Transforming Power BI Stacked Column Charts with Smart UI Enhancements

Introduction

Stacked column charts remain a go-to visual in Power BI dashboards due to their clarity and ability to compare categorical data over time. They are, however, often neglected & mainly used to display totals by category. What if we could turn them into a potent, visually appealing, interactive insight engine rather than “just another chart”?

This blog will guide you through creating an engaging stacked column chart and using smart, often overlooked UI tweaks to boost its visual appeal, usability, and storytelling value.

Why Stacked Column Chart?

Charts with stacked columns are excellent for:

• Comparing information from different categories.
• Visualizing a whole’s components across time
• Displaying sums and subgroup evaluations in a neat, vertical arrangement

Region-wise Sales, departmental expenses, or opportunities by stage over different quarters are typical use cases.
Nonetheless, they are used in the most basic form in many dashboards.

Use Case: Sales Performance by Product Category Across Quarters

Scenario:

You’re working as a Power BI Consultant for a mid-sized company that sells products across three categories: Basic, Premium, and Enterprise.

Leadership team wants to:

• Compare quarterly sales performance across categories
• Immediately spot underperforming segments
• Dive into details when needed (e.g., average deal size, win rate)
• Ensure the dashboard’s look and feel matches the organization’s branding.

Instead of using multiple visuals, you decide to bring everything into one powerful Stacked Column Chart with interactive and aesthetic upgrades.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Step 1: Add Stacked Column Chart Visual

• Axis: Fiscal Quarter
• Legend: Product Category (Basic, Premium, Enterprise)
• Values: Total Revenue

This will show sales each quarter, split by category, which is standard.

Step 2: Conditional Formatting, Highlight Below-Target Performance

• Add a conditional color scheme to make underperformance pop out:
• Create a DAX measure like:

• Apply this to Data Colors via the fx button.
• Result: Red bars indicate categories that missed targets

Step 3: Add Custom Tooltip with Sales KPIs

Instead of using default tooltips, create a Tooltip Page with:

• KPI cards for:
  • Average Deal Size
  • Conversion Rate
  • Win Rate
• Use the same filters (e.g., Product Category and Quarter).
• Assign this page as the custom tooltip for your stacked column chart.

Now, when a user hovers over any bar, they see context-rich KPIs, no extra clicks.

Step 4: Add Interactive Filtering with Bookmarks + Shapes

Add a “Filter by Enterprise Only” toggle using:

• A shape (like a funnel icon) is placed above the visual
• A Bookmark that sets a filter on Product Category = “Enterprise”
• Assign Action > Bookmark to the shape

Users can focus the chart exclusively on Enterprise-related data by selecting the icon.

Step 5: Polish with UI Design Elements

• Add a rounded rectangle shape behind the visual with a slight gray tone.
• Apply a subtle shadow and rounded corners
• Tweak the padding and label formatting to ensure everything looks neat and proportionate.

This improves visual separation and makes your dashboard feel more “app-like.”

Advantages of Enhancing Stacked Column Charts in Power BI

• Enhancing a Stacked Column Chart in Power BI unlocks multiple layers of functionality and design finesse that go far beyond its default capabilities.
• One of the most impactful techniques is conditional formatting, which visually flags underperformance or overachievement directly within the chart. This helps users instantly identify areas that require attention, without needing to interpret raw numbers or rely on separate visual indicators.
• Incorporating custom tooltips allows you to deliver deeper, contextual insights without consuming additional dashboard space. Instead of showing plain values on hover, tooltips can display KPIs like conversion rate, average deal size, or win probability, enabling users to understand the why behind the data, not just the what.
• Using bookmarks and shapes can transform basic visuals into dynamic, interactive elements. With just a click on an icon or button, users can apply filters, reveal hidden views, or shift focus to specific categories, bringing dynamic storytelling directly into your dashboards.
• When it comes to user experience, polishing the UI with subtle design touches such as soft shadows, rounded corners, and consistent padding creates a clean and modern look. This elevates the dashboard’s professional appeal and aligns it with today’s design expectations.
• Lastly, responsive layout and grouping ensure that your visuals behave consistently across various screen sizes and resolutions. This is especially valuable when dashboards are consumed on tablets, mobiles, or embedded in other applications, maintaining structure, usability, and visual harmony.

Conclusion

Stacked Column Charts are often overlooked as basic, default visuals, but with a few smart enhancements, they can become powerful storytelling tools.

Drop a query if you have any questions regarding Stacked Column Charts and we will get back to you quickly.

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