DAX function

CALCULATE — DAX function reference

Evaluate with modified filters.

Syntax

dax

CALCULATE(<expression>, <filter1>, <filter2>, …)

dax

CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), Sales[Region] = "West")

→ A number

The classic percent-of-total pattern: CALCULATE with ALL() clears filters to get the denominator.

dax

VAR RegionSales = SUM(Sales[Amount])
VAR TotalSales = CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), ALL(Sales))
RETURN DIVIDE(RegionSales, TotalSales)

→ This region's share of the grand total

Multiple filter arguments are combined with an implicit AND.

dax

CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), Sales[Region] = "West", Sales[Year] = 2026)

→ West region, 2026 only

The single most important function in DAX. Filter arguments override matching filters from the visual.
A boolean filter argument like Sales[Region] = "West" replaces any existing filter on that column from slicers or the visual — it does not intersect with it. Use KEEPFILTERS to intersect instead of override.
CALCULATE is what triggers context transition: wrapping an expression in CALCULATE inside a calculated column or an iterator (like SUMX) turns the current row into an equivalent filter, which is why the same measure can return different numbers on a card versus inside SUMX.

From Filter context