Pareto Chart in Tableau

In this article, we show how to create a Pareto Chart in Tableau with an example. The Pareto Chart in Tableau is handy to visually check whether our Data is meeting the rule or not (80 – 20 Percent or 80/20 rule). For example,

• Whether 80 percent of our Profits are coming from 20 percent of Customers or not
• Whether 80 percent of our sales are coming from 20 percent of Customers or not
• Check whether 80 percent of our Profits are coming from 20 percent of Products or not
• Or 80 percent of our sales are coming from 20 percent of Products.

In all the above scenarios, we can use this Tableau Pareto chart.

How to Create Pareto Chart in Tableau

In this Tableau Pareto chart example, we will check Whether 80 percent of our sales are coming from 20 percent of Customers or not. First, Drag and Drop the Customer’s Full Name from Dimension Region to Columns Shelf and Sales Amount Measures region to Rows Shelf. By default, the desktop will generate the Bar plot.

Please visit Bar plot and Connecting to SQL Server article to understand the Tableau desktop configurations and SQL Query.

Please Sort the generated barograph into Descending Order using the Sales Amount

Next, Please click on the Sales Amount Measure from Row Shelf and select the Quick Table Calculation option and then select the Running Total to calculate the Running Total

We have successfully created the Pareto Chart in Tableau. However, we are unable to check whether 80 percent of our sales are coming from 20 percent of customers or not?

To achieve the same, we have to change the Sales Amount Axis from the Running Sum to Percentage of Total. To do this, please click on the down arrow beside the Sales Amount measure and select the Edit table Calculation option

Once you choose the Edit table Calculation option, the following Tableau Pareto chart window will open.

• Please change the Running along option from Table Across to Customer Full Name field. It calculates the running total based on customer name rather than table.
• Please checkmark the Perform Secondary Calculation on the result option, and select the secondary calculation Type as Percent of Total.
• Don’t forget to change the Summarize the values from option from Table Across to Customer Full Name field.

Now we can identify 80 percent of sales, but again, we have to compare with 20 percent of our customers. For this, we have to change the axis names from customer name to percentage. To do this, let us create one calculated filed of the tableau Pareto chart.

Right-click on the empty space present in the Measures Region. Now, Please select the Create Calculated Field option from the Context menu.

Once you choose the Create Calculated Field option, a new window will open to write a Custom Expression. For this Tableau Pareto chart example, we need the customer’s percentage. So please add the following expression

Now, Drag and drop the newly created calculated field (Customers Percentage) from the Measures region to the Columns Shelf. Next, Remove the existing Customer names from the Columns Shelf and place them in the Level of Details filed present in Marks Shelf.

To create a Tableau Pareto chart, Please change the Marks type from Automatic to Line type. To do this, Please expand the drop-down list and change the Automatic to Line.

Let us format the Axis labels to the percentage. Right-click on the Customers name Axis and select the Format option

We have done all the work to check whether 80 percent of sales are coming from 20 percent of our customers or not. From the below Tableau Pareto Chart screenshot, you can observe that it’s not 20 percent but 28 percent of our customers

Add Reference Lines to Pareto Chart in Tableau

If you want to add reference Line to Tableau Pareto chart, then follow this section. In this example, we are adding reference lines for 80 percent. Right-click on the Sales Amount Axis, and select the Add Reference Line option and change the value to constant 0.8 (which is technically 80 percent)

If you want to add reference Line for the 20 percent of Tableau Pareto chart, Right click on the Customers name Axis. And select the Add Reference Line option and change the value to constant 0.2 (which is technically 20 percent)

We successfully created Pareto Chart in Tableau with reference lines.