Step by step guide on how to build a custom dashboard in Salesforce Lightning to visualize data, add reports, and track performance in real time.
Shyam Agarwal 
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Contact Us TodaySalesforce Lightning dashboards are powerful tools that turn your data into actionable insights at a glance. Whether you want to track sales performance, monitor customer service metrics, or analyze marketing campaigns, a well designed dashboard can save your time and drive smart decisions. In 2025, with features like AI enhancements and dynamic layouts, creating a dashboard in Lightning is easier and more impactful than ever. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process, from start to finish, so you can build a dashboard according to your business needs.
Before moving ahead, let’s first know why the dashboard matters. They pull out data from your Salesforce reports and display it visually on the screen in terms of think charts, tables, or gauges making it simple to spot trends or issues. In Lightning, the drag and drop builder and responsive design mean you can customize them quickly, even if you’re not a tech professional. With updates like Agent Force integration in 2025, dashboards can now leverage AI to highlight predictive insights.
To create a dashboard, you’ll need:
Access and Permissions: A Salesforce account with Lightning Experience interface enabled and appropriate permissions assigned to your user profile to create & customize dashboards (Admin or Editor roles), manage and view dashboards in public folders.
Prepared Reports: Dashboards in Salesforce are built upon reports that provide the data visualizations displayed in dashboard components. Before creating, develop at least one saved report in Salesforce that contains the data you wish to visualize and structure your reports with proper grouping and filters.
Step 1: Go to the Dashboards Tab
Log into Salesforce Lightning.
Click the App Launcher (the grid icon in the top left corner).
Now search for “Dashboards” and select the Dashboards tab.
Click New Dashboard in the top right corner to start.
Step 2: Give Name and Save Your Dashboard
In the pop-up, enter a Name for your dashboard, like “2025 Sales Tracker” or “Customer Support Aspects.”
Choose a Folder to store, select a public folder for team access or a private one for personal use.
Click Create to open the Dashboard Builder.
Step 3: Add a Component
In the Dashboard Builder, click + Component on the toolbar.
Select a Report from your saved reports list, like “Monthly Sales by Region,” and click Select.
Choose a Display Type:
Chart (e.g., bar, pie, or line for trends).
Table (for detailed lists).
Metric (for a single number).
Gauge (for goal progress).
Customize the component’s title, colors, or labels as needed, then click Add.
Step 4: Arrange and Resize Components
Drag the component onto the dashboard’s grid layout, it’ll snap into place.
Resize it by pulling the corners, make it larger for emphasis or smaller to fit more components.
Repeat Step 3 to add up to 20 components, mixing different types for a comprehensive view.
Step 5: Add Filters (Optional)
Click + Filter on the toolbar to let users refine data dynamically.
Pick a field from your report, like “Close Date” or “Region.”
Set filter options, such as “This Quarter” or specific regions (e.g., “North America”).
Click Apply. You can add up to three filters to keep it user-friendly.
Step 6: Set Dashboard Settings
Click on the gear icon to access dashboard properties.
Theme: Choose light or dark mode for better visibility.
Running User: Decide whose data to show, select yourself, a role, or “The dashboard viewer” for dynamic, user-specific data.
Use the Preview button to check how it looks.
Click Save to apply the settings.
Step 7: Save and Share
Click Save to store your progress.
Click Done to exit the dashboard editor.
To view the most current data, click Refresh on the dashboard.
Share it by adjusting folder permissions (via “Share” in the folder settings) or embedding it on a Lightning page (e.g., Home tab) using the Lightning App Builder.
To create a new dashboard:
Shyam Agarwal is an experienced technology professional with over 12 years in the industry. He has successfully delivered a wide range of projects, specializing in Salesforce consulting, development, and administration. Shyam helps businesses implement customized solutions that fit their needs, and he also has expertise in mobile and web application development. Additionally, he provides consulting services for software solutions and CRM systems, helping organizations improve efficiency and drive growth. Currently, Shyam is focused on expanding his Salesforce skills to offer even more value to his clients through effective, scalable solutions.