What is the difference between year and calendar year when using relative date filters?

[PowerAutomater]

Silly question sorry, but I couldn't find this documented anywhere. I understand that "calendar year" is from Jan-Dec but I had thought that this is what "year" was already, so a bit confused now as to what "year" actually is and whether it's different?

[hnguy71 · Accepted solution]

Hi @PowerAutomater 

Years vs Years (Calendar) is a bit different.

Years = Takes into consideration up to the current year regardless of if it is full. For example, last 2 years would take data up to the current month - 24 months.

Years (Calendar) = Takes into consideration whole years only. Using the same example, last 2 years (calendar) would take only the last two full years, or in this case, 2023 and 2024 while omitting 2025 as is not a full 12 months yet.

Same thing goes for months.  

[hnguy71]

Hi @PowerAutomater 

Here's an article that I found from Reza Rad that may give a bit more clarity on the relative date filter:

https://radacad.com/relative-date-slicer-in-power-bi-simple-yet-powerful/

[PowerAutomater]

Oh ok, I thought that years worked based on the current date so last 1 year would be 12 months from today (5/8/24-5/8/24), while last 1 calendar year would be the current date until the start of the year (1/1/25-5/8/25)? If not then I am even more confused.