Combination Chart
A Combination Chart in Salesforce reports and dashboards is a chart type that overlays multiple data series in different visual forms on one chart canvas: a bar series for one metric, a line series for another, sometimes a second Y-axis for series with very different scales.
Definition
A Combination Chart in Salesforce reports and dashboards is a chart type that overlays multiple data series in different visual forms on one chart canvas: a bar series for one metric, a line series for another, sometimes a second Y-axis for series with very different scales. The chart type lets analysts show related but differently-shaped metrics in a single view: bookings (bar) against win rate (line), pipeline volume (bar) against average deal size (line), case volume (bar) against CSAT (line). Combination Charts work in both Salesforce Reports (Lightning report builder) and on dashboards.
Combination Charts matter because not every story is one metric. Sales managers want to see bookings alongside conversion rate, service leaders want to see case volume alongside customer satisfaction, marketers want to see lead volume alongside lead quality. Forcing each into its own chart breaks the visual connection between related metrics; a Combination Chart preserves the connection by overlaying them. The dual Y-axis option (when the two metrics have very different scales) is what makes the overlay readable; without it, the line series can disappear into the bar series's vertical range. Modern Salesforce report and dashboard builders support Combination Charts as standard chart types with intuitive configuration.
How Combination Charts work in Salesforce reporting
When to use a Combination Chart
Use a Combination Chart when two or more metrics belong on the same chart because they relate to each other but render differently (one as bars, one as lines). Volume metrics typically render as bars; rate or ratio metrics typically render as lines. The line conveys trend; the bar conveys magnitude.
Configuring the chart
In Lightning Report Builder, choose Chart Type: Combination Chart. Add the primary axis grouping and the metrics. Pick bar or line per metric. Configure the secondary Y-axis when the metrics have very different scales (revenue in millions versus win rate in percent).
Single versus dual Y-axis
Single Y-axis works when all metrics share the same numeric range. Dual Y-axis works when one metric is a count (0 to 10,000) and the other is a percentage (0 to 100). Without the dual axis, the smaller-range metric flatlines against the larger-range one's scale.
Combination Charts on dashboards
The same chart type works on dashboard components. The dashboard component reads from a report and renders the Combination Chart inline. Most production dashboards use Combination Charts heavily for sales and service KPI overlays.
Chart formatting and accessibility
Colour choices matter on Combination Charts because bar and line need to be distinguishable. Salesforce ships sensible defaults; accessibility-aware customers tune the palette to colour-blind-safe combinations. Series labels, axis titles, and value formatting all configurable.
Reporting prerequisites
Combination Charts need a Summary or Matrix report format (not Tabular). The grouping field determines the X-axis; summary fields become Y-axis series. The report must have at least two summary fields to be combination-chartable.
Common patterns
Sales bookings vs win rate (bar plus line). Pipeline volume vs average deal size (bar plus line). Case volume vs CSAT (bar plus line). Marketing leads vs MQL conversion rate (bar plus line). Each pattern surfaces volume plus quality on one chart.
Common pitfalls
Three patterns recur. Forgetting dual Y-axis when the metrics have very different scales hides the line series. Too many series on one chart create visual clutter; cap at three. And colour choices that are not colour-blind-safe exclude part of the audience.
How to build a Combination Chart
Combination Charts work in any Summary or Matrix report. The configuration is mostly chart type selection plus series formatting.
- Build the underlying report
Create a Summary or Matrix report with at least one grouping and at least two summary fields (the metrics you want to combine).
- Add a Combination Chart
Click Add Chart, choose Combination Chart. Set the X-axis to the grouping.
- Configure series
For each summary field, pick Bar or Line. The volume metric is usually Bar; the rate metric is usually Line.
- Enable dual Y-axis when scales differ
If the metrics have very different scales (count vs percentage), enable the secondary Y-axis. Assign each series to the appropriate axis.
- Format for clarity
Pick colour-blind-safe colours, label axes, format values per series (currency for revenue, percentage for rate). Save the report.
The underlying report format Combination Charts require.
The X-axis dimension.
The metrics to overlay; at least two required.
Combination Chart selected in chart configuration.
Primary or secondary axis per series.
- Forgetting dual Y-axis when scales differ flattens the line series. Enable when one metric is a count and the other a percentage.
- Too many series produce visual clutter. Cap at three; otherwise split into separate charts.
- Colour choices that are not colour-blind-safe exclude part of the audience. Pick palette deliberately.
- Combination Charts require Summary or Matrix format. Tabular reports cannot render them.
Trust & references
Cross-checked against the following references.
- Report ChartsSalesforce Help
- Reports OverviewSalesforce Help
Straight from the source - Salesforce's reference material on Combination Chart.
- Dashboards OverviewSalesforce Help
About the Author
Dipojjal Chakrabarti is a B2C Solution Architect with 29 Salesforce certifications and over 13 years in the Salesforce ecosystem. He runs salesforcedictionary.com to help admins, developers, architects, and cert/interview candidates sharpen their fundamentals. More about Dipojjal.
Test your knowledge
Q1. What is a Combination Chart?
Q2. What feature lets a Combination Chart compare metrics with very different scales?
Q3. When are combination charts most useful?
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