Create Slope Chart in Tableau [With Examples] : Bijay Kumar

August 23, 2025 August 23, 2025

Create Slope Chart in Tableau [With Examples]
by: Bijay Kumar
blow post content copied from SalesForce FAQs
click here to view original post

### Summary of the Content The content discusses how to create a Slope Chart in Tableau to compare sales performance across two years, specifically 2024 and 2025. Instead of using traditional bar or line charts, the Slope Chart visually represents changes in sales values through data points connected by lines. This type of chart allows for easy comparison of different product categories over time. The tutorial outlines the steps to create a Slope Chart using Tableau's Superstore dataset. Key steps include filtering data by year, adding sales measures, and customizing the display with labels and markers. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of making the chart clear and readable for effective data analysis. ### Key Steps to Create a Slope Chart in Tableau 1. **Connect to Data**: Use the Tableau Superstore dataset. 2. **Add Order Date**: Place the Order Date in the Columns section. 3. **Filter Years**: Select the years to compare. 4. **Add Sales Measure**: Place the Sales measure in the Rows section. 5. **Include Product Category**: Add Category to the Details and Label sections in the Marks card. 6. **Customize Labels**: Show category labels at both ends of the lines. 7. **Add Dots**: Use the Color card to display dots at the ends of the lines. 8. **Create Dual Axis for Circles**: Duplicate the Sales measure to make the circles bigger. 9. **Adjust Axes**: Edit the axis to remove any blank areas for better clarity. ### Conclusion The tutorial effectively teaches how to use a Slope Chart in Tableau to analyze sales data, making it easier to identify trends and shifts in performance over time. ### Additional Context Slope Charts are particularly useful in business analytics as they allow quick visual comparisons, making it easier for stakeholders to understand performance metrics at a glance. ### SEO Hashtags #Tableau #SlopeChart #DataVisualization #SalesAnalysis #BusinessIntelligence #TableauTutorial #DataAnalytics #ProductSales #DataComparison #TableauTips

When I was analyzing our company’s yearly sales performance using Tableau, I wanted to compare product category sales across two years, 2024 and 2025. Instead of using a bar chart or line chart, I used the slope chart in Tableau.

Using the slope chart, we were able to view how sales values changed between the two years. This chart displayed the values from both years on circle data points, combining them with a connecting line.

In this Tableau tutorial, I will explain the Slope chart in Tableau and how we can use it to compare measures like sales and profit between a time period.

Slope Chart in Tableau

In Tableau, a Slope Chart is a type of line graph that shows how the ranking of different categories changes between two points in a timeline or two other data points. With this, the slope chart indicates “before and after” values of the data points.

In a Slope chart, the two points are connected through lines, allowing us to compare the measures like performance and growth or decline of various items, such as product sales or rankings, between two points.

Create a Slope Chart in Tableau

In this example, we will show the sales comparison category between the current and previous years.

To create the Tableau Slope Chart, we will use the Tableau Superstore data set. Now, connect the Tableau to the data source and follow the steps below.

For the sales comparison of two years, we need a date field. For this, add the Order date to the Columns.

To filter the year, right-click on the Order date in the columns and select Filter. In the next window, select the two years that you have to compare and click OK.

For the sales comparison, add the Sales measure to the Rows.

In this slope chart, we will compare the sales for the product categories. To do this, add the Category to the Details section.

To show the label of a category, add the Category to the Label card in the Marks section.

To show the label at both ends of lines, click on the Label card and in the section Marks to Label select Line Ends. This will show the category label at both ends of the line.

Tableau Slope Chart for Sales Comparison

To show the dots at both ends of the line in the slope chart, click on the Color card and select the dots in the Markers.

If you want to make circles bigger on the ends, then for that, we need to create a dual-axis chart. For this, duplicate the Sales in the Rows and for the second row measure, select the Marks type as circle.

Adjust the circle’s size from the Size card in the Marks section. After this, click on the second Sales measure in the Rows and select Dual Axis.

We can also show the sales of both years; for this, add the Sales to the Label in the Marks.

Create Tableau Slope chart for comparison

As we can see, the labels are overlapped here. To adjust it, we can remove the zeros (blank area) from the chart. For this, click on the Edit Axis and in the next window, select custom range.

Now, we can see the clear sales comparison over two years for the product categories.

This way, we can create a slope chart in Tableau and compare measures such as sales and profit between two years.

Conclusion

In this Tableau tutorial, we learned how to create a Slope Chart to compare product category sales between two years. By using the Tableau slope chart, it is easy to spot trends, growth, or decline across categories.

In the above example, by customizing labels, markers, and axis ranges, we made the chart more readable for clear data analysis.

Salesforce Reader

Create Slope Chart in Tableau [With Examples] : Bijay Kumar

Slope Chart in Tableau

Create a Slope Chart in Tableau

Conclusion

Post a Comment