How to Create Sankey Diagram in Microsoft Power BI?

A Sankey Diagram in Power BI is a powerful visualization that shows how resources, information, or energy flow between different entities.

Named after Irish engineer Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, this chart uses arrows or links of varying widths to represent the size of each flow, making it easy to spot major contributors and bottlenecks.

By creating a Sankey Graph in Power BI, you can turn complex data into clear, interactive visuals that help uncover patterns, improve analysis, and support smarter decision-making.

In this article, we will learn:

Table of Content:

1. What is a Sankey Diagram in Power BI?
2. Why is Sankey Diagram Power BI Important?
3. Top 10 Use Cases For Power BI Sankey Chart
4. When Not to Use a Sankey Chart in Power BI?
5. Power BI Sankey Chart Examples
6. 4 Simple Steps to Create a Sankey Chart Power BI
7. How to Create a Custom Sankey Diagram in Power BI?
8. Best Practices
9. Tips for Creating a Sankey Graph in Power BI
10. FAQs
11. Wrap Up

Let’s dive right in.

What is a Sankey Diagram in Power BI?

Definition: A Sankey Diagram in Power BI is a flow-based chart that visually represents the movement of data between different stages, categories, or systems.

Each line, or “flow,” connects a source to a destination, and its width shows the proportion or volume of data being transferred. This makes it easy to understand how resources, users, or values move through a process from start to finish.

Why is Sankey Diagram Power BI Important?

These diagrams are particularly valuable for businesses and analysts because they:

• Visualize Complex Flows: Show how data moves between stages, categories, or entities in an intuitive way.
• Highlight Key Paths: Indicate volume through link width, making major contributors easy to spot.
• Identify Inefficiencies: Reveal bottlenecks, drop-offs, or resource losses for better optimization.
• Support Data-Driven Decisions: Help analysts and executives make informed choices quickly.
• Enhance Reports & Dashboards: Provide clear, interactive visuals for presentations and business reporting.

Top 10 Use Cases For Power BI Sankey Chart

The Power BI Sankey chart is ideal for visualizing complex data flows. Common use cases include:

1. Website user journey analysis
2. Sales and lead conversion tracking
3. Customer behavior mapping
4. Supply chain and logistics flow
5. Energy or resource distribution
6. Marketing campaign performance
7. Financial transaction movement
8. Data lineage tracking
9. Employee workflow analysis
10. Product lifecycle visualization

When Not to Use a Sankey Chart in Power BI?

• When your data is simple: If the process has only a few steps or minimal movement, a basic bar or line chart communicates the insight better.
• When flows overlap too much: This chart can become confusing if there are too many nodes or connections crossing each other.
• When exact values matter: This graph’s focus is on flow patterns, not precise numbers. Use tables or bar charts if your audience needs specific figures.
• When performance is a concern: Large datasets with many links can slow down Power BI visuals, making dashboards less responsive.

Power BI Sankey Chart Examples

A Sankey Diagram can be used in many ways to visualize data flow. For example, you can track website user journeys, cash flow between departments, or energy distribution across systems. These visuals help simplify complex processes, making it easier to identify key contributors, drop-offs, and overall performance at each stage.

• Cash Flow

Shows how money moves between accounts or departments to track spending and revenue.

• Energy Flow

Visualize Energy flow movement from sources to end uses, helping analyze efficiency and losses.

• User Flow

Maps how users navigate through a website or app, highlighting engagement paths and drop-offs.

4 Simple Steps to Create a Sankey Chart Power BI

Here are the 4 simple steps for creating a Sankey chart Power BI:

Step 1: Add the Visual

• Open your Power BI report and go to the Visualizations pane. Click the three dots (… ) → Get more visuals.
• Search for “Sankey Diagram” and choose a visual that fits your needs — you can use ChartExpo’s Sankey charts Power BI, or another option from Microsoft AppSource. Click
• Add to install it in your workspace.

Step 2: Prepare Your Dataset

Make sure your data includes at least three columns:

• Source: where the flow begins
• Target: where the flow ends
• Value: the measure or quantity representing the flow

For multi-level flows, structure your data to show movement through each stage clearly.

Step 3: Insert and Build the Diagram

• Select the Sankey Chart in Power BI icon to place it on your report canvas.
• Then, drag and drop your Source, Target, and Value fields into the corresponding data fields. Power BI will automatically generate the flow connections.

Step 4: Customize and Refine the Chart

• Use the Format panel to adjust link colors, node labels, and spacing. You can also apply filters, add tooltips, or enable drill-through options to make your Diagram more interactive and insightful.

How to Create a Custom Sankey Diagram in Power BI?

Here’s a quick video showing how to build a Sankey Chart in Power BI from scratch. The video discusses the following details:

• Load your data into Power BI.
• Prepare the fields required to build a Power BI Sankey Chart.
• Add ChartExpo from the Power BI visuals marketplace.
• Insert the ChartExpo visual into your report and start shaping your Power BI Sankey Graph.
• Enable the free trial mode if needed.
• Remove the watermark after activation.
• Adjust colors, labels, and other properties to customize the visual.

• Open Power BI Desktop.
• Click on the ‘Visualizations’ pane.
• Select ‘Get more visuals’. This will open the Power BI Visuals Marketplace.
• Search “Sankey Diagram by ChartExpo” custom visual from the Power BI marketplace.

• Select it. The following window opens:

• Click the highlighted “Add” button. Power BI will add the “Sankey Graph for Power BI by ChartExpo” in the visualization panel as shown below.

Stage 2: Drawing a Sankey Chart with ChartExpo’s Power BI Custom Visual

• Select the “Sankey for Power BI by ChartExpo” icon in the visualization panel. The following window opens on the report section of your dashboard:

• You can resize the visual as needed.
• Navigate to the right side of your Power BI dashboard. You should see the “Fields” next to “Visualizations”.

• You’ll select the fields to use in your Chart here. The ChartExpo visual needs to be selected though.

• You’ll be asked for a ChartExpo license key or email address.

Stage 3: Activating your ChartExpo Trial or Applying a Subscription Key

• While the ChartExpo visual is selected, you should see 3 icons below “Build visual” in the Visualizations panel.

• Select the middle icon, “Format visual”. The visual properties will be populated as shown below.

•  If you are a new user:
  • Enter your email address in the “Email” textbox in the “Trial Mode” section. When you subscribe to the ChartExpo add-in, this is the email address where your ChartExpo License key will be sent.
  • Ensure that your email address is valid.
  • Click “Enable Trial” to activate your 7-day trial.

• • You should receive a welcome email from ChartExpo.
  • The Power BI Sankey Chart you create under the 7-day trial contains the ChartExpo watermark (see below).

•  If you have obtained a license key:
  • Enter your license key in the “ChartExpo License Key” textbox in the “License Settings” section (see below).

• • Slide the toggle switch next to “Enable License” to “On”.
  • Your Diagram should now be ready (see below). Note that it does not have a watermark.

How to Make a Sankey Visual Using Power BI Desktop?

You need to have Power BI Desktop installed on your computer to use this option. We will divide the steps into several stages.

Stage 1: Launching and Logging in to Power BI Desktop

• Launch the “Power BI for Desktop” application.
• If you have not set it up, the application will ask for your Power BI account. Enter your account email and press continue.

• You will be redirected to your Microsoft account.
• Enter your password and click “Sign in”.

• You’ll then be redirected to the Power BI desktop home screen.

Stage 2: Selecting the Data Set to Use in Your Chart

• Click on the “Data” tab on the left-side menu.

• The following window opens.

• Click “Get data” from the top toolbar.

• The following dropdown opens:

• Choose “Power BI datasets” from the dropdown.
• Power BI populates the data sets list. (If you have not created a data set refer to the Error! Reference source not found section).

• Select the dataset from which to create your Chart and click “Connect”.
• Navigate to the “Fields” tab on the right side of the Power BI dashboard. You should see the loaded dataset.

Stage 3: Adding the Power BI Chart Extension by ChartExpo

• To finish creating our Sankey Chart in Power BI, we’ll use an add-in or Power BI visual from AppSource.
• Navigate to the Power BI Visualizations panel. It’s on the right side of your Power BI dashboard.
• Click the ellipsis (…) highlighted above to import the Power BI extension by ChartExpo.

• The following menu opens:

• Select the “Get more visuals” option. The following window opens.

• Select it. The following window opens:

• Click the highlighted “Add” button. Power BI will add the “Sankey for Power BI by ChartExpo” in the visualization panel as shown below.

Stage 4: Drawing a Sankey Diagram with ChartExpo’s Power BI extension

• Select the “Sankey for Power BI by ChartExpo” icon in the visualization panel. The following window opens on the report section of your dashboard:

• You can resize the visual as needed.
• Navigate to the right side of your Power BI dashboard. You should see the “Fields” next to “Visualizations”.

• You’ll select the fields to use in your  Chart here. The ChartExpo visual needs to be selected, though.

• You’ll be asked for a ChartExpo license key or email address.

Stage 5: Activating your ChartExpo Trial or Applying a Subscription Key

• While the ChartExpo visual is selected, you should see 3 icons below “Build visual” in the Visualizations panel.

• Select the middle icon, “Format visual”. The visual properties will be populated as shown below.

•  If you are a new user:
  • Enter your email address in the “Email” textbox in the “Trial Mode” section. When you subscribe to the ChartExpo add-in, this is the email address where your ChartExpo License key will be sent.
  • Ensure that your email address is valid.
  • Click “Enable Trial” to activate your 7-day trial.

• • You should receive a welcome email from ChartExpo.
  • The Chart you create under the 7-day trial contains the ChartExpo watermark (see below).

•  If you have obtained a license key:
  • Enter your license key in the “ChartExpo License Key” textbox in the “License Settings” section (see below).

• • Slide the toggle switch next to “Enable License” to “On”.
  • Your Diagram in Power BI should now be ready (see below). Note that it does not have a watermark.

You are all set to go and present your newly created Sankey Diagram in Power BI to your audience. Next, let’s look at some frequently asked questions.

Best Practices

Here are five practical tips to make your chart in Power BI clearer, engaging, and insightful:

Keep the Flow Simple:

• Avoid overcrowding your diagram with too many nodes or links. Simpler flows are easier to read and interpret.

Use Meaningful Colors:

• Apply consistent color themes to represent categories or data groups. This helps viewers follow connections quickly.

Label Clearly:

• Add clear labels for nodes and flows so users can instantly understand what each part represents.

Highlight Key Insights:

• Use color emphasis or filters to draw attention to important trends, contributors, or bottlenecks.

Ensure Data Accuracy:

• Before visualizing, double-check your source, target, and value fields to avoid misleading flows or incorrect proportions.

Tips for Creating a Sankey Graph in Power BI

Keep Your Data Structure Clean:

• Make sure your Source, Target, and Value fields are well-organized. Accurate mapping helps the chart display flows correctly.

Limit Unnecessary Nodes

• Too many nodes can clutter the view. Keep only the steps that matter so the flow stays clear and easy to read.

Use Consistent Colors

•  Apply colors that match categories or stages. This helps users follow the movement through the chart without confusion.

Highlight Key Paths

•  Adjust link thickness or colors to draw attention to the most important flows. This makes insights easier to spot in dashboards and reports.

FAQs

How Do You Format Your Data to Build a Sankey Diagram in Power BI?

You need to ensure that you have only one row for every entry. For example, you should only have one entry per region if you are showing regional data.

Wrap up

Using the right visualization helps you communicate insights clearly, especially when you’re working with flows or connected stages. These charts are one of the most effective ways to show how values move across a process.

In this guide, we explored the Sankey Diagram in Power BI from start to finish. We covered what the chart is, how its elements work, and how the connections between nodes and links help explain movement within a system.

We also looked at practical situations where this type of visual fits well, such as tracking patterns over time or working with hierarchical structures.

To build a strong chart, the key points include:

• Keeping nodes and flows to a manageable number

• Avoiding cases where all values look almost identical

• Making sure your visual tells a clear story

We also walked through how to create a Sankey chart in Power BI using both the Web Service and Desktop versions, along with answers to common questions about the data and history behind this chart type.

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