Conditional formatting rows based on blank values in the grand total column with matrix visuals

I have a matrix visual and I turned on the grand total column setting. I want to create a conditional formatting rule that will highlight all rows where the grand total column value is blank.

Need Help

Tips and Tricks

Jaywant-Thorat
7 months ago
This is a very common Matrix + Grand Total + Conditional Formatting challenge in Power BI. Let’s solve it cleanly and the right DAX way.
Step 1 – Create a helper measure to detect blank Grand Total
Assume your main measure is: [Total Sales]
Create a new measure:
Row Highlight Flag =
VAR GrandTotalValue =
CALCULATE(
[Total Sales],
REMOVEFILTERS( 'Date' ) -- replace with your column used in Columns of matrix
)
RETURN
IF(
ISBLANK( GrandTotalValue ),
1,
0
)

Why this works?
REMOVEFILTERS() forces DAX to calculate Grand Total for that row
If it’s BLANK(), the row qualifies for formatting
Step 2 – Apply Conditional Formatting
Select your Matrix visual
Go to Values → Conditional formatting
Choose:
Background color (or Font color)
Select:
Format by → Rules
Based on field → Row Highlight Flag
Rule setup:
If value is 1
Apply your highlight color (e.g., light red or yellow)
This will highlight the entire row, not just one cell.

Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using ISBLANK([Total Sales]) directly
>> That only checks cell-level, not Grand Total
Formatting based on the value column itself
>> Won’t work for row-level logic

=================================================================
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Amar_Kumar
7 months ago
This is doable, but there’s one important limitation: Power BI does not let you directly reference the Grand Total column in conditional formatting. You have to re-create the same logic in a measure and use that measure for formatting.

Step 1: Create a measure that returns the grand total value :-
Grand Total Value = CALCULATE([YourValueMeasure],REMOVEFILTERS( 'YourColumnField' ))

Replace 'YourColumnField' with the field used in Columns of the matrix.
Step 2: Create a flag measure for formatting :-

Highlight Blank Grand Total =
IF(ISBLANK( [Grand Total Value] ),1,0)

Step 3: Apply conditional formatting
Select the matrix
Go to Format - Conditional formatting
Choose Background color (or Font color)
Format by: Rules (or Field value)
Base it on: Highlight Blank Grand Total
Rule:
If value = 1 - set highlight color
Else - no color

8 Replies

dk_dk
Super User
7 months ago
Hi techhelp

You can create a measure yourself that replicates the grand total column (Can't help with the DAX since I do not know what is in your matrix) and use this measure to drive the conditional formatting.
You will need to set up conditional formatting for each column in your matrix separately, as it is not possible to format entire rows at once.

Let me know if you have any questions.
cengizhanarslan
Super User
7 months ago
1) Assume this setup
Matrix Rows: e.g. Dim[RowName]
Matrix Columns: e.g. Dim[Month]
Matrix Values: [Your Measure]
Column Grand Total is ON

2) Create a helper measure to detect “blank grand total”
Is Blank Grand Total = VAR GrandTotalValue = CALCULATE ( [Your Measure], REMOVEFILTERS ( 'Dim'[RpwName] ) ) RETURN IF ( ISBLANK ( GrandTotalValue ), 1, 0 )

3) Create a color (or flag) measure
Row Highlight Color = IF ( [Is Blank Grand Total] = 1, "#FFF2CC", BLANK() )

4) Apply conditional formatting
Select the Matrix
Values → Conditional formatting
Choose:
Background color (or Font color)
Format by: Field value
Based on field: Row Highlight Color
Jaywant-Thorat
Super User
7 months ago
This is a very common Matrix + Grand Total + Conditional Formatting challenge in Power BI. Let’s solve it cleanly and the right DAX way.
Step 1 – Create a helper measure to detect blank Grand Total
Assume your main measure is: [Total Sales]
Create a new measure:
Row Highlight Flag =
VAR GrandTotalValue =
CALCULATE(
[Total Sales],
REMOVEFILTERS( 'Date' ) -- replace with your column used in Columns of matrix
)
RETURN
IF(
ISBLANK( GrandTotalValue ),
1,
0
)

Why this works?
REMOVEFILTERS() forces DAX to calculate Grand Total for that row
If it’s BLANK(), the row qualifies for formatting
Step 2 – Apply Conditional Formatting
Select your Matrix visual
Go to Values → Conditional formatting
Choose:
Background color (or Font color)
Select:
Format by → Rules
Based on field → Row Highlight Flag
Rule setup:
If value is 1
Apply your highlight color (e.g., light red or yellow)
This will highlight the entire row, not just one cell.

Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using ISBLANK([Total Sales]) directly
>> That only checks cell-level, not Grand Total
Formatting based on the value column itself
>> Won’t work for row-level logic

=================================================================
Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution! This will help others on the forum!
Appreciate your Kudos!!
Jaywant Thorat | MCT | Data Analytics Coach
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaywantthorat/
Join #MissionPowerBIBharat = https://shorturl.at/5ViW9
#MissionPowerBIBharat
LIVE with Jaywant Thorat from 10 Jan 2026
8 Days | 8 Sessions | 1 hr daily | 100% Free
Amar_Kumar
Super User
7 months ago

This is doable, but there’s one important limitation: Power BI does not let you directly reference the Grand Total column in conditional formatting. You have to re-create the same logic in a measure and use that measure for formatting.

Step 1: Create a measure that returns the grand total value :-
Grand Total Value = CALCULATE([YourValueMeasure],REMOVEFILTERS( 'YourColumnField' ))

Replace 'YourColumnField' with the field used in Columns of the matrix.
Step 2: Create a flag measure for formatting :-

Highlight Blank Grand Total =
IF(ISBLANK( [Grand Total Value] ),1,0)

Step 3: Apply conditional formatting
Select the matrix
Go to Format - Conditional formatting
Choose Background color (or Font color)
Format by: Rules (or Field value)
Base it on: Highlight Blank Grand Total
Rule:
If value = 1 - set highlight color
Else - no color
Kedar_Pande
Super User
7 months ago
techhelp

Measure for Grand Total check:

Row Has Data =
IF(
ISINSCOPE(YourRowField1) && ISINSCOPE(YourRowField2),
NOT(ISBLANK([YourMeasure])),
NOT(ISBLANK([YourMeasure]))
)

Conditional formatting:

Values field → Conditional formatting → Background color

Format by: Field value → Select [Row Has Data]

Apply to: Values and totals

Rule: = TRUE → Red background

If this answer helped, please click 👍 or Accept as Solution.
-Kedar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kedar-pande
sevenhills
Super User
7 months ago

Check: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/power-bi/create-reports/desktop-conditional-table-formatting for details.

You can do simple as

But if you want only for grand totals and not intermediate totals,
Create a measure as
Grand Total Color =
IF(
ISFILTERED(YourTable[YourColumn]) && ISINSCOPE(YourTable[YourColumn]) && MIN(YourTable[YourColumn]) = MAX(YourTable[YourColumn]), // Detects grand total
"Red", // Color for grand total
"White" // Default color
)

Select your Matrix visual.

Go to the Visualizations pane, find the measure you want to format (e.g., Sum of Sales), click the down arrow, and select Conditional formatting > Background color (or Font color, etc.).

In the advanced controls dialog, set Format style to "Field value".

For "What field should we base this on?", select the color measure you just created (e.g., Grand Total Color).

Crucially, in the "Apply to" dropdown, select "Values and Totals" to ensure the formatting applies to both regular cells and grand totals.
Anonymous
Not applicable
7 months ago
Hi techhelp,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Fabric Forum Community, and special thanks to cengizhanarslan , Jaywant-Thorat , Amar_Kumar and Kedar_Pande for prompt and helpful responses.

Just following up to see if the Response provided by community members were helpful in addressing the issue. if the issue still persists Feel free to reach out if you need any further clarification or assistance.

Best regards,
Prasanna Kumar
Anonymous
Not applicable
7 months ago
Hi @techhelp,

Just following up to see if the Response provided by community members were helpful in addressing the issue. if the issue still persists Feel free to reach out if you need any further clarification or assistance.

Best regards,
Prasanna Kumar

Forum Discussion

Conditional formatting rows based on blank values in the grand total column with matrix visuals

Step 2: Create a flag measure for formatting :-

Highlight Blank Grand Total =
IF(ISBLANK( [Grand Total Value] ),1,0)

Step 3: Apply conditional formatting

8 Replies

2) Create a helper measure to detect “blank grand total”

4) Apply conditional formatting

Step 2: Create a flag measure for formatting :-

Highlight Blank Grand Total =
IF(ISBLANK( [Grand Total Value] ),1,0)

Step 3: Apply conditional formatting

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Forum Discussion

Conditional formatting rows based on blank values in the grand total column with matrix visuals

Step 2: Create a flag measure for formatting :-Highlight Blank Grand Total =IF(ISBLANK( [Grand Total Value] ),1,0)

Step 3: Apply conditional formatting

2) Create a helper measure to detect “blank grand total”

4) Apply conditional formatting

Step 2: Create a flag measure for formatting :-Highlight Blank Grand Total =IF(ISBLANK( [Grand Total Value] ),1,0)

Step 3: Apply conditional formatting

Conditional Formatting using DAX

Conditional Formatting

Matrix Row Conditional Formatting

Conditional Formatting

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Step 2: Create a flag measure for formatting :-

Highlight Blank Grand Total =
IF(ISBLANK( [Grand Total Value] ),1,0)

Step 2: Create a flag measure for formatting :-

Highlight Blank Grand Total =
IF(ISBLANK( [Grand Total Value] ),1,0)