Create Bubble Chart in Excel with Multiple Series (with Easy Steps)

This article shows how to insert a Bubble Chart with multiple series in Excel. In many cases, we might need to handle 3 variables in a single dataset. In this type of situation, Bubble Chart comes with a great advantage. Here, we will take you to step by step guide on how to insert a Bubble Chart in Excel with multiple series.

What Is a Bubble Chart with Multiple Series in Excel?

The Bubble Chart is a tool for three-dimensional data visualization. With the Bubble Chart, you may plot the third variable in addition to the standard two variables (x and y). The first two variables are represented by coordinates, whereas the third is by the bubble’s size.

For example, you may have represented the interrelation between the week number and corresponding sales quantity in a scatter plot. Now, you want to add the consecutive profit percentage to it. Then, a Bubble Chart can help you get there.

To understand the multiple series phenomena easily, go over the example below.

In the example below, if you have the sales report of 2 states and want to plot them in a single chart as different streaks, then, it’s called a multiple series Bubble Chart.

Bubble Chart with Single Series:

Bubble Chart with Multiple Series:

Benefits and Drawbacks of Multiple Series Bubble Chart in Excel

Before proceeding on how to plot a Bubble Chart with multiple series, you may want to know the pros and cons of using it.

Benefits:

It enables you to expand the data set by a third dimension.
Hence, you can communicate a lot of information simultaneously using it.
Besides, lucrative bubble sizes draw the attention of readers easily.
In terms of appearance, it beats the tabular format.

Drawbacks:

A novice user could find it challenging to comprehend everything right away.
A graph that has too many bubbles may become unreadable.
Occasionally, we could be perplexed by the size of the bubbles.
Overlapping bubbles could generate a barrier.

Create a Bubble Chart in Excel with Multiple Series: 7 Easy Steps

Suppose, we have a Region-wise Sales Report of 2 states: Texas and Florida. This report includes the Sales Quantity and Profit percentages for corresponding Weeks.

Now, we want to plot a Bubble Chart with multiple series from this dataset. At this point, follow the steps below to do so.

Step 1: Insert Bubble Chart with Multiple Series in Excel

In our first step, we’ll insert the Bubble Chart into our worksheet.

Firstly, select any cell.
Secondly, go to the Insert tab.
Thirdly, select Insert Scatter (X, Y) or Bubble Chart > Bubble.

It inserts a Bubble Chart in our worksheet.

The chart looks like this because we haven’t selected any relevant data. Now we will input significant data into this chart.

Firstly, right-click anywhere on the chart.
Then, select the Select Data option.

At this moment, the Select Data Source dialog box opens.
Now, click on Series 1.
After that, select the Remove button.
Similarly, remove Series 2.
Finally, click OK.

Therefore, our chart is entirely blank now. As we deleted all data from it.

Step 2: Add Multiple Series to the Chart

In our second step, we’ve to add our series manually.

Again, open the Select Data Source dialog box just like before.
Now, click on Add in the Legend Entries (Series) section.

Eventually, it opens the Edit Series dialog box.
Then, select the relevant cells for the text boxes as in the image below.
After that, click OK.

Thus, we added Series 1 to our Bubble Chart. We can also notice the Weeks are in the Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels.
Again, click on the Add button to add our 2^nd series.

Similarly, add the 2^nd series in the Legend Entries (Series) section.

Hereafter, we also added Series 2.
Finally, click on the OK button.

At this point, the Bubble Chart looks like the one below.

Step 3: Edit Multiple Series Labels

In this step, we’ll define the multiple series labels. Here, we have to edit the series labels and give them suitable names.

Again, open the Select Data Source dialog box like before.
Then, select Series 1 from the list.
Later, click on the Edit button.

As a result, it opens the Edit Series dialog box again.
Next, click on the Series Name box.
Then, select cell B4 as a cell reference.
Now, click OK.

Similarly, edit the Series Name of Series 2 also.

Through our previous actions, we successfully changed the series names. We changed them in Legend Entries (Series) from Series 1 and Series 2 to Texas and Florida, the name of the two states.
Finally, click on OK.

At this moment, our Bar Chart just looks like the one below.

The series names also get changed in the chart above. Before, they were Series 1 and Series 2.

Step 4: Add Legend to the Bubble Chart

Additionally, if the chart Legend isn’t visible already, we’ll add it to the Bubble Chart.

At first, go to the Chart Design tab.
Secondly, select Add Chart Element from the ribbon.
From the drop-down list, select Legend > Top.

As a result, the chart Legend will get visible at top of the chart just below the Chart Title. We can notice that in the image above.

Step 5: Add Axis Title to Bubble Chart with Multiple Series in Excel

Adding Axis Title in a chart is also important. Because Axis Titles link specific data categories to the visual information. In this step, we’ll add this title to the chart.

Firstly, go to the Chart Design tab.
Secondly, select Add Chart Element from the ribbon.
From the drop-down list, select Axis Titles > Primary Horizontal.

We can see the Axis Title of the X-axis is visible in the image above.

Similarly, add the Primary Vertical type Axis Title in the chart also.

After that, click on those titles.
Then, edit them and give suitable titles related to the dataset.

Step 6: Add Data Labels

As they provide information on a data series or its individual data points, Data Labels help a chart’s viewers better understand its contents. In this step of our method, we’ll add the Data Labels to the chart.

Firstly, go to the Chart Design tab.
Secondly, select Add Chart Element from the ribbon.
From the drop-down list, select Data Labels > More Data Label Options.

At this point, it opens the Format Data Label task pane.
Firstly, click on the Label Options icon.
Secondly, expand the Label options menu.
Then, check the boxes of Y Value and Bubble Size.

Now, the Bubble Chart looks like the one below.

Step 7: Add Chart Title

Chart Titles give us a brief summary of the displayed information. In this section, we’ll add it to our chart.

Firstly, go to the Chart Design tab.
Secondly, select Add Chart Element from the ribbon.
From the drop-down list, select Chart Title > Above Chart.

Now, edit the title and give a suitable title according to our relevant dataset.

Explanation of Final Output

If we concentrate on the sales of Florida from the chart. Though we can notice that the Sales Quantity of Week 2 is highest, which is represented by the 2nd orange circle from the left, the Profit percentage of it is lower than Week 3. We can easily understand it by seeing the size of the circle for Week 2 and Week 3. Obviously, the circle of Week 3 is bigger. As a result, we can clearly understand from the chart that though Week 2 has more Sales Quantity, Week 3 has more Profit percentage.

💡Things to Remember

To use the Bubble Chart, we must arrange the data immediately.
We must stay away from ornate colors that occasionally appear unattractive.
We can alter the backdrop color of the chart to give it a good, polished appearance.
We shouldn’t add too many data points to a Bubble Chart as it gets messy then.

Download Practice Workbook

Creating Bubble Chart with Multiple Series.xlsx

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this article, we hope this was helpful. Please let us know in the comment section if you have any queries or suggestions. Goodbye!

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