Create Radar Chart in Tableau

While working as a business analyst for a retail company, I was comparing the product sales of 2024 and 2025. In that, we need to visualize the sales of each month for the years 2024 and 2025 so that it is easily comparable.

To visualize this data, I created a Radar chart in Tableau. In this chart, each line represents a range of sales amounts, and each point on the line shows the sales for one of the product categories. The farther the point is from the center, the higher the sales.

With this, we can compare regions side by side and analyze the sales performance of each month in each year.

In this tutorial, I will explain what a radar chart is in Tableau and how to create a radar chart in Tableau.

Table of Contents

What is Radar Chart in Tableau?

In Tableau, a Radar chart is used to visualize the data, where we need to compare multiple variables for a single item or compare multiple items across the same set of variables. For example, you can use a radar chart to compare sales performance across different product categories in different regions.

The radar chart is displayed as a circular chart that displays data across multiple categories, with each category represented by an axis starting from the center. The data points are plotted on each axis according to their value and then connected to form a shape, to identify patterns across categories.

The variations of Radar charts are also called Polar charts, Spider charts, Spider Web Charts, or Star Charts.

Check out: Sunburst Chart in Tableau

Elements of Radar Chart

There are four different elements in the Radar chart.

Center Point: This is the core of the radar chart (at the center) from which different axes are drawn.
Axis: Each axis represents a variable in a radar chart and is given a name and different values. A radar graph has at least three axes.
Grids: When axes are linked in a radar or a spider chart, it divides the entire graph into different grids that help us represent information in a better way.
Values: Once the graph is drawn, we display various values on each axis and plot the chart for every entry by allocating colors.

Create a Radar Chart in Tableau

To create a Radar chart in Tableau, connect the data with Tableau Superstore and follow the steps below.

First, we create five calculative fields that we will need to create the Radar chart. To create the calculative fields, click on the dropdown in the Data sidebar and select Create Calculated Field.

Now, create the fields below.

@Month: DATENAME(‘month’, [Order Date])

@angle: RUNNING_SUM(2*PI()/12)

@distanceFromTheCentre: SUM([Sales])

@Xaxis: [@distancefromthecentre] * COS ([@angle])

@Y-axis: [@distancefromthecentre] *SIN ([@angle])

Chekc out: Sankey Chart in Tableau

In this step, drag the calculative fields @month and @angle to the Details card in the Marks section.

Click on the dropdown of the @angle and select Compute using > month.

Add the calculated field X-axis to the Columns and Y-axis to the Rows shelf.

In the Marks section, change the type to Polygon and change the @angle field from Detail to Path.

Add the field Order date to the Color card in the Marks section.

Now, the chart will show the values of months at data points in clockwise order. Here, we will edit the formula field angle so that the chart is oriented by 90 degrees.

Edit the calculated field @angle and update with the formula below.

-RUNNING_SUM(
2*PI()/12
)
+PI()/2

Tableau Radar chart for field Comparison

Check out: Line Chart in Tableau

The Y-axis and X-axis are not showing the same values. Here, the X-axis is from -80 to 60k, and the Y-axis is from -60 to 100k.

Right-click on the Y-axis and select Edit axis. In the Axis settings, select ‘Range‘ as ‘Custom‘ and enter the fixed start as -120k and the fixed end as 120k.

After this, repeat the same modification for X-axis.

With this, we will have equal and accurate range on both axes.

Create Radar chart using Polygon in Tableau

To show the radar or web behind the chart, we will add an image. To do that, click on Map > Background images > select the data source (Superstore).

Browse the image from the system and define the range from -120k to 120k for the X-axis and the Y-axis. At last, click on the OK button.

You can create this image on your own or download it from datavizcanvas.

Here, we can see that the data points are not aligned with the values that we have mentioned in the image.

To align the data points in the chart with the values in the image, we can rotate the chart on the axis. For this, edit the @angle formula field and update it as follows.

-RUNNING_SUM(
2*PI()/12
)
+PI()/2.3

Here, I have changed the formula from PI()/2 to PI()/2.3 to rotate the chart and align with values in the image.

According to the scenario, I will remove the statistics of years other than 2024 and 2025 from the year filter on the right side. To make the data of both years visible, reduce the opacity of the color card.

Check out: Tableau Dual Axis Chart

In the chart, we can see that the data points of year 2025 are overlapped by the area of year 2024. With this we can’t values of data points as we hover on them.

For this, add Y-axis formula again to rows shelf; it will create two charts. Now, change its type to Shape, and in the Shape card select Circle. This will show data points in the second chart.

Create a Radar chart in tableau using dual axis

Click on the dropdown of the second Y-axis in the Rows and select Dual axis.

Now, we view the data points on hover of years 2024 and 2025.

At last, add the Sales sum to the Label tag in the Y-axis. With this, we can see the sales of specific months of year 2024 and 2025 on the data points.

This way, we can create a Radar chart in Tableau by following the steps above.

Check out: Bullet Chart in Tableau

Create a Radar Chart in Tableau Using Extension

In the above, we have created a radar chart using multiple calculative fields. There is another easy way to create a Radar chart in Tableau using the Radar extension.

In this chart, we will show the sales comparison of product segments such as Home, Consumer, and Corporate in different regions. In this radar chart, each region will be displayed in a different color.

In this, we just need to add the fields to the Dimension and Measure cards to create a Radar chart.

Follow the steps below to create a radar chart using the radar chart extension.

In the Marks, click on the

In the extensions search and download the Radar chart extension.

Create a Radar chart in Tabeau using extension

In the Marks section, select the type as Radar Chart. After this, drag the Region to Dimension, Segment to Spokes, and Sales to the Measure.

Here, we can see and compare the sales of the different product segments in the various regions.

Conclusion

In this tableau tutorial, we have learned two different ways to create a Radar chart in Tableau, one using calculated fields and another using the Radar Chart extension. By visualizing monthly sales data for 2024 and 2025, we were able to compare sales for each month between the two years.

In the manual method, we need to add customizations, like background images, and add a dual-axis.