What is data type impact on model size?

< 1 min read

Data type directly impacts model size because each type consumes different memory.
For example, Whole Number uses less memory compared to Decimal Number.
Text columns consume more space, especially with high cardinality.
In one project, changing a numeric ID from Text to Whole Number reduced model size significantly.
It also improved performance during filtering and aggregation.
Using appropriate data types helps optimize compression in VertiPaq engine.
Smaller model size improves refresh speed and report performance.
So during modeling, I always validate and correct data types carefully.

Power BI Essentials