Standard versus custom report types
Key Takeaway
Build a custom report type when the standard report types don't include the objects, fields, or record relationships that report users need.
A report type is the template behind every report. It decides which records and fields a report can use, based on the relationships between a primary object and its related objects. For example, the Opportunities report type gives access to Opportunity records and fields like Amount, Stage, and Opportunity Owner. There are two kinds of report types: standard and custom.
Standard report types
Salesforce automatically provides standard report types that give access to most Salesforce data. You can tailor them to your needs, so you rarely need to create something brand new.
Standard report types come from object relationships. The type of relationship affects which standard report types exist and how they are categorized.
| Relationship | What the standard report types join |
|---|---|
| Lookup relationship | Data from the two related objects, in one report |
| Master-detail relationship | Three objects in one report: the master, the detail, and one other lookup object |
| Many-to-many relationship | Both master objects and the junction object, through two standard report types |
If a detail object in a master-detail relationship has multiple lookup relationships, a separate standard report type is available for each lookup.
A many-to-many relationship provides these two standard report types:
| Standard report type | Report category |
|---|---|
| Primary master with junction object and secondary master | The primary master's report category |
| Secondary master with junction object and primary master | The secondary master's report category |
The master listed first sets the scope of records the report can show.