A waterfall chart is a type of data visualization used to show how a starting value is affected by a series of incremental positive and negative changes, leading to a final result.
Think of it as a step-by-step story of change, instead of just showing totals, it shows how you got there.
A waterfall chart answers this question clearly, How did we move from the starting value to the ending value?
It breaks down the journey into individual contributions:
· Positive value: increase the total (upward bars)
· Negative values: decrease the total (downward bars)
· Final bar: shows the cumulative result
Let’s take following dataset as an example.
monthly_profit_breakdown.csv
step_order,step,amount 1,Opening Revenue,500000 2,Online Sales,150000 3,Store Sales,200000 4,Returns,-50000 5,Discounts,-30000 6,Logistics Cost,-80000 7,Marketing Spend,-40000 8,Final Profit,0
Opening Revenue → ₹5,00,000
This is your starting point. In the chart, this is the first full bar.
Online Sales → +₹1,50,000
Your revenue increases due to online orders. Running total: ₹6,50,000
In the chart:
· This bar goes upward
· It starts from the top of the previous bar
Store Sales → +₹2,00,000
Offline/physical store sales add more revenue.
Running total: ₹6,50,000 + ₹2,00,000 = ₹8,50,000
Chart behavior: Another upward step
Returns → -₹50,000
Customers returned products, it is a loss.
Running total: ₹8,50,000 - ₹50,000 = ₹8,00,000
Discounts → -₹30,000
Offers and promotions reduce revenue.
Running total: ₹8,00,000 -₹30,000 = ₹7,70,000
Logistics Cost → -₹80,000
Delivery, warehousing, shipping costs.
Running total: ₹7,70,000 - ₹80,000 = ₹6,90,000
Marketing Spend → -₹40,000
Advertising and campaigns.
Running total: ₹6,90,000 - ₹40,000 = ₹6,50,000
Final Profit: (auto-calculated)
Even though it's 0 in data, the chart calculates, Final Profit = ₹6,50,000
This appears as the final total bar, usually anchored to baseline.
Follow below step-by-step procedure to build Waterfall chart.
Step 1: Create dataset from monthly_profit_breakdown.csv file.
Data -> Upload CSV to database
· Upload 'monthly_profit_breakdown.csv' file.
· Select the database and schema where you want to upload the csv file.
· Give the table name as 'monthly_profit_breakdown'
Click on Upload button.
Navigate to Datasets listing page, you can able to see the monthly_profit_breakdown dataset.
Step 2: Create Waterfall chart.
Click on ‘monthly_profit_breakdown’ dataset.
It takes you to the chart configuration page.
Click on ‘View all charts’ link.
Search and select Waterfall Chart.
Drag and drop step_order to the X-axis.
Drag and drop amount to the Metric.
Select SUM as aggregate.
Click on Create chart button, you can be able to see Waterfall chart like below.
Let’s add legend, X-Axis, Y-Axis labels and update the Chart.
Let’s write a custom query like below, so in the X-Axis labels it shows the step name as well.
SELECT step_order || '_' || step AS step_with_order, amount FROM public.monthly_profit_breakdown ORDER BY step_order;
Execute above query in SQL Lab.
Run the query.
Save -> Save dataset.
Select Overwrite existing option.
It takes you to the chart configuration page.
Select the chart as Waterfall, Drag and drop step_with_order to X-axis, amount to Metric, Create the chart.
You can be able to see Waterfall chart like below.
That’s it, you're good to go.
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