Top 20+ Power BI Charts for Data Visualisation

Today’s digital age sees a massive daily data generation of over 2.5 quintillion bytes, with 90% created in the last two years alone. Navigating through this vast sea of information is a significant challenge for businesses. Enter Power BI Desktop, a cutting-edge tool celebrated for its ease of use and intuitive design. With its intuitive design and robust features, Power BI Charts have empowered organisations, big and small, to unlock valuable insights from their data.     

According to Enlyft, Power BI has a market share of 14.45% and is the choice of 102,355 companies worldwide. Dive into our blog as we explore the Top 20 Power BI Charts that will revolutionise your data presentation skills. These charts are not just visual aids but your partners in crystallising facts and shaping informed decisions.  

Table of Contents  

1) What is Power BI? 

2) What is Data Visualisation? 

3) Why are Power BI Charts so powerful?   

4) How to Create a Power BI Visualisation?   

5) What is Power BI Desktop Visualisation? 

6)  How to Create Custom Visualisations in Power BI? 

7) Top 21 Power BI Charts for Data Visualisation   

8) Conclusion

What is Power BI? 

Power BI is an integrated platform comprising applications, services, and connectors that transform disparate data sources into consistent, visually engaging, and interactive insights. Whether your data is stored in an Excel file or across a mix of cloud and on-premises data warehouses, Power BI simplifies connecting to data sources, uncovering key insights, and sharing them with others, whether individually or broadly.
 

 

What is Data Visualisation? 

Data Visualisation is transforming complex data sets into visual representations like charts, graphs, and maps to make the data easier to understand and analyse. According to the information from the website you mentioned, Power BI is a tool that excels in this area by offering various Data Visualisation options. It allows users to create captivating graphics, charts, and videos that reveal valuable insights and facilitate effective analysis and report generation.

The importance of Data Visualisation lies in its ability to present intricate data in a format that is accessible and comprehensible, even to those who may not have technical expertise. It serves as a bridge between raw data and actionable insights, enabling both employees and business owners to make correct decisions based on the visual cues provided by the Data Visualisations.

In essence, Data Visualisation tools like Power BI help identify patterns, detect anomalies, and explore trends within data through an intuitive and user-friendly interface. This makes it an essential component for businesses that aim to analyse large volumes of data and communicate their findings clearly and effectively

Why are Power BI Charts so powerful?  

Power BI is an extremely handy tool for anyone looking to process and analyse large quantities of data. Power BI is used extensively in data science and Data Analysis. With the Power BI Charts, users can analyse, visualise, and organise raw data into simple, readable formats.   

It's a tool supported on every device, from desktop PCs to iOS and Android, making it accessible. It also integrates with many connectors that allow users to connect to various data sources. Power BI Charts are so potent that it helps users slice complex data into simpler forms.   

With all the rapid advancement in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Power BI can enable users to build Machine Learning models based on structured and unstructured data. Power BI is also an excellent collaboration tool, as users can share Power BI reports with their team members safely.   

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Importance of Data Visualisation  

Data Visualisation offers a swift and effective method for presenting ideas to end-users, allowing for the exploration of various scenarios through minor adjustments. It serves multiple purposes, such as:

a) Highlighting factors that affect customer behaviour.

b) Pinpointing areas requiring focus.

c) Directing decisions on optimal product placement.

d) Forecasting sales figures.

The more effectively you present your data, the greater the advantage you can provide to end-users in understanding the information.

Choosing the appropriate Data Visualisation for your datasets might be challenging. However, the correct visualisation can significantly enhance the impact of your data. Business Intelligence tools like Power BI are instrumental in securely managing diverse Data Visualisations. Microsoft’s Power BI Services can help you create the Power BI Charts enabling you to make effective visual representation of the data.

How to Create a Power BI Visualisation?  

Visualisations in Power BI can be created through two primary methods, both of which are intuitive and user-friendly. Power BI is equipped with a wide array of Data Visualisation tools, including basic ones like Pie Charts, Maps, and Bar Charts, as well as more advanced options such as Funnels, Gauge Charts, and Waterfalls. These tools are represented by icons in the default visualisation pane.

Method 1: Drag-and-drop 

The first method is straightforward: simply drag fields from the right sidebar directly onto the axis of your choice. This approach allows you to tailor your visualisation to specific business needs by adding one or more fields to the axis, creating a customised view of your data.

Method 2: Field addition and visualisation selection

Alternatively, you can add a field to the report canvas from the right-side panel. By default, Power BI will display this data as a table visualisation. However, you have the flexibility to move and resize this visualisation on the canvas with simple drag-and-click actions. Moreover, you can switch to a different type of visualisation at any time using the visualisation pane, enabling you to find the most effective way to present your data.

Both methods are designed to be flexible and adaptable, ensuring that you can create powerful and insightful visualisations that cater to the unique requirements of your Data Analysis.. 

Power BI Data Visualisation

Power BI Desktop is a complimentary desktop application that you can install on your personal computer. It acts as a powerful tool for connecting to, transforming, and visualising data. With Power BI Desktop, you have the capability to interact with a various data sources, merging them to forge meaningful relationships within the data, thereby enriching your data model.

Users can craft a variety of visuals, including charts, graphs, and multimedia content like videos. These visualisations can then be distributed among colleagues within an organisation, facilitating the creation of comprehensive reports and interactive dashboards based on the refined data model. This collaborative feature of Power BI Desktop empowers teams to make data-driven decisions and insights accessible across the board.

How to Create Custom Visualisations in Power BI?

Custom visuals in Power BI are developed using the Custom Visuals SDK. This allows developers to craft unique visual representations of data that cater specifically to business needs. Once created, these visuals can be integrated into Power BI reports by report authors, just like standard visuals. They fully support interactions such as filtering, highlighting, editing, and can be seamlessly shared within the Power BI ecosystem.

To begin crafting your own custom visual, follow these steps:

Creating custom visualisations in Power BI allows you to tailor data presentations to your business’s unique needs. Developers can use the Power BI Custom Visuals Software Development Kit (SDK) to design these visuals. Once created, these custom visuals can be imported into Power BI reports and utilised just like standard visuals, with full support for filtering, highlighting, editing, and sharing.

Here’s an expanded guide on how to create a custom visualisation in Power BI:

Step 1: Verify Power BI tools installation 

First, check if the Power BI tools package is installed on your system by entering the pbiviz command in the PowerShell prompt. If it’s not installed, you’ll need to install the Power BI tools package.

pbiviz

Step 2: Familiarise yourself with the pbiviz commands 

After running the pbiviz command, you’ll see a list of supported commands and options. These commands allow you to create, manage, and package your custom visuals.

Step 3: Create a new custom visual 

To create a new custom visual, use the new command followed by the name of your visual. For example, to create a “CircleCard” visual, you would enter:

pbiviz new CircleCard

Step 4: Navigate to your project folder

 Once your custom visual project is created, navigate to the project folder using the cd command:

cd CircleCard

Step 5: Start your custom visual 

Finally, start your custom visual by running the start command. This will host your “CircleCard” visual on your local machine, allowing you to see it in action.

pbiviz start

By following these steps, you can create and test custom visuals in Power BI, enhancing your reports with visualisations that are perfectly suited to your Data Analysis needs.

Top 20 Power BI Charts for Data Visualisation  

A Power BI Developer can create various charts to develop a visual representation of the data. Now that you understand the importance of Data Visualisation and know what Power BI is let's look at some of the different types of charts in Power BI.   

1) Bar Chart

Bar Charts are the most common type of Power BI Chart used to visualise data. Although they cannot show complex multi-tiered data, they are easy to read and understand. 

The data value is visualised as a solid bar with lengths extending to the data point, and the data is charted in the horizontal axis.   

Bar Charts effectively show trends and outliers. They also quickly reveal data's highs and lows. Bar Charts can also be used to visualise data against an average value, quickly revealing what values are above or below the average.     
 

2) Column Chart 

Another Power BI Chart types used to compare data across different categories is a Column Chart. It is the most appropriate chart type to see how a data point varies with different categories or over a time period. Column Charts are also useful when you have many data points, and you want to display them in a condensed manner. For example, a retail company might use a column chart to compare sales of different products at different times.   

 

Another Power BI Chart types used to compare data across different categories is a Column Chart. It is the most appropriate chart type to see how a data point varies with different categories or over a time period. Column Charts are also useful when you have many data points, and you want to display them in a condensed manner. For example, a retail company might use a column chart to compare sales of different products at different times.   

3) Stacked Bar Chart

In Power BI, a Stacked Bar Chart presents data as a series of bars, with each bar representing a category and the complete length of the bar reflecting the total value. The bars are broken into segments to show how different sub-categories contribute to the total value. 

For example, you can use Stacked Bar Chart to analyse sales data for many product categories and visualise the contribution of each sub-category to total sales. Each bar will represent a product category, and the bar segments indicate sales of individual sub-categories. 

For example, you can use Stacked Bar Chart to analyse sales data for many product categories and visualise the contribution of each sub-category to total sales. Each bar will represent a product category, and the bar segments indicate sales of individual sub-categories. 

4) Clustered Bar Chart 

A Clustered Bar Chart presents data as a sequence of bars or columns, with each bar representing a category and the width of the bar representing the value. To facilitate comparisons, the bars or columns are divided into various categories.  

5) Line Chart 

Line Charts in Power BI depict the data in a simple line. They plot the data values in points and connect all the data points, forming a line that showcases the trend of any data. 

This is a widely used chart that is very easy to read and mostly used to showcase trends over some time (days, months, years, etc.).   

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6) Combo Chart 

Combo Charts in Power BI are just a combination of two charts, usually a combination of Bar and Line Charts. You can combine a simple bar/column chart with a line when you need to showcase two or more data sets.   

For example, let's say you need to plot a chart showing the sales in each month of the year 2022. You can do this with a simple column chart. Now, you want to show the sales in each month of 2021. You can add one more column to the column chart and compare the sales. Now, suppose you want to show the profit margin for each month in 2022, you can add a line chart. This ensures that each data is readable and the chart isn't cluttered with many bars. 

7) Pie/Doughnut Chart

A Power BI Pie Chart is a circular chart that shows the data in parts or percentages. Each part of the Pie Chart shows a portion of data, and the sum of all values is 100 per cent. Pie charts are excellent for showcasing the propositions of each data in parts.   

 

It can effectively show data in percentages. It helps people understand data very quickly and is one of the widely used Power BI Chart types. You cannot present multiple data sets with a Pie Chart. Nevertheless, it is one of the best Power BI charts to showcase data in percentages. Doughnut Charts are the same, but they have a hole in the middle, just like a doughnut. The visualisation of data remains the same as the pie chart.   

8) Area Chart 

An Area Chart in Power BI is like a Line Chart, but the area between the lines is filled with colour. Area Charts show how data changes over time or compare data points between different categories. For example, a media company might use an area chart to show how time spent on various media channels has changed.    

9) Funnel Chart

It shows the progression of data points from one stage to another. It depicts the items or data that flow sequentially from one stage to the next. Funnel Charts are best used to see how data points move through different stages. 
 

 

For example, a marketing team might use a Funnel Chart to track how many website visitors become potential leads and then become customers. 

10) Waterfall Chart

A Power BI Waterfall Chart shows how values are affected by adding or subtracting subsequent values. It is useful when you want to present the effect of different values on the total. You must have seen this type of chart when trading in the stock market. 
Taking stocks as an example, the Waterfall Chart portrays a change in the value of the stock relative to its initial value. The negative trend is shown in red, and the positive trend is in green.   

 

11) Gauge Chart

A Power BI Gauge Chart shows progress towards a goal or target. You can use a Gauge Chart to see how far you have achieved your goal or target. For example, a sales team might use a Gauge Chart to show how close they are to achieving their monthly sales target.   

 

12) Map Chart

A Map Chart is used to display data on a map. It is best used when you want to see how data varies geographically. For example, a logistics company might use a Map Chart to track shipments across different countries or regions.  
Map Charts in Power BI are a versatile way to represent geographic data visually. They come in several types, each suited for different data storytelling needs:
 

 

a) Regional Maps 

Regional Maps are ideal for displaying data that varies across predefined regions, such as countries, states, or districts. They are typically colour-coded to represent different values or categories, making comparing data across geographical areas easy.

b) Point Maps 

Point Maps are used when you need to show the precise location of individual data points on a map. These could represent store locations, event venues, or other specific geographical data points. The points can be sized or coloured to convey additional information, such as sales volume or population size.

c) Flow Maps 

Flow Maps are specialised maps that illustrate the movement of objects or quantities from one location to another. They are useful for showing migration patterns, transportation routes, or the flow of goods and information.

These Map Charts can be created and customised within Power BI to help users gain insights into their data in a spatial context. The website provided offers a more detailed guide on how to create and use these Map Charts in Power BI. It offers step-by-step instructions and examples to help you maximise Power BI’s visualisation capabilities.

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13) Scatter Chart 

A Scatter Chart is used to show the relationship between two data points. It is most effective when you want to see if there is a correlation between two data points. For example, a healthcare provider might use a Scatter Chart to see if there is a correlation between a patient's age and their blood pressure. A Scatter Chart shows the relationship between two data points. It is most effective when a correlation between two data points is desired. For example, a healthcare provider might use a Scatter Chart to determine whether a patient's age and blood pressure are correlated.   

14) Matrix Charts 

A Map Chart is used to display data on a map. It is best used when you want to see how data varies geographically. For example, a logistics company might use a map chart to track shipments across different countries or regions.  

The Matrix Chart is a table that displays data in rows and columns, with each cell representing a data point. This chart type can be used to compare data across various dimensions, such as time or categories.    

Let's say you have sales data for many products across different geographies. A Matrix Chart can illustrate the total sales for each product in each location. The rows would be items, the columns would be regions, and the cells would be total sales for each product in each region. This enables you to quickly determine which products are doing well in which locations. It also helps you identify any patterns or trends in the data. 

15) KPI Chart 

The Key Performance Indicator (KPI) chart in Power BI visually represents a performance metric or business goal. It tracks progress towards a specific target or objective and can help identify areas where improvements are needed. The KPI Chart typically includes a goal or target value and a current value that indicates how close you are to achieving the goal. This chart is sometimes used in Power BI Dashboard as well.  

For example, let's say you have a target to increase sales by 10% this quarter. You can use a KPI Chart to display your current sales performance compared to your target. The chart would visually represent your target value (a horizontal line) and a current value (a data point). This allows you to quickly see whether you are on track to meet your target or whether you need to take corrective action to improve performance. 

16) Tree Charts

The Tree Chart is a hierarchical chart that displays data in a tree-like layout, with each branch representing a data category or sub-category. This chart type is useful for displaying data in a systematic and organised manner and for visualising relationships between data points.    

Assume you have a product hierarchy of categories, sub-categories, and individual products. A Tree Chart can visually show this structure, with each level represented by a branch. The chart would provide overall sales for each category and sub-category and the ability to dig down to specific products to view their sales performance. This enables you to understand which categories and sub-categories are driving sales quickly.   

17) Bubble Chart  

In Power BI, a Bubble Chart displays data as a sequence of bubbles or circles, with the size of each bubble representing a value variable. This chart type is great for finding trends and outliers in data and visualising the relationships between three variables.    

Assume you have a dataset with information on various countries, such as their population, GDP, and CO2 emissions. You may visualise this data using a Bubble Chart, with each bubble representing a country. The bubble's size represents the country's population, while the X and Y coordinates reflect GDP and CO2 emissions, respectively. 

18) Tornado Chart

A Tornado Chart is a type of bar chart where the data is plotted vertically instead of horizontally. It directly compares two sets of data against a single variable. Let's say you want to compare online and offline sales for certain products. 

You can list all the products on the Y-axis and present the respective online and offline sales on each side. 

19) Radar (Web) Chart

 

A Radar Chart in Power BI is potent for depicting comparative data. The Radar Chart presents data on a circular grid, with each variable represented by a spoke or line extending from the centre. This chart type can be used to compare various variables and detect patterns or trends.    

You need to compare two person's app usage on their phone. This data can be displayed using a Radar Chart, with each spoken representing an app and the length of the spoken reflecting the time spent for that app. This allows you to quickly examine which apps have the highest and lowest usage and compare two people's usage.

The best part about the Radar Chart is that you can use many variables and compare up to three data sets. You can compare more, but the chart might need to be clearer and easier to read.  

20) Bullet Chart

A Bullet Chart is a custom Power BI chart that presents a single metric against a target. It consists of a horizontal bar representing the metric value and a vertical line representing the target or comparable measure. Additional markers can be added to the chart to represent performance ranges. Assume you have a sales target for the year and want to track your progress.    

A Bullet Chart can show your sales revenue as a horizontal bar and your target revenue as a vertical line. Additional markers can be added to the chart to represent performance ranges, such as red for below target, yellow for on target, and green for above target. 

21) Slicer Charts 

Slicer Charts in Power BI function as interactive filters for your data. They provide a convenient way to dynamically sort and view specific subsets of your data. For instance, if you have a dataset displaying sales across various regions, a Slicer Chart allows you to select a particular region with a simple click.

Once selected, the chart will update to show only the sales data relevant to that region, enabling you to focus on the information that matters most to you at any given moment. This tool is particularly useful for drilling down into detailed views of your data without altering the underlying dataset.

Conclusion  

Power BI Charts are a must-have tool for successful Data Visualisation. You can communicate insights and make educated decisions by selecting the appropriate chart format for your data. Power BI Charts may help you compare data across categories or time, depict the progression of data points from one stage to another, and display data on a map. In this blog, we explained the Top 20 Power BI Charts you can use to visualise data and make informed decisions. 

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