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How to Build a Grouped Bar Chart in Tableau (The Smarter Alternative to Stacked Bars)

Stacked bar charts are often used to display the breakdown of data within categories, but they have a big drawback: once you go beyond the first layer, comparing the rest becomes visually difficult. That’s where grouped bar charts step in.

In this guide, we’ll walk through a smart workaround for creating grouped bars in Tableau—based on a clever trick originally shared by Kevin Flerlage. We’ll use the Superstore dataset to compare sales across segments within regions, laid out cleanly and clearly.

Step 1: Set Up the Base View

  1. Open Tableau and connect to the Sample – Superstore dataset.
  2. Drag Region to the Columns shelf.
  3. Drag Sales to the Rows shelf.
  4. Set Mark Type to Bar.
  5. You now have a basic bar chart showing sales by region.

Step 2: Duplicate the Dimension to Force a Group

Now we want to break each Region into groups for each Segment (Consumer, Corporate, Home Office). But instead of stacking, we want those bars side by side.

Here’s the trick:

  1. Drag Segment to the Columns shelf, and drop it to the right of Region.
    • The structure should now be: Region → Segment on Columns.
  2. This effectively creates mini-clusters within each Region—exactly what we want.
  3. Now drag Sales to Rows again (or reuse the one already there). It should now create individual bars for each Segment per Region.

Step 3: Synchronize Color & Labeling

  1. Drag Segment to Color on the Marks card to give each bar a distinct hue.
  2. Drag Sales to Label on the Marks card to show values directly on each bar.
  3. Adjust label alignment if needed—top of bar is often best for readability.

Step 4: Add a Total Reference Bar

Now here’s the genius part. We want to include the total sales for each Region behind the grouped bars, using a faint background bar to show the full total. This gives us both segment detail and region-level context.

Steps:

  1. Duplicate the Sales field in the data pane (right-click → Duplicate). Change it to WINDOW_SUM(SUM([Sales])) and make sure only select Segment as dimension.
  2. Right-click on the second axis (Total Sales) and choose Dual Axis.
  3. Right-click the secondary axis again and choose Synchronize Axis.
  4. On the Marks card, you’ll now have two layers:
    • One for Sales by Segment
    • One for Total Sales by Region

Customize the Total Bar:

  1. Click on the WINDOW_SUM layer in the Marks card.
  2. Set Mark Type to Bar.
  3. Remove Segment from the Color shelf for this layer—it should be a solid light color (e.g., gray or light blue).
  4. Bring the Segment bars to the front by adjusting the transparency or size of the total bar.
  5. (Optional) Add Region to Tooltip on the Total Sales layer to explain the background bar.

This creates a light “shadow bar” showing the full total of each region, with individual segment bars layered on top.

Step 5: Clean Up the View

Now we have a bar-in-bar chart, but there are gaps between the bars. How can we remove the blank space from the background bars? This can be achieved using the [Total] trick.

  • From Analysis -> Total ->Add All Subtotles
  • Single click on the subtotal bar, under the dropdown of automatic, click on Hide, you will see this bar disappeared without losing its place.
  • Format Total label to remove text and resize the background bar go group background bar together.
  • Remove grid lines and polishing the format, and you will have a nice-looking bar-in-bar chart!

Why This Method Works

This approach gives you the best of both worlds:

  • You maintain individual bar clarity for each Segment.
  • You also display total context with the background bar.
  • You avoid stacking confusion and make visual comparisons much easier.

Compared to standard stacked bars, grouped bars with total references are more readable, intuitive, and informative, especially when you’re working with more than two subcategories.

You can replicate this chart in any version of Tableau with the default Superstore dataset. This grouped bar method makes a great alternative to stacked bars—especially when clarity matters.

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How to Create a Pareto Chart in Power BI

A Pareto chart is a powerful visualization that combines both bar and line charts to identify the most significant factors in a dataset. Named after the Pareto principle (also known as the 80/20 rule), it helps users focus on the causes that generate the majority of results. In this article, we’ll walk through how to build a Pareto chart in Power BI using the Superstore dataset, a common sample dataset used in data visualization training.

What Is a Pareto Chart?

A Pareto chart typically:

  • Shows individual values in descending order as bars (e.g., sales by category).
  • Shows cumulative percentage of the total on a secondary line chart.

It is often used to identify the top contributors to a result—e.g., which few customers generate most of the sales, or which few products are responsible for most complaints.

Dataset: Superstore Sample

The Superstore dataset contains transactional data including:

  • Customer Name
  • Product Name
  • Category and Sub-Category
  • Sales, Profit, Quantity
  • Region, State, City
  • Order Date

You can download this dataset in Excel or CSV format from multiple sources online. In Power BI, load the dataset by choosing Home > Get Data > Excel and selecting the relevant sheet.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Load the Superstore Dataset

  • Open Power BI Desktop
  • Click Home > Get Data > Excel
  • Choose your Superstore file and import the dataset (usually named Orders)

Step 2: Create a Bar Chart with Customer Sales

  1. Insert a bar chart or clustered column chart.
  2. Drag Sub-Category to the X-axis.
  3. Drag Sales to the Y-axis.
  4. Sort by Sales descending.

Step 3: Create a Measure for Total Sales

Go to Modeling > New Measure, and create:

Total Sales = SUM(Orders[Sales])

Step 4: Create a Measure for Cumulative Sales

Now create a cumulative sum based on the Sub-Category ranking:

Cumulative Sales = 
VAR CurrentRank = RANKX(
    ALL('Orders'[Sub-Category]),
    [Total Sales],
    ,
    DESC,
    Dense
)
RETURN
CALCULATE(
    [Total Sales],
    FILTER(
        ALL('Orders'[Sub-Category]),
        RANKX(ALL('Orders'[Sub-Category]), [Total Sales], , DESC, Dense) <= CurrentRank
    )
)

Step 5: Create Cumulative Sales Percentage Measure

Now, calculate the % of cumulative vs. total:

Cumulative Sales % = 
DIVIDE(
    [Cumulative Sales],
    CALCULATE([Total Sales], ALL('Orders'[Sub-Category]))
)

Step 6: Convert to Pareto Chart Using Dual Axis

  1. Change the chart to Line and Clustered Column Chart visual.
  2. Set up the following:
    • Shared Axis: Sub-Category
    • Column y-Axis Values: Total Sales
    • Line y-Axis Values: Cumulative Sales %
  3. Sort by Total Sales in descending order.

Customize Your Pareto Chart

  • Format the line chart to show percentage (under Data labels > Display units = Percentage).
  • Enable data labels on both bars and lines.
  • Adjust color for better contrast between bars and line.
  • Add a reference line at 80% to highlight Pareto threshold

You will now see:

pareto chart dailybitalks.com
  • Bars: Total sales by sub-category, descending
  • First line: Cumulative % climbing from 0% to 100%
  • Second line: Flat 80% across the chart
  • You can now visually identify the sub-category at which cumulative % crosses 80%

Tips and Best Practices

TipRecommendation
Use RANKXRANKX is crucial for accurate cumulative calculations
Use ALLSELECTEDKeeps slicers functional when building visuals
Show % on AxisMakes cumulative line easier to interpret
Add 80% LineMakes the “Pareto point” visually obvious
Use Dual AxisCombine line and bar cleanly with correct proportions

Pareto charts are a great way to derive actionable insights from your data using Power BI. With just a few DAX measures and the Line and Clustered Column Chart, you can clearly visualize top contributors and make data-driven decisions.

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Mastering DAX: Top 10 DAX Functions Every Power BI User Should Know

When working with Power BI, mastering DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is essential for unlocking advanced analytics and building dynamic, interactive reports. DAX is the formula language used to perform calculations, aggregations, and analysis within Power BI. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user, understanding the top DAX functions for Power BI is critical to transforming your data and gaining valuable insights.

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Tableau Chart Catalog: A Practical Guide to Building Stunning Visuals

If you’ve ever stared at a blank Tableau dashboard wondering how to move beyond bar and line charts — you’re not alone.

Sure, those basics serve a purpose. But data storytelling is about more than ticking boxes. It’s about helping your audience see the story behind the numbers. That’s why I started building a personal catalog of unique, visually engaging Tableau chart types — and now I’m sharing them with you.

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Choosing the Right Chart Type: A Guide for Data Analysts

Data visualization is a powerful tool for conveying insights, but the effectiveness of a visualization largely depends on how well the chosen chart represents the underlying data. As a data analyst, selecting the appropriate chart type is critical to ensuring your message is communicated clearly and effectively. In this guide, we’ll explore the most common chart types, their strengths and weaknesses, and when to use each one.

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