---
title: How to Choose the Right Dashboard Widgets
description: "## Start with the Question, Not the Widget Before you open the Layout Editor, decide what each area of the screen needs to communicate. This page helps you choose the right dashboard widgets for a TV dashboard, shopfloor screen, KPI…"
url: "https://twinnoverse.com/docs/how-to-choose-the-right-dashboard-widgets/"
updated: "2026-06-17"
category: Dashboard Builder / Dashboard Builder Design
---

# How to Choose the Right Dashboard Widgets

## Start with the Question, Not the Widget

Before you open the Layout Editor, decide what each area of the screen needs to communicate.

This page helps you choose the right dashboard widgets for a TV dashboard, shopfloor screen, KPI screen, or operational display.

Ask:

- do I need one big number?
- do I need a trend over time?
- do I need a target versus current state?
- do I need rows or alerts?
- do I need a message or image?

The dashboard widget should match the message.

---

## 1. Choose Big Number Widgets for Headline Metrics

Use these when the viewer should understand the value in one glance.

- **KPI (Single / Double)** for one or two headline values
- **KPI Pie** for a percentage or utilization-style number

Best for:

- output
- OEE
- downtime minutes
- utilization
- scrap count

---

## 2. Choose Trend Widgets for Direction Over Time

Use these when the viewer needs to understand direction, not just the latest value.

- **Sparkline** for a compact trend

Best for:

- temperature trend
- hourly production trend
- energy trend
-

---

## 3. Choose Progress and Comparison Widgets

Use these when the screen should show performance against a target.

- **Progress Bar** for current versus total
- **Target Actual (Vertical)** for side-by-side comparison

Best for:

- shift target
- production completion
- plan versus actual

---

## 4. Choose List Widgets for Operational Detail

Use these when the screen needs several rows of operational detail.

- **Table List** for ranked or tabular items
- **Alerts List** for issues, alarms, warnings, or incidents

Best for:

- top defects
- work orders
- machine rows
- active alarms
-

---

## 5. Choose Message and Content Widgets

Use these when the screen needs explanatory or visual content.

- **Text Block** for status text, notes, or overlays
- **Content (Image)** for floor plans, diagrams, or static images

Best for:

- shift notes
- escalation messages
- plant maps
- safety posters
-

---

## 6. Choose Utility Widgets for Supporting Context

These support the screen but usually are not the main data story.

- **Clock** for date and time
-

---

## A Simple 16:9 Layout Pattern

Twinnoverse layouts are designed for a **16:9 landscape screen**.

A practical structure is:

1. top row for 2 to 4 headline KPI widgets
2. middle row for trends or progress
3. lower row for lists, alerts, notes, or supporting context

If the screen becomes crowded, create another layout and rotate it through a playlist instead of forcing everything into one page.

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## Recommended Reading Order

1. [Building Dashboards (Layout Editor)](https://twinnoverse.com/docs/building-dashboards-with-the-layout-editor/)
2. this page
3. [Widget Reference Guide](https://twinnoverse.com/docs/dashboard-widget-reference-guide/)
4. the deployment guide that matches your use case