Gauge chart reference

Gauge charts let you see how well a given metric is performing against a target goal. The components of a gauge chart are as follows:

  • A center bar showing the actual value of the metric you are graphing
  • An optional vertical line showing a target value
  • An optional comparison value
  • Optional colored bands that represent threshold ranges, such as poor, average, and good

You can use gauge charts to monitor various "health" or other performance KPIs (key performance indicators).

Gauge charts in Looker Studio

Gauge charts in Looker Studio visualize a single metric. You can optionally display a minimum and maximum value, target value, and comparison value; and you can set up to five ranges. You can also change the chart colors and apply data filters.

Example

The following gauge chart shows total revenue for the Google Merchandise Store over a 28-day period.

A gauge chart displays a range from $0 to $200,000 with a center bar at $150.43 K, and an upward arrow indicates a growth of 20.88% in revenue over the last 28 days.

The example features the following elements:

  1. Four shaded bands representing ranges
  2. A comparison with the previous 28-day period
  3. A center bar showing the revenue amount
  4. A target of $200,000

Add the chart

Add a new chart or select an existing chart. Then, use the Properties panel to configure the chart's Setup tab and Style tab properties to set up the chart data and style the chart, respectively.

Set up the chart data

The options in the Setup tab of the Properties panel determine how the chart's data is organized and displayed.

Data source

A data source provides the connection between the component and the underlying dataset.

  • To change the chart's data source, click the current data source name.
  • To view or edit the data source, click the Edit data source icon. (You must have at least Viewer permission to see this icon.)
  • Click Blend data to see data from multiple data sources in the same chart. Learn more about data blending.

Metric

Metrics measure the things that are contained in dimensions and provide the numeric scale and data series for the chart.

Metrics are aggregations that come from the underlying dataset or that are the result of implicitly or explicitly applying an aggregation function, such as COUNT(), SUM(), or AVG(). The metric itself has no defined set of values, so you can't group by a metric as you can with a dimension.

Learn more about aggregation.

Gauge charts can have a single metric.

Optional metrics

You can add optional metrics by turning on the Optional metrics switch and selecting metrics from the Add metric field selector. You can also click metrics from the fields list on the Data panel and place them in the Optional metrics selector.

Filter

Filters restrict the data that is displayed in the component by including or excluding the values that you specify. Learn more about the filter property.

Filter options include the following:

  • Filter name: Click an existing filter to edit it. Mouse over the filter name and click X to delete it.
  • Add filter: Click this option to create a new filter for the chart.

Date range dimension

This option appears if your data source has a valid date dimension.

The date range dimension is used as the basis for limiting the date range of the chart. For example, this is the dimension that is used if you set a date range property for the chart or if a viewer of the report uses a date range control to limit the timeframe.

Default date range filter

The default date range filter lets you set a timeframe for an individual chart.

Default date range filter options include the following:

  • Auto: Uses the default date range, which is determined by the chart's data source.
  • Custom: Lets you use the calendar widget to select a custom date range for the chart.
  • Comparison date range: Displays comparison data for the selected time period.

Learn more about working with dates and time.

Style the chart

The options in the Style tab control the overall presentation and appearance of the chart.

Chart title

Turn on the Show title switch to add a title to your chart. Looker Studio can automatically generate a title, or you can create a custom title for the chart. You can also customize the title's styling and placement.

Autogenerate

This option is enabled by default. When Autogenerate is enabled, Looker Studio generates a title that is based on the chart type and the fields that are used in the chart. The autogenerated title will be updated if you change the chart type or make changes to the fields that are used in the chart.

To add a custom title to your chart, enter it into the Title field. This will turn off the Autogenerate setting.

Title options

When the Show title setting is enabled, you can use the following title options:

  • Title: Provides a text field where report editors can enter a custom title for the chart.
  • Font family: Sets the font type for the title text.
  • Font size: Sets the font size for the title text.
  • Font color: Sets the font color for the title text.
  • Font styling options: Applies bold, italic, or underline styling to the title text.
  • Top: Positions the chart title at the top of the chart.
  • Bottom: Positions the chart title at the bottom of the chart.
  • Left: Aligns the chart title to the left side of the chart.
  • Center: Centers the chart title above or below the chart.
  • Right: Aligns the chart title to the right side of the chart.

Primary metric

These settings control the appearance of the gauge chart's data, and include the following options:

  • Compact numbers: Rounds numbers and displays the unit indicator. For example, 553,939 becomes 553.9K.
  • Decimal precision: Sets the number of decimal places in metric values.

Bar colors

This section controls the appearance of the center value bar and the ranges. The settings include the following:

  • Bar color: Sets the color of the value bar.
  • Range color: Sets the color of the ranges.

Comparison metric

These options control the appearance of the gauge's comparison data, and include the following:

  • Positive change color: This option appears when date comparison is enabled. Changes the font color used to indicate positively changing (upward trending) data.
  • Negative change color: This option appears when date comparison is enabled. Changes the font color used to indicate negatively changing (downward trending) data.
  • Compact numbers: Rounds numbers and displays the unit indicator. For example, 553,939 becomes 553.9K.
  • Decimal precision: Sets the number of decimal places in metric values.
  • Show absolute change: Changes the comparison display from percentage of change to absolute numeric difference.

Range Limits

Range limits specify the threshold values for the chart. Ranges often indicate "poor," "average," and "good" thresholds and are turned off by default in gauge charts. You can add up top five ranges to a gauge chart. Click Add a range to add ranges.

  • Range 1: Set the threshold for the "poor" range.
  • Range 2: Set the threshold for the "average" range.
  • Range 3: Set the threshold for the "good" range.
  • Range 4: Set the threshold for the "very good" range.
  • Range 5: Set the threshold for the "excellent" range.

Axis

The following settings control the appearance of the chart axis:

  • Show axis: Shows or hides the chart axis.
  • Axis min: Sets the minimum value of the chart axis.
  • Axis max: Sets the maximum value of the chart axis.

Target

These options let you specify the target value for the chart:

  • Show target: Shows or hides the vertical target line.
  • Target value: Set the target value for the target line.

Missing data

When your gauge chart is missing data, you can choose from the following options to indicate that there is no data:

  • Show "No data": Displays the text "No data" on the gauge chart.
  • Show "0": Displays the number "0" on the gauge chart.
  • Show "-": Displays the text "-" on the gauge chart.
  • Show "null": Displays the text "null" on the gauge chart.
  • Show " " (blank): Displays no text on the gauge chart.

Labels

Lets you specify the font type, color, and size of the metric you are measuring in the gauge. The options include the following:

  • Font color: Sets the color of the chart labels.
  • Font size: Sets the font size of the chart labels.
  • Font family: Sets the font type of the chart labels.
  • Hide metric name: Turn on the switch to hide the name of the metric.
  • Hide metric value: Turn on the switch to hide the value of the metric.

Background and border

These options control the appearance of the chart background container:

  • Background: Sets the chart background color.
  • Opacity: Sets the chart opacity. 100% opacity completely hides objects behind the chart. 0% opacity makes the chart invisible.
  • Border color: Sets the chart border color.
  • Border radius: Adds rounded borders to the chart background. When the radius is 0, the background shape has 90° corners. A border radius of 100° produces a circular shape.
  • Border weight: Sets the chart border line thickness.
  • Border style: Sets the chart border line style.
  • Add border shadow: Adds a shadow to the chart's lower and right borders.

Chart header

The chart header lets viewers perform various actions on the chart, such as exporting the data, drilling up or down, or sorting the chart. Chart header options include the following:

  • Chart header: Controls where the chart header appears on the chart. The Chart header options include the following:
    • Do not show: The header options never appear. Note that report viewers can always access the options by right-clicking the chart.
    • Always show: The header options always appear.
    • Show on hover (default): Three vertical dots appear when you hold the pointer over the chart header. Click these to access the header options.
  • Header font color: Sets the color of the chart header options.

Reset to report theme

Click Reset to report theme to reset the chart settings to the report theme settings.