Numbers tell a story, but locations give that story context. With maps in Power BI, we can see our data in a whole new dimension – literally. By plotting information geographically, it becomes easier to quickly identify trends, uncover hidden patterns, and make data-driven decisions with confidence.
Whether monitoring sales by region, mapping customer behavior, or visualizing operational metrics, maps help transform raw data into an intuitive, visual narrative.
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In this article, we'll explore:
- The various types of maps available in Power BI
- Native and marketplace map visuals
- Tips for creating interactive and insightful visualizations that bring data to life
Power BI comes equipped with several native map visuals, each designed for different visualization needs. These built-in options require no additional downloads and integrate seamlessly with your reports.
The standard map visual is the foundation for geographic visualization. It plots locations like cities, states, countries, or precise coordinates using Bing Maps for geocoding.
Points can be sized based on values or colored to distinguish categories, making it straightforward to show where things are happening and at what scale.
The filled map, also known as a choropleth, shades entire regions according to values or categories, making it ideal for comparing performance across areas.
It highlights high- and low-performing regions through color gradients, though it sometimes struggles with accuracy, particularly when dealing with states or counties.
For even more customization, the shape map allows the use of TopoJSON files to define custom boundaries. This makes it useful for highly granular data such as districts or privately owned areas, and it often serves as a reliable alternative when filled maps misinterpret geographic data.
Note: Shape maps are still a preview feature and need to be enabled in the PBI options menu.
The ArcGIS map is the most advanced of the native visuals, integrating Esri’s powerful geospatial analytics directly into Power BI.
It provides access to heatmaps, reference layers, drive-time analysis, and even public datasets, making it a go-to solution for users who need deep spatial insights.
Beyond the built-in visuals, Power BI’s marketplace offers community-developed and vendor-provided options that extend mapping capabilities.
Icon Map is one of the most versatile and popular custom map visuals in the marketplace. It combines features of all native visuals and goes further by allowing custom icons, shapes, and images to represent data points.
Map tiles from platforms like OpenStreetMap and Mapbox can be layered in, and routing or paths can be visualized directly. Because of this flexibility, Icon Map is popular across industries such as retail, logistics, and telecom.
Instead of a traditional map, Synoptic Panel enables data to be displayed on top of custom images or diagrams.
By using its companion tool, Synoptic Designer, you can create interactive layers over floor plans, store layouts, or process diagrams. This makes it especially powerful for visualizing non-geographic, yet still spatial, data.
Maps in Power BI bridge the gap between numbers and real-world context. They allow us to move beyond charts and tables, bringing geography into the heart of our analysis.
Whether you rely on the simplicity of native visuals, explore the advanced capabilities of ArcGIS, or take advantage of marketplace options like Icon Map and Synoptic Panel, the right map can make insights instantly clear.
By applying best practices, ensuring accuracy, reducing ambiguity, and optimizing performance, you can build maps that are not only visually engaging but also genuinely useful for decision-making.
In the end, the goal is simple: to let your data tell its story in the most intuitive way possible, with location as the key to unlocking deeper understanding.
Ready to transform your data with maps?
Whether you're just getting started with Power BI maps or looking to elevate your existing dashboards, the right visual can unlock insights that tables and charts simply can't reveal. At FELD M, we help organizations design data visualizations that drive real business decisions – from interactive maps to comprehensive BI strategies.
Our specialists are ready to help you choose the right mapping approach for your needs and build dashboards that tell your data's story effectively. Get in touch to learn more!