How to create calculated metrics in Looker Studio

When working in Looker Studio, you’ll often find that your dataset already contains a variety of useful fields, but sometimes, it’s missing the exact metric you need. The good news is that you can easily create it yourself using calculated metrics in Looker Studio.

In this post, I’ll guide you step by step through what calculated metrics are, how to create them, and a few practical examples you can try right away using the Superstore Products dataset.

1. Understanding the differences between metrics and dimensions

Before jumping into formulas, let’s clarify an essential concept: the difference between dimensions and metrics.

In Looker Studio:

• Dimensions (green icons) describe your data. Think Country, Campaign, or Marketing Channel.
• Metrics (blue icons) are quantitative. They assign a value to those dimensions (i.e. Unique Users, Conversions, or Sales).

👉 Always remember: metrics are numbers you can aggregate (sum, count, average), while dimensions are categories that describe those numbers.

Understanding this distinction is key when creating calculated metrics, it helps you decide how your new field should behave in charts and aggregations.

2. How to create calculated metrics in Looker Studio

To create a calculated metric directly in your data source:

• Go to your report in Looker Studio.
• In the top menu, click Resource → Manage data sources.
• Find the relevant source and click Edit.
• At the top-right corner, click Add Field → Add calculated field.

You’ll now see a list of existing fields on the left (green for dimensions, blue for metrics) and a formula editor on the right.

This is where the magic happens: you can create new metrics by combining existing ones with simple functions and operators.

3. How to create calculated metrics in Looker Studio blends

If you’re working with blends in Looker Studio, the process is slightly different.

1. Click on the chart that uses your blend.
2. In the Setup panel, find the list of dimensions and metrics.
3. Click any metric or dimension, then choose Add calculated field.

You’ll get the same formula editor, but this time, the new metric will only be available in that specific chart.

💡 Tip: Calculated fields created in the data source are reusable across charts, but those created within a blend exist only in that chart. Keep that in mind when planning your dashboard.

4. Examples of calculated metrics in Looker Studio

Let’s look at some real examples using the Superstore Products dataset. These will help you understand how formulas work and give you ideas for your own dashboards.

a. Price per product

Formula: SUM(Gross Revenue) / SUM(Quantity)

After returning to the list of fields, you’ll see a new blue field, indicating it’s a metric.

b. Costs

Sometimes, transactions have negative net revenue because the costs exceed gross revenue. To calculate costs, try:

Formula: SUM(Net Revenue) + (-1 * SUM(Gross Revenue))

Again, Looker Studio marks this new metric in blue.

c. Price per Product (without discount)

If your dataset includes a Discount field, the gross revenue already includes discounts. To calculate the original price per product before discount, use:

Formula: SUM(Price per Product) * (1 – SUM(Discount))

Got an error?

If you get an error, it’s likely because you’re aggregating a metric that’s already aggregated.

Try removing the SUM. Does it work now?

Formula: Price per Product * (1 – SUM(Discount))

✅ Rule of thumb: Never apply an aggregation (like SUM or AVG) to an existing metric, as metrics already have one defined.

d. Average Order Value

This metric shows the average amount spent per order, a common KPI in e-commerce dashboards.

Because each row represents a product within a transaction, use COUNT_DISTINCT to avoid counting the same transaction multiple times.

Formula: SUM(Gross Revenue) / COUNT_DISTINCT(Transaction ID)

Important Note: If there were only one transaction per row, you could use COUNT, which counts total rows. But since transaction IDs repeat across rows, you need COUNT_DISTINCT.

e. Net Revenue per Customer

You can also calculate net revenue per customer to compare it with the customer acquisition cost. If the first is lower than the second, the ROI is negative.

This formula is similar to the previous one. Since customer IDs aren’t unique across rows (a customer can have more than one transaction), use COUNT_DISTINCT to count unique values.

Formula: SUM(Gross Revenue) / COUNT_DISTINCT(Customer ID)

There are many more examples, but I hope these help you practice and create your own.

All the metrics we’ve created will appear at the end of your fields list in blue.

Key takeaways

• Calculated metrics in Looker Studio help you unlock deeper insights without altering your source data.
• Create them in your data source if you plan to reuse them across charts.
• Use COUNT_DISTINCT when counting unique IDs like customers or transactions.
• Avoid nested aggregations as they often cause formula errors.
• Always name your calculated metrics clearly so collaborators understand what they represent.

FAQs about calculated metrics in Looker Studio

Final thoughts

Creating calculated metrics in Looker Studio is one of the most powerful ways to make your dashboards more insightful and flexible. Once you get comfortable writing formulas, you’ll start seeing new opportunities to simplify your reports, track performance more accurately, and build dashboards that truly reflect your business goals.

Aggregation and comparison functions can sometimes replace the need for a calculated field altogether. Check my post on how to change the data type of new or existing fields in Looker Studio to learn more.

If you have any questions or want to share your favourite calculated metrics, drop a comment below. I’d love to hear how you’re using them! 🙂