Pivot Tables
Pivot tables let you summarize and cross-check table data by turning rows into a compact analytical view. They are useful when you need totals, counts, or other summaries split by one or more dimensions.
Quick guide
- Open the Pivot Tables tab in the table setup panel.
- Choose the fields you want to use as Rows.
- Choose the fields you want to use as Columns, if you need a cross-tab view.
- Choose one or more Values to summarize.
- Select the aggregation for each value, then click Save.
Tip: Start with one row field and one value field, then add columns once the summary is easy to read.
How pivot tables work
A pivot table groups your source data into a new summary layout. Instead of showing every record as a row, the table calculates summaries based on the fields you select.
- Rows define the main groups shown vertically.
- Columns split those groups horizontally into categories.
- Values define what is calculated inside each result cell.
- Aggregations define how values are summarized, such as sum, average, or count.
Rows, columns, and values
Use row fields for the main question you want to answer, such as totals by team, status, customer, or month. Use column fields when you want to compare those row groups across another category.
Value fields are the data points that get calculated. For example, you can count tickets, sum revenue, average scores, or calculate totals for each row and column combination.
Aggregations
Aggregations control the number shown in each pivot result cell. Choose the aggregation that matches the type of question you are asking.
| Aggregation | Good for | Example question |
|---|---|---|
| Sum | Revenue, cost, hours, quantity | How many hours were logged by team and month? |
| Average | Scores, ratings, cycle time | What is the average score by product area? |
| Count | Tickets, tasks, rows, records | How many requests are open by status and priority? |
| Min / Max | Lowest value, highest value, first or last date | What is the latest delivery date by project? |
Pivot tables vs grouping
Pivot tables and grouping both help summarize data, but they solve different problems.
- Grouping keeps the original rows visible inside expandable sections.
- Pivot tables create a summarized matrix based on rows, columns, and values.
- Use grouping when users still need to inspect individual records.
- Use pivot tables when users need a compact summary or cross-tab analysis.
What to expect
- Pivot tables summarize the source table without editing the underlying data.
- The result changes when row, column, value, or aggregation settings change.
- Cleaner pivot tables usually start with a small number of dimensions.
- Numeric fields are best for sums and averages. Text fields are usually better for counts or categories.
Support Operations
Acme Co - Customer Support
Context and challenge:
A support team tracks requests in a large table with columns for owner, priority, status, and product area.
The team needs a quick way to understand workload without reading every ticket.
Solution - Pivot table:
They use Status as rows, Priority as columns, and a count of tickets as the value.
The pivot table shows how many requests sit in each status and priority combination.
Impact:
Managers can identify overloaded queues, spot high-priority work, and review support load directly in Confluence.
Pivot tables are configured from their own Pivot Tables tab. Column settings and formatting can still affect how the source table is prepared and displayed, but the pivot setup is managed separately.
Want to try it in your site? InstallSimple Tables for Confluence from the Atlassian Marketplace.