If you’ve ever wanted a clean way to compare two values side by side (like 2023 vs 2024 sales by product), a barbell chart in Tableau is one of the nicest options.
As a data analyst, I used Tableau to compare sales performance across product subcategories between the current and previous years.
I wanted to display the current and previous year’s sales on the same data points for easy comparison.
In this, I also want to show the difference between the sales of the two years to identify the growth or decline in sales between them.
For this data comparison in Tableau, I created a Barbell chart to display sales by product subcategory and the difference between them.
In this Tableau tutorial, I will explain the Barbell chart in Tableau and how to create one to visualize a data comparison.
What is a Barbell Chart in Tableau?
A barbell chart (also called a dumbbell chart or connected dot plot) shows two (or more) values for each category as dots, with a line connecting them.
You’ll typically use it to:
- Compare two points in time (e.g., 2023 vs 2024 sales by region)
- Compare two segments (e.g., Male vs Female, Target vs Actual)
- Emphasize the difference between those two values
Visually, each row looks like this:
- Left dot: first value (e.g., 2023 sales)
- Right dot: second value (e.g., 2024 sales)
- The line between them: how much they differ
This makes it much easier to scan across categories and see where the gap is big or small.
When Should You Use a Barbell Chart?
I like to use a barbell chart when:
- A simple bar chart hides the difference between two values
- You care about both the actual values and the gap between them
- You’re making a performance comparison (before vs after, plan vs actual)
A few practical examples:
- Sales in 2023 vs 2024 by sub-category
- Conversion rate for A vs B versions of a campaign
- Average handling time for two support teams
- Average order value for two customer segments
If you find yourself stacking bars or squinting at grouped bar charts, a barbell chart is often a cleaner option.
Create a Barbell Chart in Tableau
In this example, we will compare sales across different product subcategories for the current and previous year. To create the Barbell chart, we will use the Tableau Superstore data.
Connect the Tableau with the datasource and follow the steps below.
- Add the Sub-Category to the Columns shelf.
2. To show the sales of the current and previous years, we need to create the following formula fields.
// Sales 2024
IF YEAR([Order Date]) = 2024 THEN [Sales] END
// Sales 2025
IF YEAR([Order Date]) = 2025 THEN [Sales] END- Add the calculated field from the previous year to the Columns and select the chart type as Circle.
- Add another calculated field of the current year to the X-axis of the chart. This will display data points as circles for both years.
- To join the circles, we need a line between them; for this, duplicate the Measure Values by dragging it into the Columns. After this change, the Marks type for the second chart is set to Line.
- In the Line chart, change the Measure Names from Color to Path to get the straight lines for the circle data points.
As we select the dual axis, the data points (circles) from current and previous years will be connected with a line, forming a dumbbell shape.
- To show the difference in the sales of the current and previous year, create another calculated field using the formula below.
SUM(IF YEAR([Order Date]) = 2024 THEN [Sales] END)
-
SUM(IF YEAR([Order Date]) = 2025 THEN [Sales] END)- Add the calculated field to the Text label on the line chart (Measure Values 2). After this, click on the Text card to adjust the alignment of values. For this, uncheck Label Start of Line and select Alignment as Center.
The final output of the chart will show the dumbbells, where we can view sales for the current and previous year, along with the difference in Sales.
This way, we can create a bar chart in Tableau to compare two data metrics.
Conclusion
In this Tableau tutorial, we learned how to create a Barbell chart to compare two data points. In the above example, to compare sales of two years, we learned how to prepare calculated fields, plot circles for both years, connect them with lines, and display the sales difference directly on the chart.
By following the steps above, you can easily create a Barbell chart or a dumbbell chart to compare data metrics such as sales or profit.
You may also like to read:
- Waffle Chart in Tableau
- Lollipop Chart in Tableau
- Radial Bar Chart in Tableau
- Control Chart in Tableau
I am Bijay Kumar, the founder of SalesforceFAQs.com. Having over 10 years of experience working in salesforce technologies for clients across the world (Canada, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, etc.). I am a certified salesforce administrator and expert with experience in developing salesforce applications and projects. My goal is to make it easy for people to learn and use salesforce technologies by providing simple and easy-to-understand solutions. Check out the complete profile on About us.
