How to Create a Bubble Chart with Multiple Series in Excel

A bubble chart makes it easy to compare multiple items, with the size of each bubble helping highlight differences in values such as market share. However, creating a chart in which each item appears as a separate series can require considerable manual setup in Excel.

This article explains how to create a bubble chart with multiple series manually in Excel and how to create one more quickly with Kutools for Excel.

• Create a bubble chart with multiple series using Excel’s built-in chart tools.
• Quickly create a bubble chart with multiple series using Kutools for Excel.

Comparison of the methods

The built-in Excel method provides full control over each individual series but requires more setup. Kutools is more convenient when the source data is already arranged in columns and you want to create the entire chart at once.

Create a bubble chart with multiple series using Excel’s built-in tools

Excel can create a bubble chart with multiple series, but each series must be added and configured separately.

Before starting, arrange the source data into four columns containing the series names, X values, Y values, and bubble sizes, as shown in the screenshot below.

Step 1: Insert a blank bubble chart

1. Click a blank cell outside the source data.
2. Go to the Insert tab.
3. Click Insert Scatter (X, Y) or Bubble Chart.
4. Under Bubble, select Bubble or 3-D Bubble.

   

A blank chart is inserted into the worksheet.

Step 2: Open the Select Data Source dialog box

Right-click the blank chart and select Select Data from the context menu.

Step 3: Add the first series

1. In the Select Data Source dialog box, click Add under Legend Entries (Series).

   

2. In the Edit Series dialog box, configure the following fields:
   1. Series name: Select the cell containing the name of the first series.
   2. Series X values: Select the cell containing its X value.
   3. Series Y values: Select the cell containing its Y value.
   4. Series bubble size: Select the cell containing the value that determines the bubble size.
   5. Click OK to add the series.

   

Step 4: Add the remaining series

Repeat Step 3 for every remaining data row. Each row must be added as a separate series if you want it to appear independently in the chart legend.

After all the series have been added, click OK to close the Select Data Source dialog box.

The bubble chart with multiple series is now created.

Quickly create a bubble chart with multiple series using Kutools for Excel

Adding every series individually can be inefficient when the source table contains many rows. The Bubble Chart feature in Kutools for Excel automatically identifies the selected data fields and creates a multiple-series bubble chart without requiring you to add each series manually.

Step 1: Select the source data

Select the entire data range, including the column headings.

Step 2: Open the Bubble Chart feature

Click Kutools > Charts > Data Distribution > Bubble Chart.

Step 3: Check the chart settings and create the chart

In the Create bubble chart dialog box, Kutools automatically identifies the selected table and fills in the required fields. Check the selected data ranges, and then click OK to create the bubble chart.

Result

Kutools immediately creates a bubble chart in which each selected data row is displayed as a separate series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Excel’s built-in chart tools can create a bubble chart with multiple series, but each series must be added and configured individually. This method is suitable when you need precise control over every series and do not mind the additional setup.

For a faster solution, the Bubble Chart feature in Kutools for Excel automatically matches the series names, X values, Y values, and bubble sizes from the selected table. It can create a standard or 3-D bubble chart in only a few steps, making it especially useful for datasets containing many series.