How to Create an Alternative to a Merimekko Chart

A Merimekko Chart, also known as a variable width bar chart, is useful for comparing both high-level data and low-level data in the same chart. However, since we have size variables for both the width of the bars AND the height of the bars, comparing different segments of the chart is more challenging than it needs to be. Read more about the problems with Merimekko charts here.

In this example, I show you how to make an alternative to a traditional Merimekko Chart. I show you how to compare both category sales and regions sales within each category at the same time.

This can be easily replicated by simply swapping out the dimensions and updating one LOD calculation. Alternatively, you could use two parameters to allow the user to pick both the high-level and low-level dimensions and a third parameter for the measure to compare.