Calculated Columns & Measures
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Learn to create and use calculated columns and measures in Power BI.
What is a Calculated Column?
A Calculated Column:
Created inside a table
Calculated row by row
Stored in memory
Increases file size
Example:
Total Price = Sales[Quantity] * Sales[UnitPrice]Each row multiplies Quantity × UnitPrice.
When to Use Calculated Column?
Creating new categories
Row-level logic
Creating relationship keys
Static classificationExample:
Sales Category =
IF(Sales[SalesAmount] > 10000, "High", "Low")What is a Measure?
A Measure:
Calculated at report level
Not stored physically
Calculated dynamically
Changes with filters
Example:
Total Sales = SUM(Sales[SalesAmount])If user selects:
Region = Ahmedabad
Measure recalculates only for that region.Columns vs Measures – Deep Comparison
Understanding with Simple Example
Imagine a Sales table:
Calculated Column:
Total Price = Quantity * UnitPriceResult stored as:
Stored permanently.
Measure:
Total Revenue = SUM(Sales[Quantity] * Sales[UnitPrice])This is calculated only when needed in visual.
If you filter by date → Result changes automatically.
Important Concept Difference
Calculated Column → Row Context
Works row-by-row.
Measure → Filter Context
Works based on filters applied in report.
When to Use What?
Use Calculated Column When:
You need value per row
You need column for relationship
You need grouping/category columnUse Measure When:
You need totals
You need KPIs
You need dynamic results
You want better performance