2026 | Week 28 | Can you build a Pareto Chart with Colored Backgrounds?

/ Tableau, Workout Wednesday / By

Introduction

This week we have a challenge by Lisa Hitch, Coach of the New York Data School and Winner of the Tableau Conference Tips Battle. 

This week we’re putting a fresh spin on a classic chart: the Pareto chart!

The Pareto principle (also known as the 80/20 rule) tells us that roughly 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. For example, 80% of our sales come from only 20% of our customers.

In most Pareto charts you’ll see sorted bars with a cumulative line. But this challenge flips the format: both axes are running percentages of total, creating a smooth cumulative curve that sweeps across the view, with lines telling us the 80/20 and 20/80 points. The result is a chart that not only communicates the 80/20 principle but shows it visually in a striking way.

And if that is not enough, we’re adding a colored background to our chart. While we have lines telling us the 20/80 and 80/20 points, we also use a small visual cue to highlight the 10% and 90% marks.

Click to open in Tableau Public

Requirements

  • Dashboard size: 1300 × 850
  • Single worksheet, only 2 fields are needed!
  • The X-axis displays the running sum of % of total for Customer IDs
  • The Y-axis displays the running sum of % of total for Sales
  • The Pareto curve must be a filled area chart in dark navy (#3e3e5a)
  • We need 4 white lines:
    • 20% of the running sum of % of total for Customer ID
    • 80% of the running sum of % of total for Customer ID
    • 20% of running sum of % of total for Sales
    • 80% of running sum of % of total for Sales
  • The background must be divided into five colored sections, based on 10%, 20%, 80%, and 90% on the X-axis. Color scheme
    • #ffcf9e
    • #ffdea6
    • #e6e6e6
    • #e2fac3
    • #bbe7be
  • Add two text annotations:
    • One calling out what % of sales come from the top 20% of customers
    • One calling out what % of customers make up 80% of sales

Dataset

Sample Superstore (built into Tableau Desktop). No additional data download required.

Attribute

When you publish your solution on Tableau Public make sure to take the time and include a link to the original inspiration.  Also include the hashtag #WOW2026 in your description to make it searchable!

Share

After you finish your workout, share on Twitter and/or LinkedIn using the hashtag #WOW2026 #Tableau and tag @WorkoutWednsday

Solution

Interactive