When should I use a bubble map?

Showing magnitude at locations ● City-level data (population, sales)

When should I avoid a bubble map?

Dense overlapping regions ● When precise comparison matters

What are common mistakes with bubble maps?

Overlapping bubbles ● Not sizing by area (use radius squared)

What data does a bubble map need?

Minimum 3 rows, 3 columns (string, number, number). Label column + longitude + latitude + magnitude. Place-name strings (e.g., 'New York') are geocoded automatically when explicit lat/lon columns are absent.

Geospatial

Bubble Map

Circles sized by value placed at geographic locations.

Revenue by City

Bubble size = annual revenue ($K)

View data (8 rows)

Chart data table: Revenue by City
X	Y	City	Revenue
300	80	New York	4200
60	140	Los Angeles	3100
220	70	Chicago	2400
180	200	Houston	1800
100	160	Phoenix	1200
320	220	Miami	2000
50	40	Seattle	1600
140	110	Denver	900

Make a bubble map with your data

Use a bubble map when…

Showing magnitude at locations
City-level data (population, sales)

Avoid when…

Dense overlapping regions
When precise comparison matters

Data it needs

Property	Value
Min Rows	3
Min Columns	3
Column Types	stringnumbernumber
Notes	Label column + longitude + latitude + magnitude. Place-name strings (e.g., 'New York') are geocoded automatically when explicit lat/lon columns are absent.

Visual anatomy

Marks

circle

Channels

areaposition (lat/lon)color

Axes

geographic coordinates

Guiding principles

PerceptionThe Encoding Hierarchy
Area encoding for magnitude

Consider instead

Spike Map

When bubbles overlap too much

Common mistakes

Overlapping bubbles
Not sizing by area (use radius squared)

History

Used in cartography since the 19th century for population and resource maps.

Accessibility notes

Provide values as text. Label major bubbles.

Got data? Let's see what works.

Drop your CSV. You'll get a Bubble Map plus four alternatives - ranked by which one actually fits your data best.

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