Power BI Area Chart is the same as Line Chart, where the Area between the X-Axis and lines filled with a color. Let me show you how to Create an Area Chart in Power BI with an example.
For this Power BI Area chart demonstration, we are going to use the SQL Data Source that we created in our previous article.
Please refer to Connect Power BI to SQL Server article to understand the Data Source in Power BI. And also refer Line Chart article.
How to Create Area Chart in Power BI
To create an Area Chart in Power BI, first Drag and Drop the Sales Amount from Fields section to Canvas region. It automatically creates a Column Chart, as we have shown in the below screenshot.
Next, let me add English Product Subcategory Name to the Axis section.
Please click on the Area Chart under the Visualization section. It will convert the Column Chart into an Area Chart. From the screenshot below, you can see the Area Chart that shows the Sales by Product Subcategory.
Create an Area Chart in Power BI Approach 2
First, click on the Area Chart under the Visualization section. It will create an Area Chart with dummy data, as shown in the below screenshot.
In order to add data to the Power BI Area Chart, we have to add the required fields:
- Axis: Please specify the Column Name that represents the Area.
- Values: Any Numeric value such as sales amount, Total Sales etc.
Let me drag the Sales Amount from the Fields section to the Values field.
Next, let me add State Province Name to the Axis section. You can do this by dragging State Province to Axis section, or simply checkmark the State Province column.
Let me sort the data by State Province Name (By default, it sorted by Sales Amount). To do this, click on the … (3 dots) on the top right corner, and select the Sort By StateProvinceName option as we showed below.
Now you can see a more meaningful area chart
Hover over any position shows the Tool-tip of Sales Amount, and State Province Name
By adding Product Color to the Legend section, it will convert the Power BI Area chart into the Stacked Area chart.
Let me remove the Color field from the Legend section and add one more field, i.e., Total Product Cost to Values section. It compares the Area of Sales Amount against the Total Product Cost.
Hover over any position shows the Tool-tip of Sales Amount and Total Product Cost
Let me do some quick formatting to this Power BI Area Chart
NOTE: I suggest you refer to the Format Area Chart article to understand the steps involved in formatting the Area chart title, plot area, line color, etc.
