How To Create Rounded Bars In Power Bi

Scott Simon

2 min read

·

10-01-2025

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Power BI's default bar charts offer a clean, straightforward visualization, but sometimes a little visual flair can significantly improve data presentation. Rounded corners on your bars can soften the overall aesthetic and make your reports more visually appealing. While Power BI doesn't offer a direct setting for rounded bars, we can achieve this effect using a clever workaround involving a custom visual. This guide will walk you through the process.

Understanding the Limitations and the Solution

Power BI's built-in bar chart capabilities lack the option for rounded corners. This is where custom visuals come to the rescue. Numerous custom visuals are available online, offering expanded customization options, including rounded corners for bars. The key is finding a reliable and well-maintained visual.

Choosing and Implementing a Custom Visual

The process involves these steps:

1. Finding a Suitable Custom Visual: Search the Power BI AppSource for "rounded bar chart" or similar keywords. Pay close attention to the reviews and ratings to ensure you select a high-quality visual. Look for visuals that are regularly updated and have a strong community support base.

2. Importing the Custom Visual: Once you've identified a suitable visual, download and import it into your Power BI Desktop application. This usually involves clicking the "Import" button within the visual pane.

3. Connecting Your Data: After importing, you'll need to connect your data source to the custom visual. The data connection process will be similar to connecting data to the standard Power BI bar chart. This typically involves dragging and dropping fields to represent the X-axis (categories) and Y-axis (values).

4. Configuring the Rounded Corners: Most custom visuals offering rounded corners will have settings within their formatting options. Locate the settings related to appearance or style, and you should find an option to adjust the radius of the rounded corners. Experiment with different radius values to achieve your desired level of rounding.

Beyond Rounded Corners: Customizing Your Chart

Remember that custom visuals usually offer a wider range of customization options compared to their built-in counterparts. Explore the formatting options of your chosen visual to:

• Adjust colors: Change the color palette to align with your brand or to better highlight specific data points.
• Modify labels: Customize data labels to improve readability and clarity.
• Add titles and legends: Ensure your chart is clearly labeled and easy to interpret.
• Explore interactive features: Many custom visuals offer interactive elements, such as tooltips or drill-downs, to enhance user engagement.

Conclusion: Enhanced Visual Appeal with Minimal Effort

While Power BI's standard bar charts are functional, leveraging custom visuals unlocks significantly improved aesthetic control. By adding rounded corners, you can create more visually engaging and professional-looking reports, improving the overall communication of your data. Remember to always select well-maintained and reputable custom visuals from reliable sources.