Tableau Bubble Chart

Tableau Bubble Chart is used to display the data in circles. We can define each bubble using any of our Dimension members and size by Measure value.

Bubble chart in Tableau plays a significant role while creating Maps. For instance, we can use them on top of the Map to display the Sales by Postal code, etc. In this article, we will show how to create this using a Custom SQL Query. So, visit Connecting to Server article.

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 a Tableau Bubble Chart for the 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 the report

Next, Drag and Drop the Sales Amount from Measures Region to Size Field in Tableau Marks Shelf.

Once you drag them, the following screenshot will be displayed. By default, the Desktop displays Tree Map

To change the Default TreeMap to Bubble Chart in Tableau, we have to change the default Automatic option in the Marks Shelf. Please expand the drop-down list and change the Automatic to Circle.

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

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

Let us add color to our Tableau Bubble Chart. We can do it by dragging the Calculated field Profit to the Colors field in Marks Shelf.

Once you have done this, the following Bubble Chart screenshot will be displayed. The State name with the Maximum number of Sales fills with Dark Green and Least Sales Amount with light green.

Sort

A Tableau bubble chart also allows us to sort the circles. So please click on the Sort by descending order button present in the toolbar

You can see that our report is formatted in the descending order

Format Text

To format the Tableau bubble chart Data Labels, Please click on the Text field inside the Marks Shelf. After you click on it, the following window will be displayed. For now, we are doing basic formatting, so click on the … the button beside the text

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

See the Formatted Text inside the Tableau Bubble Chart.

Second Approach to Creating Bubble Chart

This method of creating a Tableau Bubble chart is very easy and straightforward. Please press and hold the control key and then select the Dimension (s), and Measure(s) from the respective region and select the below-shown chart from the Show Me window.

Once you do, the desktop will create it for you.