Data layers overview

A data layer draws the rows of your Power BI data on the map: as circles, images, a heatmap, cells, 3D columns, lines or shapes. This page lists every data layer, the fields it needs, and how to turn it on.

A map with circles, lines and colored regions drawn from one Power BI table — Several data layers on one map, all fed by the same fields

How data layers work

Every data layer reads the same set of field wells. You do not choose a layer for each row. Instead, each row is drawn by the layer whose fields it fills in:

Every row needs a value in * ID (required). The visual draws one thing per ID value.
Point-based layers also need Longitude (X) and Latitude (Y).
One more field decides the layer: a row with a Circle Size is a circle, a row with a Heatmap Weight is a heatmap point, a row with a Column Height is a 3D column, and so on.
The fields that belong to other layers must be empty on that row. A blank text cell counts as empty.
The layer must be turned on.

Diagram of the field wells and the layer each one leads to — The field a row fills in decides which layer draws it

A map with one layer type usually needs no extra thought: add the fields that layer needs and leave the others out of the visual. To show several layer types on one map, see Combine several layers in one map.

Layer types and the fields they need

All layers need * ID (required). The table lists the other fields.

Layer	What it shows	Fields it needs
Circles	A circle at each location, sized and colored by your data	Longitude (X), Latitude (Y), Circle Size
Images and icons	A picture, icon or text badge at each location	Longitude (X), Latitude (Y), Image / WKT / GeoJSON (not needed for the icon library or one image for every point)
Clusters	Nearby circles or images grouped into one chart	The fields for circles or images, optionally Cluster Group
Heatmap	Where points concentrate, as a color glow	Longitude (X), Latitude (Y), Heatmap Weight
Cells	Points aggregated into H3, S2, A5 or Geohash cells, or into your own polygons	Longitude (X), Latitude (Y), Cell (H3/S2/A5/Geohash) Weight - or a cell ID in * ID (required) and the weight
3D columns	A column rising from each location	Longitude (X), Latitude (Y), Column Height
Lines	Lines, arcs and flows from an origin to a destination	Longitude (X), Latitude (Y), Destination Longitude, Destination Latitude
Routes	Lines that share a street, drawn side by side	The same fields as lines
Shapes from data	Polygons and lines held in your data as WKT or GeoJSON text	Image / WKT / GeoJSON
Shapes from files	Boundaries from a file or service, colored by your data	Feature Reference
Vector tiles	Very large boundary sets from vector tiles or PMTiles	Feature Reference
ArcGIS layers bound to data	Features of an ArcGIS feature layer, styled by your data	Feature Reference
Icon Map Catalog layers	Ready-made boundaries such as countries and postcodes	Feature Reference

Two more fields work with every layer and never affect which layer draws a row: Tooltips adds fields to the tooltip, and Cluster Group splits clusters by category. For every field well in detail, see the Fields reference.

Longitude and latitude

Longitude (X) and Latitude (Y) take decimal degrees. Power BI summarizes numeric fields, so set both to Average (or use a measure) rather than Sum.

Turn a layer on

A new map starts with Circles turned on and every other data layer off.

Turn layers on in Format pane > Data Layers > Data Layers, which has a switch for each layer type. When a layer is on, its settings groups appear lower down in the same card, for example Circles - Configuration and Circles - Formatting.

While you are editing, the visual also helps you choose. If your rows do not reach any layer, a panel titled What kind of map are you making? appears over the map. Select a tile to see the fields that layer needs and to turn it on. See Choose a layer type.

Settings that every point layer shares

The layers that draw at a longitude and latitude share a few ideas. Each layer's page lists its own settings.

Idea	What it means
Drawing order	Each layer has a Z Index (or Z-Index). A layer with a higher number draws on top.
Zoom range	Minimum and maximum zoom settings hide a layer when the map is zoomed out or in past them.
Auto zoom	Each layer can be included in, or left out of, the area the map zooms to. See View, zoom and projection.
EPSG	The coordinate system of your longitude and latitude values. The default, `4326`, is ordinary decimal degrees. Enter another EPSG code and the visual converts the coordinates for you.
Conditional formatting	Many settings have an fx button, so a rule, a color scale or a field can set them row by row. See Conditional formatting.

Explore the data layers

CirclesPoints sized and colored by a value. Images and iconsPictures, icons or text badges at each point. ClustersGroup nearby points into donuts, pies and bar charts. HeatmapDensity of points as a glow. Cells: H3 hexagons and gridsAggregate points into cells or your own polygons. 3D columnsColumns rising from the map. LinesLines, arcs and flows between two places. RoutesLines sharing a street, side by side. Shapes from dataWKT or GeoJSON text in a column. Shapes from filesBoundaries from a file, joined to your data. Vector tilesVery large boundary sets. ArcGIS layers bound to dataArcGIS features styled with your values. Icon Map Catalog layersReady-made boundaries, nothing to host. Combine several layersFeed more than one layer from one table. Data rows and limitsLoad more than 30,000 rows.