Power BI matrix visual: rows, columns and totals that read well
Power BI matrix visual arranges data into rows and columns, much like a pivot table in Excel. Each cell holds a value for one combination, and readers can expand a group to see more detail. Finance and sales teams rely on it for figures by region, product and period. This guide explains the field wells, the layout settings and the custom totals that Microsoft documents.
- Rows, columns, values
- Width and header settings
- Custom totals
Last updated
What is the Power BI matrix visual used for?
A table lists records in flat rows. A matrix groups them instead. Microsoft compares it to a pivot table, because it organizes data into rows and columns and aggregates the values where they meet.
The visual also supports hierarchies. When you place more than one field on rows or columns, readers can drill into the detail. So one visual can show years, then the quarters inside each year.
Microsoft names typical uses, such as sales by region or by product category. Marketing teams also use it to examine campaign results and market segments. In short, it suits any question with two dimensions and one or more numbers. When a plain list might serve better, see Power BI matrix vs table, and for help planning whole pages, see Power BI dashboard design.
Create a Power BI matrix visual in four steps
These steps follow Microsoft's article and work in Power BI Desktop and in the Power BI service.
Add the visual
First select the Matrix icon in the Visualizations pane. A placeholder then appears on the canvas.
Fill the rows
Next add fields to Rows, for example the year and then the quarter. The order sets the levels.
Fill columns and values
Then add fields to Columns, such as a category, and a number to Values.
Expand and format
Finally select the plus icons on the headers to show more levels, and open Format visual to adjust the look.
Three header settings worth knowing
Microsoft documents these settings in the format pane, and each one changes how readers move through the data.
Auto expand
Turn it on under the row or column header options. The matrix then shows all levels when the visual loads.
Frozen row headers
Row headers stay visible by default when you scroll sideways. You can change that default under Layout, in the Freeze settings.
Expand icons
The plus and minus icons have their own settings for color and size, so you can match them to the report style.
How do you control column width?
Power BI sometimes shortens a column heading. To fix that, drag the edge of the column, or right-click the header and set a width in pixels. For report viewers, however, such changes last only for the current session.
Authors have more durable options in the format pane under Layout. The auto-size behavior offers three choices. Fit to content makes each column as wide as its data needs. Grow to fit spreads leftover space evenly. Fixed width applies a default width that you specify.
You can also turn on custom widths to set single columns. For a matrix with a column hierarchy, a further option sets a width for each combination. The mobile layout keeps its own width settings, so a phone view can differ from the desktop view.
How do custom totals work in a Power BI matrix visual?
By default, the total row evaluates the field across the whole filter context of the page. That is correct in most cases. Sometimes, however, readers expect the total to reflect the rows they see.
Custom totals address this need. Right-click a numeric column and choose to customize the total calculation. Then pick sum, average, minimum, maximum, count or distinct count of the displayed rows. You can also hide the total for that column.
Microsoft explains that these totals rest on visual calculations. When you set one, the original column gets a suffix and is hidden, and a new calculation takes its name. An option to reset to the default reverses the change.
Layout habits for a matrix that people can scan
A dense grid tires readers quickly, so design it for the eye before you add more fields.
- Limit the row levels to what readers really use
- Keep column headings short and written in business terms
- Show totals only where a sum makes sense
- Use conditional formatting sparingly to mark exceptions
- Set column widths so that no heading is cut off
- Check the mobile layout separately before you publish
Power BI matrix visual: frequent questions
Why is my matrix total different from the sum of the rows?
Because the default total is not a sum of the visible cells. It evaluates the field across the entire filter context of the page. For an average or a ratio, that result differs from adding the rows. If readers expect a plain sum, set a custom total for that column.
Can a Power BI matrix visual open fully expanded?
Yes. Microsoft documents an Auto expand setting under the row header and column header options. With it on, the matrix shows all levels when the visual loads. The setting also helps when the fields change dynamically, for example with field parameters or personalized visuals.
Which limits apply to custom totals?
Microsoft lists several. Custom totals exist only on the table and matrix visuals, and only for numeric columns. They are also not available in Explore. Field formatting does not carry over, so format the custom total separately. The limits of visual calculations apply as well.
When should I choose a matrix visual in Power BI over a table?
Choose a matrix when the data has groups on two sides, such as products down the rows and periods across the columns. A table suits a flat list of records instead. Microsoft likens the matrix to a pivot table, so that comparison is a useful test.
Can Power BI Agency rebuild our Excel pivot reports as matrices?
Yes. One of our consultants maps each pivot report to a model and a matrix layout, then checks the totals against your current figures. We work online inside your own Microsoft tenant and hold weekly demos. Power BI Agency is a division of Sataware Technologies and independent of Microsoft.
Let's build your first dashboard together.
Tell us what you report on today. A consultant replies within 2 hours with next steps.
Trusted partners
Microsoft Solutions Partner · AWS Partner
Cloud & AI Platforms
Azure SQL, Microsoft Fabric and the data pipelines behind your reports.
AI Business Solutions
Power BI reporting on your Dynamics 365, Business Central and Power Platform data.
Security
Row-level security and Entra ID sign-in on every report and workspace.
Amazon Web Services
Power BI on your AWS data, with connectors for Redshift, Athena and S3.