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How to Create a Static Card in Power BI

Cody Schneider•

When you need to display a key metric that changes with your data, the standard Power BI card visual is perfect. But sometimes, you need to show a simple, unchanging value - like a sales target, a yearly benchmark, or a static contact email. Making this happen isn't immediately obvious, but it’s a powerful way to add fixed context to your otherwise dynamic reports. This guide will walk you through the two most effective methods for creating a static card in Power BI, complete with practical examples.

Why Would You Need a Static Card?

Dashboards are typically for tracking live, dynamic data, so the idea of a "static" element might seem counterintuitive. However, fixed values provide essential context that gives your dynamic charts more meaning. Without a target line or a stated goal, how do you know if your performance metrics are good or bad?

Here are a few common scenarios where static cards are incredibly useful:

  • Displaying Business Goals: You might want a card that clearly states "Q4 Sales Target: $500,000" right beside a chart showing actual Q4 sales to date.

  • Showing Constant Values: If your company has a fixed overhead cost per employee or a standard commission rate, a static card can keep that figure visible.

  • Providing Report Instructions or Notes: Use a static card to add a helpful note like, "All data reflects UTC timezone" or "For questions, email helpdesk@company.com."

  • Highlighting Benchmarks: You could show an industry average conversion rate of 2.5% to help users gauge their own performance.

Now that you know why you might need one, let's get into the how. We'll cover two methods, ranging from ultra-simple to slightly more technical but much more flexible.

Method 1: The Simple Text Box Trick

The fastest and easiest way to create the appearance of a static card is by using a standard Text Box element and creatively formatting it. This method doesn’t involve any data or DAX formulas, making it perfect for absolute beginners or for purely decorative text.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Follow these quick steps to get a static-looking card on your report canvas.

1. Insert a Text Box

Navigate to the Insert tab on the Power BI ribbon at the top of the screen. Look for the "Elements" section and click on Text box. A new text box will appear on your report page.

Ribbon: Insert > Text box

2. Add and Format Your Text

Type your static text and value directly into the box. For example, you could type "Annual Revenue Goal" and then below it, "$1.2 Million." A formatting bar will appear at the top of the text box where you can adjust:

  • Font family, size, and color.

  • Bold, Italic, and Underline attributes.

  • Text alignment (left, center, or right).

Make your main value large and bold to make it stand out, mimicking the look of an actual card visual.

Example: Type "Annual Revenue Goal" and then "$1.2 Million" on a new line. Make "$1.2 Million" a larger font size.

3. Format the Box to Look Like a Card

This is where the magic happens. With the text box selected, go to the Format pane on the right side of the screen. (If you don't see it, click the paintbrush icon.)

Under the "Format visual" tab, adjust the following settings in the "Effects" section:

  • Background: Turn this on and choose a light gray or a color that matches your report's theme.

  • Visual border: Turn this on to create a clear outline. You can choose the color and round the corners for a softer look.

  • Shadow: Turning this on can help lift the box off the page, giving it a modern, card-like appearance.

Pros and Cons of the Text Box Method

Pros:

  • Fast and Easy: It takes less than 30 seconds to implement.

  • No DAX Required: You don't need to know anything about data modeling or formulas.

  • Extremely Flexible: You can add any combination of text, numbers, and symbols you want.

Cons:

  • Completely Static: The value is just text. It cannot be used in other calculations or referenced by other visuals.

  • No Data Formatting: You can't programmatically format it as currency, a percentage, etc. You have to type the symbols ($ or %) manually.

  • Maintenance Hassle: If a goal changes, you have to manually find and edit the text box. In a complex report, this can be easily missed.

Method 2: Creating a DAX Measure

For a more robust and "data-aware" solution, you can create a measure using a simple DAX formula. This measure will contain your static value. You then display this measure using the standard Card visual. This is the recommended approach if your value has a chance of being used in other calculations or if you want it to be part of your formal data model.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Static Measure

This method involves creating the data point first and then visualizing it.

1. Create a New Measure

In the Home tab on the ribbon, click the New measure icon. This will open the formula bar at the top of the canvas.

Alternatively, right-click any table in your Fields pane and select "New measure."

2. Write the DAX Formula

Now, write a very simple formula to define your static value. The format is Measure Name = Value.

  • For a numeric value (like a sales target):

    Q4 Sales Target = 500000

  • For a text value (like a contact name):

    Regional Rep = "Sarah Johnson"

Remember to enclose any text strings in double quotes. After writing the formula, press Enter. Your new measure, Q4 Sales Target, will now appear in your Fields pane, usually identifiable by a small calculator icon.

3. Format the Numeric Measure

If you created a numeric measure, it's good practice to format it correctly. Select the Q4 Sales Target measure in the Fields pane. A "Measure tools" context tab will appear in the ribbon. Here you can change the format to Currency and select the appropriate currency symbol (e.g., $ English (United States)).

Measure tools > Formatting > Select "$" or other format.

4. Add a Card Visual to Your Report

In the Visualizations pane, click the Card icon (it looks like "123"). An empty card visual will be added to your report canvas.

5. Add the Measure to the Card

With the new card visual selected, find your measure (Q4 Sales Target) in the Fields pane and either drag it into the "Fields" area for the visual or simply check the box next to its name.

The card will instantly display "$500,000" in the default card format.

Formatting Your DAX-Powered Card

You have full control over the look and feel of this card. Select it and go to the Format visual pane to customize it:

  • Callout value: This section controls the main number. You can change its font, size, and color.

  • Category label: This is the text underneath the value (by default, it’s the measure name). You can hide it by toggling it off, or you can rename it. It's often cleaner to toggle this off and use the card's Title instead.

  • Title: Turn on the Title under the "General" properties tab and type in a clean name like "Q4 Sales Target."

  • Effects: Just like with the text box, you can add a background, border, and shadow here to complete the look.

When to Use the DAX Method

Though it takes a few more clicks, the DAX method is generally better practice. Use it when:

  • Your "static" value might need to be updated occasionally (it’s easier to change one measure than hunt for a text box).

  • You want to use the value in another calculation, such as Percentage of Target = DIVIDE([Actual Sales], [Q4 Sales Target]).

  • You want to maintain a clean, organized data model where all presentation-layer figures are stored as measures.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, creating a static card in Power BI is a matter of choosing the right tool for the job. The Text Box method is an excellent quick fix for simple labels, while the DAX measure approach offers a more scalable and integrated solution for values that are part of your business logic. Both techniques empower you to add fixed context that makes your dynamic reports easier to understand at a glance.

While mastering Power BI is a valuable skill, it often requires manual report building, wrangling format panes, and writing formulas. This is precisely why we built Graphed. We simplify the entire process by letting you use natural language to get the insights you need. Instead of clicking through menus, you can just ask, "Show me a dashboard of my monthly sales vs our $500,000 target," and Graphed instantly builds an interactive, real-time dashboard for you. It's about getting from data to decision in seconds, not hours.