How to use parameters in Looker Studio for personalised benchmarks

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One of the most powerful and often underused features in Looker Studio is the ability to add parameters to your reports. With just a bit of setup, parameters let your viewers input values like targets, benchmarks, or conversion rates, so they can instantly see how the data compares to their own goals. It’s a brilliant way to make your dashboards more interactive, user-focused, and practical for decision-making.

In this post, I’ll show you how I use parameters to create personalised benchmarks in Looker Studio.

What are parameters in Looker Studio?

Parameters are user-defined variables. They can be connected to calculated fields, filters, and even SQL queries. The best part? Viewers can input their own values directly in the report, and everything updates instantly. This transforms static dashboards into dynamic tools.

Step 1: Create a parameter

Let’s say you want your users to compare their actual Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) to a personalised target. First, you’ll need to create the parameter.

  • Go to your Resource → Manage added data sources in Looker Studio
  • Click Edit on your data source
  • Click on Add a Parameter at the top right
  • Configure it with the following:
    • Name: e.g. Target ROAS
    • Data type: Number (or Text, Date, etc., depending on your use case)
    • Permitted values: Define a range or list if needed
    • Default value: e.g. 1.5 for a standard ROAS goal

You can also use this technique for currency conversion. For example, I’ve used a parameter called Currency Conversion with a default of 5000 to convert values from pesos to dollars.

Step 2: Use the parameter in a calculated field

Now that you’ve got your parameter, it’s time to build a calculated field that uses it.

For ROAS comparison, you might create a field called ROAS Gap with the formula:

(Revenue / Cost) - Target ROAS

This calculates the difference between the actual ROAS and the target the user inputs.

For currency conversion:

Amount Spent (in Pesos) / Currency Conversion

This instantly shows spend in dollars, adjusting in real time as the viewer changes the parameter value.

Step 3: Add an Input Control

To let users interact with the parameter:

  • Click on Add a Control in your report
  • Choose an input type (e.g. Input Box or Slider)
  • Bind it to your parameter (you’ll spot it by the purple icon next to its name)

Now, when someone changes the value in that control, all the charts and calculated fields using the parameter will update immediately. It’s great for simulating different target scenarios without having to build multiple versions of the report.

Read User-added targets in your Looker Studio report using parameters to see an example.

Step 4: Visualise the comparison

With your parameter and calculations set up, you can now visualise how performance compares to targets:

  • Scorecards work well for displaying current values alongside the gap
  • Bar or line charts can show actual performance vs. target over time
  • Conditional formatting is great for quickly flagging metrics that are above or below target—green for above, red for below, for example

These visual touches make it easy to spot what’s working and where attention is needed.

Practical use cases

Here are some examples of where I’ve found parameters incredibly useful:

  • Sales targets: Let sales managers input their own targets and track progress
  • Marketing KPIs: Compare actual CTR or conversion rates against campaign goals
  • Budget thresholds: Let analysts define spending caps and monitor compliance
  • Currency conversions: View data in different currencies on demand
  • Agency fees & ROI: Input expected margins or fees to model profitability

By incorporating personalised inputs, you make your report relevant to each viewer.

Best practices I follow

Here are a few tips to make your parameter-based reports work smoothly:

  • Clear labelling: Always label input controls so users know what they’re entering and how it’s used
  • Validation: Use permitted values or ranges to avoid invalid inputs that might break your logic
  • User guidance: Tooltips or a simple intro section explaining the inputs can go a long way

These small details make a big difference in user experience.

Final thoughts

Parameters are an incredibly effective way to turn a static report into something personal and actionable. Whether you’re tracking goals, converting currencies, or modelling profit scenarios, adding user input gives people the power to explore their data, in their context.

If you’ve not used parameters in Looker Studio yet, now’s the time to try. They’re easy to set up, intuitive to use, and they make your reports far more valuable to every stakeholder.

Happy experimenting!

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