How to Get Measure Values in Tableau

Showing multiple measures in a single Tableau chart can feel overwhelming, but it’s straightforward once you understand two special fields: Measure Values and Measure Names. They are Tableau's unique solution for visualizing several key metrics together. This guide will walk you through exactly what these fields are, how to use them to build powerful charts, and how to solve the most common issues you might encounter.

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What Are Measure Values and Measure Names?

In Tableau, your data is automatically separated into dimensions (qualitative data, like categories or dates) and measures (quantitative data, like sales or profit). When you need to display multiple measures on one graph, Tableau provides two special, auto-generated fields to make this happen:

• Measure Values: This is a single, continuous field that contains the numeric values of all the measures in your data source, bundled together. You can think of it as a container holding all your numbers. When you use it, by default, it will include every measure from your data pane.
• Measure Names: This is the companion discrete dimension that contains the names of all the measures. It acts as the label for each of the numbers inside the 'Measure Values' container. For example, if 'Measure Values' contains the numbers 100, 25, and 10, 'Measure Names' might contain the labels "Sales," "Profit," and "Quantity."

These two fields are a power duo. You almost never use one without the other. They are essential for creating specific chart types that require comparing several metrics side-by-side, such as text tables, multi-line charts, or grouped bar charts.

How to Use Measure Values: A Step-by-Step Guide

The best way to understand how to get measure values is to walk through a practical example. Let's use Tableau's Sample Superstore dataset to compare Sales, Profit, and Quantity across different product regions.

Step 1: Get the Basics on the Canvas

First, decide how you want to break down your data. We want to see performance by region, so we'll start there.

Drag the Region dimension from the Data pane onto the Columns shelf. This will create a column for each region: Central, East, South, and West.

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Step 2: Add Measure Values to the View

Now, let's bring in our numerical data. Find the Measure Values field in the Data pane (it should be near the bottom of the Measures list and is italicized). Drag Measure Values onto the Rows shelf.

At this point, you'll see a single bar for each region. These bars represent a sum of all the measures in your data source combined, which isn't very useful yet. You’ll also notice a new card appeared in your view named ‘Measure Values’. It contains all of the aggregated measures (SUM(Sales), SUM(Profit), etc.).

Step 3: Use Measure Names to Separate and Color the Bars

To break that single bar into individual bars for each measure, you need to use its companion, Measure Names.

Find the Measure Names field in the Dimensions list. Drag it onto the Color mark on the Marks card. Instantly, your single bar should split into multiple colored bars, with each color representing a different measure. Tableau also adds a color legend automatically.

Step 4: Filter Down to the Measures You Need

Your chart is likely still too messy because it includes every possible measure (like Discount, Quantity, Sales, Profit, etc.). We only care about Sales, Profit, and Quantity for this analysis.

Look for the Measure Names filter that automatically appeared on the Filters shelf when you dragged Measure Names into the view.

1. Right-click the Measure Names filter and choose Edit Filter.
2. In the dialog box, uncheck everything except for Sales, Profit, and Quantity.
3. Click OK.

Your view will now update to show only three stacked bars per region — one for each measure you selected. Our chart is starting to take shape!

Pro Tip: You can also remove unwanted measures directly from the 'Measure Values' card on the shelves by simply dragging them off the card.

Step 5: Arrange the View for a Side-by-Side Comparison

Stacked bars are good, but a side-by-side bar chart is often better for direct comparison. To achieve this, we need to use Measure Names to define the columns as well.

Drag Measure Names from the Marks card and drop it onto the Columns shelf, right next to the 'Region' pill. This tells Tableau to create a cluster of columns for each measure within each region. Now you have a clear, side-by-side comparison of Sales, Profit, and Quantity for every region.

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Practical Examples Building on Measure Values

Beyond side-by-side bar charts, the Measure Values and Measure Names combination is crucial for many common visualization types.

1. Creating a Text Table (Crosstab)

One of the most frequent uses for Measure Values is creating a simple table view showing multiple financial or operational metrics.

• Drag a dimension, like Sub-Category, to the Rows shelf.
• Drag Measure Values to the Text mark on the Marks Card. You'll see "ABC" in your table.
• Drag Measure Names to the Columns shelf. This will break the "ABC" into actual column headers.
• Use the Measure Names filter to select just the measures you want to display, such as Sales, Profit, and Profit Ratio. Your text table is now ready.

2. Building a Dual-Axis or Combo Chart

What if you want to show bars for sales and a line for profit margin over time? You can get part of the way there with Measure Values.

• Drag Order Date to Columns and set it to Continuous Month.
• Drag Measure Values to the Rows shelf.
• Filter Measure Names to only include Sales and Profit Ratio.
• On the Marks card shelf next to your canvas (where it says Sum([Measure Values])), click the dropdown, and you'll see separate Marks cards for each measure below.
• Click on the SUM(Sales) Marks card and set the Mark Type dropdown to Bar.
• Click on the SUM(Profit Ratio) Marks card and set the Mark Type dropdown to Line.

Now you have sales represented as bars and the profit ratio as a line, both sharing the same axis. If you need them to have different scales (e.g., Sales in dollars and Profit Ratio in percentages), you would transition this into a full dual-axis chart by dragging one of the measures to the opposite side of the axis to create a second one.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

As powerful as Measure Values is, it can sometimes behave unexpectedly. Here’s how to fix the most common problems beginners face.

Problem: "My chart shows way too many measures and is a cluttered mess."

Solution: This is a classic issue, and the fix is simple. As soon as you bring Measure Values into a view, immediately right-click the Measure Names filter that automatically appears on the Filters shelf and uncheck all the measures you don’t need. It is best practice to always tidy this up first before doing any other formatting.

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Problem: "I can't format the number for just ONE measure. They all change."

Solution: Since all the metrics within Measure Values share a single axis, changing the format in the main Axis settings applies it to everything. To format them individually, go to the Measure Values card on your shelf. Right-click the specific measure you want to change (e.g., 'SUM(Profit)') and select Format.... This opens a formatting pane where you can set currency, percentages, or decimal places for just that measure.

Problem: "I want one measure to be logarithmic and the other linear, but I can't."

Solution: The single-axis rule is the limitation here. All measures using the Measure Values field must share the same axis properties, including its scale (linear, logarithmic). If you need fundamentally different axis scales, you can't use Measure Values for both. Instead, you need to build a true dual-axis chart by placing one measure on the Rows shelf and the second measure on the Rows shelf as well, then right-clicking the second pill and selecting Dual Axis.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the relationship between Measure Values and Measure Names unlocks a new level of data analysis in Tableau. This duo makes it possible to build dense, information-rich visualizations that compare multiple performance indicators at a glance, moving you beyond simple single-measure charts.

Tools like Tableau are incredibly powerful but come with a learning curve filled with concepts like Measure Values. We built Graphed because we believe your entire team should be able to get answers from their data without needing extensive training. Instead of dragging fields, filtering measures, and configuring chart types, you can simply ask for what you need in plain English - like "create a bar chart comparing sales and profit by region for last quarter" - and Graphed instantly builds the exact visualization for you, connecting directly to your live data sources.