Relationship
Bubble Chart
Scatter plot with a third variable encoded as circle size — typically two correlated metrics on x/y plus a magnitude on bubble area.
Product Portfolio
Bubble size = user base
View data (6 rows)
| Revenue | Growth | Product | Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 | 15 | Alpha | 8000 |
| 85 | 28 | Beta | 4500 |
| 200 | 5 | Gamma | 12000 |
| 45 | 45 | Delta | 2000 |
| 150 | 12 | Echo | 9500 |
| 70 | 35 | Foxtrot | 3200 |
Use a bubble chart when…
- Three numeric variables
- When size comparison adds insight
- Portfolio analysis
Avoid when…
- Precise size comparison (area hard to judge)
- More than 30 bubbles
Data it needs
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Min Rows | 10 |
| Min Columns | 3 |
| Column Types | numbernumbernumber |
Visual anatomy
Marks
circle
Channels
position-xposition-yarea
Axes
x-quantitativey-quantitative
Guiding principles
Consider instead
Common mistakes
Assuming correlation is causation
Overlapping bubbles obscuring data
History
Popularized by Hans Rosling's Gapminder (2006).
Accessibility notes
Report correlation coefficient. Describe trend direction and bubble size meaning.
Related reading
Got data? Let's see what works.
Drop your CSV. You'll get a Bubble Chart plus four alternatives - ranked by which one actually fits your data best.