How to make a bubble chart in excel

Your data can tell a story and persuade others if you present it in the right way. But what happens when you have multiple data sets? How can you elegantly display all the metrics you need without overwhelming your audience?

The answer: bubble charts. We’ll explain how a bubble chart can tastefully organize several dimensions of data and then show you how to make a bubble chart in Excel, right alongside your data, using Lucidchart.

Already know that you need a bubble chart? Skip down to the tutorial.

What is a bubble chart?

If you’re not sure whether a bubble chart best fits your project, let’s quickly define this type of visualization.

In other words, if you’ve had to use multiple bar graphs or scatter plots to share results, you can create a bubble chart to consolidate all of that data and compare data sets.

Keep in mind, that if too many bubbles are included, a bubble chart can become difficult for your audience to digest. It's better to keep your bubble charts limited in scope and tidy. 

Another important note is that the bubbles you show should be scaled by their area, not their radius. This means that if you're trying to show Bubble 2 is twice the value of Bubble 1, you would double the area of Bubble 2.

If your data includes location, you can use the same elements shown above to create a bubble map, also called a cartogram. You’ll essentially lay the standard bubble chart over a geographic map, the x-axis and y-axis becoming the latitude and longitude.

Although Excel will generate a bubble chart from your data, the process is very complex and doesn’t allow you to customize the chart according to your company standards. With Lucidchart’s intuitive interface and Microsoft Office integrations, you can quickly put together a clear, on-brand bubble chart and insert it directly into Excel.

How to create a bubble chart in Lucidchart

First, let’s turn your data into an engaging visual in Lucidchart. If you don’t have a Lucidchart account yet, sign up for your free account!

1. Open our bubble chart template.
2. Adjust the x-axis, y-axis, and circles according to the data you’d like to display.
3. Use the properties bar at the top of the editor to adjust fonts and colors according to your brand.

If you would rather build your bubble chart from scratch, we have a few tips to help you out:

• Our opaque Venn diagram shapes work perfectly for bubble charts. To open this library, click “+ Shapes” on the left side of the editor, check “Venn Diagrams,” and select “Use selected shapes.” You’ll see your new shape library below the standard shapes.
• To add lines, click “L” or drag an arrow from the shape library. From the properties bar at the top, you can change the endpoints to “None” for a plain line.

How to import your bubble chart into Excel

Now you can insert your bubble chart into any Excel document with the Lucidchart add-on. Follow these simple steps to install and use the add-on.

1. In Excel, select Insert > My Add-ins.
2. Search for Lucidchart in the marketplace.
3. Click “Add” to install. The add-on will appear as a sidebar.
4. Once you’ve connected your Lucidchart account, select your bubble chart and click “Insert.”

Watch this short video for a complete walkthrough of the process.