How to Use RELATED() and RELATEDTABLE() in Power BI DAX

Posted by

October 7, 2026

On May 20, 2026

Introduction

When working with multiple tables in Power BI, the understanding of RELATED() and RELATEDTABLE() is essential for retrieving and analyzing data across relationships.

In this blog post, we will see how to use RELATED() and RELATEDTABLE() in Power BI DAX.

Learn more about DAX as a formula language in blog: DAX in Power BI: As a formula language

Using RELATED()

What is RELATED()?

RELATED() is a DAX function that returns a related value from another table. It takes value from the one side of the one-to-many relationship and populates it to the many side of the relationship.

In simpler words:
It lets you look up a single value from a related table.

RELATED() Use Case: Bringing Price List to Sales Table

To follow this step-by-step guide, you can use the Power BI file given at the end of this Blogpost. To use RELATED() for bringing the list price value from the Product table into the Sales table:

Right click on the Sales table in the Fields Pan.
Click on New Column.

Column tools open.

Type the following formula in the formula bar.

4. Type RELATED in the formula bar after equal to (=).

5. Select the List Price from the Product table.

Your DAX expression should look like the expression below.

Current List Price (CC) =
RELATED ( ‘Product'[List Price] )

In this Expression a calculated column with each row containing the respective List Price from the Product table has been created.

6. Click on Table View in the left Ribbon.

7. Click on Sales table in the Fields.

What is Happening Here?

Every row in the Sales table gets the corresponding List Price from the Product table.
Power BI uses the relationship to automatically match rows.

Result: A new column in Sales with product prices.

Key Insight

In this example, RELATED() works because:

There is a many-to-one relationship.
Each Sales row corresponds to exactly one Product.

Using RELATEDTABLE()

What is RELATEDTABLE()?

The RELATEDTABLE() function changes the context in which the data is filtered and evaluates the expression in the new context that you specify. It takes values from the many sides of the one-to-many relationship and populates the one side of the relationship.

RELATEDTABLE() Use Case: Counting Sales per Customer

To use the RELATEDTABLE() function for calculating the number of sales in Customer Table:

Right click on the Customer table in the Fields pan.
Click on New column.

Column tools open.

Type the following formula in the formula bar and press Enter.

Number of Sales (CC) =
COUNTROWS ( Sales )

In this Expression, the rows in the Sales table have been counted.

Click on Data tab in the left Ribbon.
Click on Customer table in the Fields pan.

6. Click on the Number of Sales (CC) column.

Column tool box appears containing the formula bar.

7. Add RELATEDTABLE() before the sales in the formula.

8. Your DAX expression should look like the expression below.

Number of Sales (CC) =
COUNTROWS ( RELATEDTABLE ( Sales ) )

In this Expression the related number of rows from the sales table are counted based on the incoming filter context.

What’s Happing Here?

RELATEDTABLE(Sales) returns only the sales related to each customer.
COUNTROWS() counts those filtered rows.

Result: Each customer now shows their actual number of transactions.

Key Insight

RELATEDTABLE() uses filter context.
It helps traverse relationships from one → many.

RELATED() vs. RELATEDTABLE()

RELATED() and RELATEDTABLE() are the two functions used to traverse one-to-many relationship in DAX. The few key differences between the two functions are:

	RELATED()	RELATEDTABLE()
Input Argument	Column name	Table name
Output	Single value from the current row	A table of values
Takes values from	One side of relationship	Many sides of the relationship
Populates	Many sides of the relationship	One side of relationship

When to Use RELATED() and RELATEDTABLE()

You can use RELATED() when you need a single value.

For example: Price, category, customer name.

2. You can use RELATEDTABLE() when you need to analyse multiple rows.

For example: Count, sum, or filter related records.

Conclusion

Working with relationships in Power BI requires an understanding of RELATED() and RELATEDTABLE(). RELATEDTABLE() enables you to work with several related rows for aggregation, whereas RELATED() helps you retrieve a single item from a related table. Gaining familiarity in these functions can significantly boost your data modelling and DAX skills.

Want to learn how to write DAX Queries? Check out our post: Learn How to Write DAX Queries in DAX Studio Using Query Builder

FAQs

What is the main difference between RELATED() and RELATEDTABLE() in Power BI?

RELATED() and RELATEDTABLE() are DAX functions that help you work with table relationships. RELATED() returns a single value from the one side of a relationship, and RELATEDTABLE() returns multiple related rows from the many side.

When should I use RELATED() in Power BI?

RELATED() is used when you want to pull in a value from a related table into another table, e.g. the price of a product, or the name of a customer.

When should I use RELATEDTABLE() in Power BI?

Use RELATEDTABLE() when you want to work with multiple related rows, especially for aggregations such as counting sales, summing values or filtering related records.

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