Checklist8 min readInteractive

B2B SaaS Dashboard Usability Checklist

A practical evaluation guide for software dashboards to balance high data density with effortless glanceability.

Audit score

0/6

1. Information Architecture & Hierarchy

0/3 passed

Above-the-fold core metric cards P0

Are the top 3-4 vital health metrics immediately visible without scrolling?

Contextual delta badges P0

Does every KPI show comparison context (e.g., +12% vs last month) with color coding?

Logical reading flow

Are high-level summaries at the top and detailed tables placed below?

0/3 passed

Zero decorative chart clutter P0

Are 3D graphs, superfluous gradients, and decorative background lines removed?

Accessible color palettes P0

Can charts be distinguished by color-blind users and in grayscale?

Hover inspection tooltips

Do chart hover tooltips display precise values, timestamps, and segment names?

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Principles

If a metric doesn't prompt an action when it turns red, it does not belong on the main dashboard view.
Never truncate numbers arbitrarily: use clear suffixes like $1.4M with full precision on hover.

FAQ

How many widgets should be on a single dashboard screen?

Limit primary dashboard views to no more than 6-8 core widgets. Group secondary metrics into specialized tabbed sub-views.

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