line and stack chart has been allotted the sum of Salary on its y-axis. For example, Arushi has a salary of 50K, and Gautam has a salary of 40K, etc.

Step 6: We can also add more field values to the Y-Axis. Drag and drop Joining Bonus, into the Y-Axis. We can see that Joining Bonus has been added to the chart.

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

Step 7: As, it’s a Line and stack column chart, so our next step is to add a line to the chart. Drag and drop Bonus, into the Line y-axis. A line will be created in the chart, as shown in the image below.

Step 8: 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 9: Our next task, is to add Tooltips in the given chart. Tooltips provide additional information that we want to see, whenever we hover at a data point. In the below image, we can see that, we have hovered at the employee name Arushi, and then we can view only the Salary, Department gained by her. Now, think what if we want to add Employee Id to this list?

Step 10: Drag and drop Employee Id under Tooltips. Now, again hover over Arushi’s salary. We can see that Employee Id 1 has been added to the list.

Step 11: 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 combo chart i.e. Line and Stacked column chart in Power BI.

Step 12: We can similarly create a Line and Clustered column chart. Select the chart made in the previous step. Under Visualizations, click on the Line and Clustered column chart, as shown in the image below. The chart will be converted to a Line and Clustered column chart.

Note: For this step, we have removed Small Multiples from the properties section. In the next step i.e. step13, we have added that step also. This is done just to give better visualization of the Line and Clustered chart.