Bubble Chart
Display categorical data as circles sized by a measure, arranged using a force-directed simulation. Optionally cluster bubbles by a legend field to reveal group patterns. Ideal for showing relative magnitudes in a visually engaging, non-axis layout.
Examples
When to Use
- Comparing magnitudes across categories without axis context
- Showing market share, population, or budget breakdowns
- Highlighting outliers and the relative scale between items
- Creating an engaging visual for dashboards and presentations
Data Roles
Build These Examples
Bind the Legend well to colour and cluster bubbles by group, and the Split By well to break the cloud into small-multiple panels — both are optional.
Settings
Bubbles
Min Bubble Size
numberMinimum bubble radius in pixels (10–30).
Default:15Max Bubble Size
numberMaximum bubble radius in pixels (40–100).
Default:60Show Labels
booleanDisplay category labels inside bubbles.
Default:trueCluster by Category
booleanGroup bubbles by legend/category using force simulation.
Default:trueLabel Sizing
Label Size Mode
dropdownAuto scales text with bubble size; Fixed uses a constant font size.
Default:autoLabel Font Size
numberFont size when using fixed mode (6–24).
Default:12Min Label Font Size
numberMinimum font size for auto mode (6–14).
Default:8Max Label Font Size
numberMaximum font size for auto mode (10–24).
Default:16Common settings like Legend, Tooltip, Color Scheme, and Small Multiples are covered in Shared Concepts.
Tips & Best Practices
- Enable "Cluster by Category" to group related bubbles together using force simulation
- Use auto label sizing to scale text proportionally with bubble radius — switch to fixed for uniform labels
- Packed bubbles work best with 5–50 items; beyond that, small bubbles become hard to read