Tutorials › Power BI › Tables and Matrix Visuals

Tables and Matrix Visuals

Build sortable tables and pivot-style matrix visuals with subtotals and formatting

Tables and matrices are essential for detailed data views where users need to see exact numbers, drill into specifics, or view multiple metrics at once. Power BI tables are sortable and filterable. Matrices support row and column groupings with subtotals — the Power BI equivalent of Excel pivot tables.

Example

Table vs Matrix — when to use each
TABLE VISUAL:
  Use when: showing a flat list of records/metrics
  Columns: drag any mix of columns and measures
  Features: sort by any column, conditional formatting,
            data bars, icons, URL links in columns

  Example:
  Product  | Region | Sales  | Units | Margin%
  Laptop   | Delhi  | 45,000 | 10    | 22%
  Mobile   | Noida  | 18,000 | 25    | 18%

MATRIX VISUAL:
  Use when: showing crosstab (rows × columns breakdown)
  Rows: drag dimension (e.g., Category)
  Columns: drag another dimension (e.g., Quarter)
  Values: drag measures (e.g., Sales)

  Example:
             Q1      Q2      Q3      Q4    Total
  Laptop   45,000  52,000  38,000  61,000  196,000
  Mobile   18,000  22,000  19,000  25,000   84,000
  Total    63,000  74,000  57,000  86,000  280,000

MATRIX FEATURES:
  Subtotals: Format pane → Row subtotals → On/Off
  Expand rows: click + icon to drill into sub-categories
  Conditional formatting: highlight values by rules or colour scale

Key Points

  • ✓Table: flat list — best for record-level detail or multi-metric comparison
  • ✓Matrix: pivot-style — best for crosstab analysis (rows × columns)
  • ✓Both support conditional formatting — colour scales, data bars, icons
  • ✓Matrix subtotals can be turned on/off per level in Format pane
  • ✓Column width: drag column borders to resize — or Format pane → Column headers → Auto size

Practice Question

You want to show Sales by Product Category (rows) across Quarters (columns) with subtotals. Which visual type should you use?