A waterfall build-down chart shows how a starting total is reduced by a series of deductions to a remaining value — the mirror of the build-up waterfall. It is the natural way to break a total down: gross-to-net, revenue-to-profit, total-to-remaining. Ampler Charts builds it natively in PowerPoint.
Quick answer: Click Ampler Charts and select Waterfall build-down, drag the chart to size, then enter your data — a starting total in the first column, then the deductions down to the remaining value.
How to create it
A waterfall build-down chart: a starting total is reduced by deductions to a remainder.
- Click Ampler Charts in the ribbon and select Waterfall build-down from the chart menu.
- Left-click and drag the chart to the size you want — or hold Ctrl to place it in a pre-defined position.
- Enter your data in the data sheet: the first column is the starting total, and the intermediate columns deduct down to the closing value.
Type a t in the data sheet to add an automatic subtotal — see controlling Waterfall subtotals.
When to use it
Use a build-down waterfall when you are breaking a total into what remains after a series of deductions — gross revenue down to net, a budget down to what is left, a cost base down by savings. To build up from an opening value instead, use the standard build-up waterfall.
How consultants use it
A build-down bridge reconciles a total to a remainder, and its order is the argument. A few practices apply:
- Sequence the deductions logically: order the columns so the reconciliation reads cleanly from the starting total down to the remainder
- Group and rank the deductions: group related deductions and lead with the largest so the drivers of the reduction are obvious
- Get the subtotals right: use a ‘t’ column for automatic subtotals so the running figure always ties out
A build-down waterfall shows what a total becomes after its deductions — in the order that tells the story.
Tips & best practices
- Order the deductions to tell the story: starting total, deductions, remainder.
- Use a t column for automatic subtotals — see Waterfall subtotals.
- Reorder the categories to sequence the deductions, and colour them distinctly from the totals.
What you can add to this chart
Decorators and elements you can layer onto a build-down waterfall chart in Ampler Charts:
Availability
Part of Ampler Charts, included in Ampler for PowerPoint and the Ampler Suite, on Windows desktop PowerPoint.
Frequently asked questions
What is a waterfall build-down chart?
A waterfall build-down chart shows how a starting total is reduced by a sequence of deductions to a remaining value — the mirror of a build-up waterfall.
How do you make a build-down waterfall in PowerPoint?
In Ampler Charts, click Ampler Charts, select Waterfall build-down, drag it to size, then enter a starting total and the deductions down to the remainder.
What’s the difference between a build-down and a build-up waterfall?
A build-down deducts from a starting total down to a remainder; a build-up adds intermediate values up from an opening value to a total.
When should you use a build-down waterfall?
When you are breaking a total down into what remains after a series of deductions — gross-to-net, revenue-to-profit, budget-to-remaining.