How do I merge two tables in Power BI?

Open Transform data, select a table, choose Merge Queries, pick the key columns and join kind, and expand the columns you need.

What is the difference between Merge Queries and Append Queries in Power BI?

Merge adds columns from another table by matching keys. Append adds rows from tables with the same columns.

Should I merge tables or use relationships in Power BI?

Use relationships for fact and dimension tables in a star schema. Merge when you need the combined columns in one table.

How to merge tables in Power BI

By the Analistable team · Updated 2026-10-07 · 2 min read

In Power BI Desktop, choose Home → Transform data to open Power Query, select the first table and click Merge Queries (or Merge Queries as New). Pick the key column in both tables, choose a join kind, then expand the columns you need and Close & Apply. If you only need to filter and summarise across the tables, a relationship in Model view is usually the better choice than merging.

Part of our guide: How to merge data in Power BI, Power Query and Tableau

Merge Queries step by step

Home → Transform data to open the Power Query Editor.
Select the main table (for example Sales).
Home → Merge Queries → Merge Queries as New (keeps the originals unchanged).
Choose the second table (Products), click the key column in both (ProductID), and choose the Join Kind.
Click OK. A new column contains nested tables; click its expand icon and pick the columns to bring across.
Close & Apply.

Check the match count shown at the bottom of the Merge dialog. If far fewer rows match than you expect, the keys differ in type, case or spacing. The six join kinds are explained in Power Query join kinds.

Merge or relationship?

Choosing between a merge and a model relationship
	Merge in Power Query	Relationship in the model
Result	One wider table	Separate tables connected by a key
Model size	Larger (repeats dimension values)	Smaller
Filtering across tables	N/A (one table)	Yes, via the relationship
Best for	Lookups you need as columns, cleaning, exports	Star schemas: facts and dimensions

A typical report has a Sales fact table related to Products, Customers and Date dimension tables. Visuals filter Sales by any dimension through the relationships, without merging. Merge when you need the combined columns as one table — for example to clean data before loading, or because a calculation needs both columns in the same row.

Create a relationship instead

Open Model view.
Drag ProductID from Sales onto ProductID in Products.
Check the cardinality (Many to one) and cross-filter direction (Single), then OK.

DAX options

RELATED(Products[Category]) in a calculated column on Sales pulls a value across an existing relationship.
NATURALINNERJOIN and NATURALLEFTOUTERJOIN create calculated tables that join on columns with the same name and lineage.

Merging and appending in Power BI uses the same Power Query engine as Excel, so the Excel guides apply: Append Queries, combining files from a folder.

Frequently asked questions

How do I merge two tables in Power BI?: Open Transform data, select a table, choose Merge Queries, pick the key columns and join kind, and expand the columns you need.
What is the difference between Merge Queries and Append Queries in Power BI?: Merge adds columns from another table by matching keys. Append adds rows from tables with the same columns.
Should I merge tables or use relationships in Power BI?: Use relationships for fact and dimension tables in a star schema. Merge when you need the combined columns in one table.