How to Change Grand Total Name in Tableau

Changing the default "Grand Total" label in Tableau can be a surprisingly common roadblock. Instead of a native "rename" option for this built-in feature, you will need to use a clever workaround. This article will walk you through two effective and popular methods to customize that header, giving you greater control over your final report's presentation.

Why Can't You Just Rename the Grand Total?

Unlike most labels in Tableau, the "Grand Total" wording is deeply integrated into the tool's calculation framework. It isn't just a static label, it represents a system-generated output that aggregates all dimensions in your view. Whether it's showing on rows or columns, Tableau applies rules in the background for how these totals are computed and displayed.

Because of this, there is no simple menu option like Editing Aliases or Formatting that allows you to easily type in a new label. To accomplish it, you need to get creative by replacing or overlaying the default header with one of your creation. Fortunately, once you learn the technique, it becomes second nature and can be applied in just a minute or two.

Method 1: The Dual-Axis 'Fake Header' Technique

This is probably the most popular and flexible way to resolve the "Grand Total" renaming issue. It feels a bit like a clever "hack," but it works fabulously well and keeps all of your information contained in a single sheet. The basic idea is to create a second axis right next to your actual totals, blend the original header, and make a custom header for your new axis.

Let's walk through it step-by-step using the Sample - Superstore dataset included in Tableau. We'll create a simple table showing Sales by Region with a grand total for sales.

Step 1: Build the Basic Table with Totals Turned On

First, set up your view as you normally would.

1. Drag Region to the Rows shelf.
2. Drag Sales to the Text mark in the Marks card.
3. Go to the top menu and select Analysis > Totals > Show Row Grand Totals.

You should now have a basic text table with an undesirable "Grand Total" label at the bottom.

Step 2: Create a Calculated Field for the Fake Header

Next, we'll establish a placeholder calculation that allows us to form this second axis.

1. Create a new calculated field (right-click in the Data window > Create Calculated Field).
2. Name it something like "Placeholder."
3. Enter the following simple calculation: MIN(1) or even just 1. Click OK. This gives us a fixed point for our axis.

Step 3: Create a Dual Axis Chart

This is where the magic truly happens.

1. Move your new "Placeholder" calculation to the Columns shelf. You'll see your table split as it creates an axis with the added zero line.
2. Drag another instance of the Sales measure onto the new "AGG(Placeholder)" Marks card on the Text shelf.
3. Now, right-click the "Placeholder" field on the Columns shelf and select Dual Axis. You'll likely see overlapping Marks view now instead of text - that's normal.

Step 4: Clean Up the Formatting and Change the Label

Now we need to tidy everything up so it looks like a coherent table.

1. First, right-click on the upper axis (the one for the "Placeholder" label) and uncheck Show Header to hide it.
2. Sync the Axes. Right-click the lower axis and select Synchronize Axis.
3. Right-click on that same lower axis again and uncheck Show Header to hide that total too.
4. Now it's time to edit the labels! Right-click on the original "Grand Total" label at the bottom of the table and select Format.
5. In the pane that opens, go to the 'Header' section. Change the name in that field to be completely blank (delete the words "Grand Total" so the field is empty). This hides the original label.
6. Finally, we'll update our new, visible one. Right-click directly on the header title on the very bottom of the table labeled "Placeholder" and select Edit Axis. In the dialog box that opens, type in anything you like: "Total Sales," "Overall Company Revenue," "All Regions Aggregate," etc. Once you close the dialog box your title will be updated.

And that's it! This technique allows you to rename the Grand Total header to whatever you see fit while keeping all of your data for analysis on a single sheet.

Method 2: Using Two Worksheets on a Dashboard

A more robust and straightforward way of accomplishing the renaming goal is by creating two separate worksheets and combining them into a dashboard. This method avoids the complexity of dual-axis charting and gives you absolute control over formatting. It's especially useful for non-text visuals such as bar or column charts where totals may need a completely different visual treatment.

Step 1: Create the Main Data Table (Without Totals)

First, build your visualization as usual but without turning on Grand Totals:

1. Create a new Worksheet. Rename it to something like "Main Data."
2. Drag Region to the Rows shelf.
3. Drag Sales to the Text mark.
4. Ensure there are no grand totals enabled on this sheet by verifying that Analysis > Totals > Show Row Grand Totals is unchecked.

Step 2: Create a Separate Worksheet for Just the Totals

Now we’ll create our totals separate sheet:

1. Create a new Worksheet. Rename it something like "Total View."
2. Drag Sales to the Text mark. We do not need to pull any dimensions (like Region) into the view as we want Tableau to calculate the SUM(Sales) for the entire dataset.
3. To include the custom label, create a calculated field named "Custom Title" and add a line of text enclosed in quotes, e.g., "Company Total Net Revenue". Click OK.
4. Drag the newly created Calculation Field to the Rows shelf.
5. You should now have a single row showing your custom label followed by your total sales number – for example, "Company Total Net Revenue $865,716.32."

Step 3: Combine Worksheets Into a Dashboard

The last step is to combine the two sheets so it appears to be in the same sheet.

1. Create a new Dashboard by clicking on the new dashboard option. You may name it as needed, e.g., "My New Dashboard."
2. From the left-hand pane of your Dashboard window, drag a Vertical container object onto the dashboard area to organize your content neatly (optional but HIGHLY recommended). It keeps your alignment looking nice and will behave predictably across different screen resolutions and sizes if needed.
3. Drag the "Main Data" Sheet into the container box.
4. Now drag the "Total View" sheet right below the main table. They should snap into place smoothly, appearing as one continuous table with your custom total labeling.

Step 4: Final Formatting and Cleaning Up

Now that you have your two sheets sitting on top of one another to make them look like a cohesive table, make the following tweaks to format it:

1. On your "Total View" worksheet, right-click the 'Custom Title' column header and choose 'Hide field labels for Rows' so that you don't have a duplicate header showing for your total.
2. Your finished visual should look like one unified table, with a perfectly styled, custom-named row right at the bottom of your original table data. Your viewers won't even realize it's two sheets combined to make one seamless presentation.
3. Finally, make sure that any filters affecting your dashboard apply to both sheets equally by clicking on the filter, going to the small arrow pointing down, and selecting "Apply to all Sheets." This ensures filter actions also work correctly.

Final Word on the Matter of Naming

While it requires a couple of extra steps, taking the time to customize small details like the Grand Total label in Tableau makes your reports more professional and intuitive for the audience. Choose between the dual-axis technique to keep everything on a single worksheet or opt for the dashboard method for complete clarity and control of the presentation.

Knowing this workaround not only remedies a common annoyance but also deepens our understanding of how Tableau works, particularly in regard to its dual-axis and dashboard functionalities as demonstrated in these examples.

Final Thoughts

Customizing the grand total header in Tableau may not be as straightforward as one might expect, but it can be done relatively easily thanks to these clever workarounds using a dual-axis graph or the more direct two worksheets method. Both processes allow for this level of detail that makes a dashboard much clearer to use, making them valuable techniques to add to your arsenal for dashboard building.

We built Graphed to solve all the problems that people experience when building their reports, like the ones described above. With Graphed, you can avoid all of this complexity since Graphed automates the process for you. Simply connect your data source to the software, and it will do the rest of the hard work, so you don't even have to write another SQL code again. It offers a great experience when building reports and is incredibly easy to use, even for those who have never used a report builder software before. It's a very user-friendly software which can be implemented quickly due to its ease of use. Anyone can learn how it works just by using it, as it is a unique software in the industry that makes it extremely popular and useful to those who need this type. You can create any report you want in no time so that you can deliver it right on time without a hitch. It gives a fully automatable report building experience with one-click building processes for the users of our software. You can get yours for free by going to the Graphed website.