Build a Sankey diagram
Follow how a measure flows from one set of categories to the next, with each link as wide as its value.
3 min readUpdated October 28, 2026
A Sankey diagram shows flow: how much moves from one category to another, such as from region to product category to segment. Each link is as wide as the value it carries. Pick Sankey Diagram from the chart type selector.
Fill the shelves
| Shelf | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Nodes | Two or more dimensions, in from-to order. Each extra dimension adds a stage. |
| Link | The measure that sets each link's width. |
| Tooltip | Optional. Extra fields to show on hover. |
- Pick Sankey Diagram from the chart type selector.
- Drag your starting dimension to Nodes.
- Drag the next dimension to Nodes after it. Add more for more stages.
- Drag the measure that should size the flows to Link.
Note: You need at least two dimensions on Nodes. If Link is empty, Number of Records fills it, so links show row counts.
Format a Sankey diagram
Open the format pane and find Sankey options.
- Layout picks Compact, Balanced or Expanded node sizing. Node width and Node padding fine-tune it; once you change them, Layout reads Custom.
- Labels puts node names Inside, Outside, or hides them. Auto keeps them inside when they fit.
- Link color takes its color from the Source or Target node, or a Gradient between them.
- Link curvature and Link opacity shape the links.
- Highlight connected dims the rest of the flow when you hover a node or link.
Build one from the chat
Ask the Analyst pane, or the Storyteller pane on a dashboard, for a flow - for example, "show the flow from Region to Category to Segment". It puts the dimensions on Nodes in that order. Ask it to show the values on the nodes to add each node's total beside its name.