How Many Pages for Your Dashboard?

When designing dashboards, the question of “how many pages” often comes up. Based on my experience, a good dashboard typically needs no more than three or four pages. Here’s how to structure it effectively.

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Start with a High-Level Overview

The first page of your dashboard should provide a high-level overview of the company’s performance. Think of this as the bird’s-eye view—clear, concise, and focused on the metrics that matter most at an organisational level.

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Cascade into Divisions

The second page should drill down to a division-level view. This allows you to see how specific areas of the business are contributing to the overall picture. It’s the bridge between the company-wide data and the more granular details.

Include Detailed Insights (But Keep It Minimal)

Finally, you can add a details page if needed. This is where you include deeper insights for teams that need to dig into specific metrics or KPIs. But be cautious—don’t let the details overwhelm the dashboard’s purpose.

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Avoid Dashboard Overload

One of the most common mistakes I see is dashboards with 25+ pages, only 3 of which are actually used. The other 22 pages? They’re cluttered with random data points and one-off insights that add little value.

The key is to start with the end in mind. Focus on what your team truly needs to know to make decisions, and cut out the rest. A streamlined dashboard with 3–4 meaningful pages is far more effective than an overloaded one that no one wants to navigate.

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The Takeaway:

Dashboards are tools for clarity, not complexity. Stick to three or four pages, cascading from high-level overviews to division-level and detailed insights. By keeping your dashboard focused, you’ll ensure it’s used effectively and drives the decisions that matter most.

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