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Table design

Always assess the information you are working with and display it in the clearest style possible. This section demonstrates a number of ways to present information.

Best practices

Simplicity
  • Minimal use of borders, with a few line rules to distinguish column headings and totals.
  • White space is used to separate columns.
  • Title and subheadings are in bold so that they stand out.
  • Please ensure there are consistent colours across tabs for tables and charts by using NHS blues, tints and highlight colours.
Alignment
  • Right align column headings and numbers in data tables (the exception being the first column category title which is left aligned).
  • Right align numbers & figures to better highlight the difference in values at the same level of precision.
  • Left align column headings and text in text tables for ease of reading.
  • Don't use centred of variable alignments. Right align to better highlight the difference in values at the same level of precision.
Date formats
  • Use "FY 2017/18" format for financial year. You can bring this from the date dimension during data preparation/
  • Use "Q1 2019" or "Quarter 1, 2019" for date quarters
  • Use "January 2019" or "Jan 19" to display month.
  • Use "4 January 2019", "4 Jan 19" or "04/01/2019" for days.
  • Use "Wednesday, 4 January 2019", "Wednesday" or "Wed" for weekday.
Numbers
  • Always use commas to indicate thousands, millions, billion: £1,234,567.89
  • Always start with zero for values less than 1 (Example: 0.75 not .75)
  • Always use a consistent level of precision within a table
  • Ensure negative values are indicated by a minus sign (Example: -65)
  • Round data in a way to sufficiently convey value and add context to data, but don't oversell confidence in data quality through being too accurate. For example £123,234.59 implies a confidence in the data quality to the nearest penny. Whereas if the data quality is lower, or submitted data is unvalidated, a lower significance level should be give, eg £123,230.
  • Percentages shouldn't be at a greater detail than 1dp unless specifically required
  • Use the lowest possible level of detail depending on the the intended audience

Thin data tables

  • Minimise the data-ink ratio
  • Right align column header and numerical values
  • Font sizes as in the typography list
  • Header text alignment should be vertical middle and right

Thin tables

Example of a thin data table

Wide data tables

  • Shading allows the user to keep their eye on a specific row as they scan from left to right
  • Right align column header and numerical values

  • Table header colour: #F0F4F5

  • Alternate row colour: #F0F4F5

  • Text colour: #212B32

Wide tables

Example of a wide data table

Text tables

  • Headers should be left-aligned for the column
  • Text in tables should also be left-aligned

  • Table header colour: #F0F4F5

  • Alternate row colour: #F0F4F5

  • Text colour: #212B32

Text tables

Example of a text table

National standards

National standards should be clearly labelled in a table or chart wherever applicable.

  • If multiple metrics with multiple difference national standards are shown, label these in the table

National standards table

Example of a national standards table
  • To highlight whether national standards are met in a table, colour the text in RAG colours or add a background 20% RAG colour. RAG rating should only be used where there is a national standard being met or not met, otherwise it should not be used.

National standards table

Example of a RAG table
Last update: November 5, 2024