How to Create Tableau Bubble Chart

Tableau Bubble Chart is used to display the data in circles. We can define each bubble using any of our Dimension member and size by Measure value. Bubble charts plays major role while creating Maps for instance, we can use bubbles on top of the Map to display the Sales by Postal code etc.

In this article we will show you, How to Create Tableau Bubble Chart with example. For this we are going to write the Custom SQL Query against the SQL Server Data Source so, Please visit Connecting Tableau to SQL Server article to understand the configurations. Custom SQL query we are going to use for this report is:

T-SQL Query

SELECT Geo.EnglishCountryRegionName, 
       Geo.StateProvinceName, 
       Geo.City, 
       Prod.EnglishProductName, 
       Prod.Color, 
       Fact.OrderQuantity, 
       Fact.TotalProductCost, 
       Fact.SalesAmount, 
       Fact.TaxAmt, 
       Fact.[Freight]
FROM DimProduct AS Prod 
   INNER JOIN FactInternetSales AS Fact 
      ON Prod.ProductKey = Fact.ProductKey 
   INNER JOIN DimSalesTerritory AS Terry 
      ON Terry.[SalesTerritoryKey] = Fact.[SalesTerritoryKey] 
   INNER JOIN DimGeography AS Geo 
      ON Geo.[SalesTerritoryKey] = Terry.[SalesTerritoryKey]

First Approach to Create Tableau Bubble Chart

In this example, we are going to create Bubble Chart for State dimension against the Sales Amount size. First, Drag and Drop the State Dimension from Dimension Region to Text Field in Marks Shelf

From the below screenshot you can see the available State names in Tableau report

Next, Drag and Drop the Sales Amount from Measures Region to Size Field in Marks Shelf as shown below

Once you drag them, following screenshot will be displayed. By default, Tableau Desktop is displaying Tree Map

In order to change the Default Tree Map to Bubble Chart, we have to change the default Automatic option in the Marks Shelf. Please expand the drop down list and change the Automatic to Circle as shown below

Once you changed, Bubble Chart will be displayed with State Name as Text filed and Sum of Sales Amount as the Bubble size. From the below screenshot you can observe that, Bubble Size of a California State is bigger than remaining states because the Sales Amount is higher than other states.

Let us add Sales Amount to the Text field as well. By this, we can see the State name along with the Sales Amount. To do this, Please drag and drop the Sales Amount from Measures region to Text field present in Marks Shelf

Let us add color to the Bubble Chart by dragging the Calculated field Profit to Colors field in Marks Shelf as shown below

Once you are done, following screenshot will be displayed. State name Bubble with Maximum Sales will be filled with Dark Green and Least Sales Amount with light green

Bubble chart also allows us to Sort the bubbles. So please click on the Sort by descending order button present in Tableau toolbar

From the below screenshot, you can see that our Bubble Chart is formatted in the descending order

Formatting Text in Tableau Bubble Chart

In order to format the Data Labels, Please click on the Text field inside the Marks Shelf. Once you click on it, following window will be displayed. For now, we are doing basic formatting so, click on the … button beside the text

Here, we added extra text Sales, Profit beside the < SUM(SalesAmount) > and < SUM(Profit) > and also change the font style to Lucida Sans

From the below screenshot, you can see the Formatted Text

Second Approach to Create Tableau Bubble Chart

This method is very easy and straight forward. Please press and hold the control key and then select the Dimension (s), Measure(s) from respective region and select the Bubble Chart from the Show Me window

Once you are done, tableau desktop will create a bubble chart for you as shown below

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