Treemap and sunburst in Excel - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Treemap and sunburst charts help you see parts of a whole in a clear way. They show how different categories and subcategories relate by size and hierarchy. These charts make it easy to spot big and small groups in your data.

When you want to show sales by product category and subcategory in one chart.

When you need to visualize budget distribution across departments and teams.

When you want to display website traffic sources and their sub-sources clearly.

When you want to compare parts of a whole with many levels, like company divisions and their projects.

When you want a colorful, easy-to-understand chart that shows hierarchy and size together.

Steps

Step 1: Select the data range including categories and values

- Excel worksheet

The data cells are highlighted and ready for chart creation

Step 2: Click the Insert tab

- Ribbon at the top of Excel

Insert tab options appear

Step 3: Click the Insert Hierarchy Chart button

- Charts group on the Insert tab

A dropdown menu with Treemap and Sunburst options appears

Step 4: Select Treemap or Sunburst chart

- Dropdown menu under Insert Hierarchy Chart

The selected chart appears on the worksheet showing your data visually

Step 5: Click the chart to select it

- Chart area on the worksheet

Chart Tools tabs (Chart Design and Format) appear in the ribbon

Step 6: Use Chart Design tab to customize colors and styles

- Chart Design tab on the ribbon

Chart colors and style update to your preferences

Step 7: Resize or move the chart as needed

- Chart border on the worksheet

Chart fits well in your worksheet layout

Before vs After

Before

Data table with categories, subcategories, and values listed in rows

After

Colorful Treemap or Sunburst chart showing categories and subcategories sized by their values

Settings Reference

Chart Type

📍 Insert tab > Insert Hierarchy Chart dropdown

Choose the type of hierarchy chart to display your data

Default: No chart selected

Chart Styles

📍 Chart Design tab > Chart Styles group

Change the look and feel of the chart colors and effects

Default: Colorful

Data Labels

📍 Chart Design tab > Add Chart Element > Data Labels

Show or hide labels that display category names and values on the chart

Default: None

Legend

📍 Chart Design tab > Add Chart Element > Legend

Show or hide the legend and choose its position

Default: Right

Common Mistakes

Selecting data without hierarchical structure

Treemap and Sunburst charts need data with categories and subcategories to show hierarchy

Organize your data with at least two columns for category levels and one for values before creating the chart

Including empty or non-numeric cells in the value column

Charts cannot calculate sizes properly if values are missing or not numbers

Ensure all value cells contain numbers and no blanks before inserting the chart

Trying to use Treemap or Sunburst for unrelated data types

These charts only work well for hierarchical data showing parts of a whole

Use other chart types like bar or pie charts for flat or unrelated data

Summary

Treemap and Sunburst charts visualize hierarchical data by showing parts of a whole with size and color.

They require data organized with categories, subcategories, and numeric values.

Use the Insert Hierarchy Chart button to create and customize these charts easily in Excel.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a treemap or sunburst chart in Excel?

easy

A. To show parts of a whole with nested groups

B. To create a simple line graph

C. To calculate sums automatically

D. To sort data alphabetically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand chart types

   Treemap and sunburst charts visualize hierarchical data by showing parts of a whole with nested groups.

2. Step 2: Compare with other chart types

   Line graphs show trends over time, sums are calculated by formulas, and sorting is a data operation, not chart purpose.

3. Final Answer:

   To show parts of a whole with nested groups -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Treemap/sunburst = parts of whole [OK]

Hint: Remember: treemap shows nested parts visually [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing treemap with line or bar charts
• Thinking treemap calculates data
• Assuming treemap sorts data

2. Which Excel menu path do you use to insert a treemap or sunburst chart?

easy

A. Formulas > Function Library > Math & Trig

B. Insert > Charts > Hierarchy Chart

C. Data > Sort & Filter > Filter

D. Review > Comments > New Comment

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate chart insertion

   Treemap and sunburst charts are found under Insert tab, then Charts group, specifically Hierarchy Chart.

2. Step 2: Eliminate unrelated menus

   Data menu is for sorting/filtering, Formulas for functions, Review for comments, none for charts.

3. Final Answer:

   Insert > Charts > Hierarchy Chart -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Insert > Charts > Hierarchy = correct menu [OK]

Hint: Charts are always under Insert tab in Excel [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Looking under Data or Formulas tabs
• Confusing chart types location
• Not finding Hierarchy Chart group

3. Given this data in Excel:

Category | Subcategory | Sales
Fruit    | Apple       | 100
Fruit    | Banana      | 150
Veggie   | Carrot      | 80
Veggie   | Broccoli    | 120

If you create a sunburst chart from this data, what will the inner ring represent?

medium

A. The sales for only the first row

B. Individual sales numbers for each Subcategory

C. The sum of all sales combined

D. The total sales for each Category (Fruit, Veggie)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand sunburst chart rings

   The inner ring shows top-level groups (Categories), outer rings show subgroups (Subcategories).

2. Step 2: Apply to given data

   Categories are Fruit and Veggie, so inner ring slices represent total sales per Category.

3. Final Answer:

   The total sales for each Category (Fruit, Veggie) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Sunburst inner ring = top-level groups [OK]

Hint: Inner ring = main groups, outer rings = subgroups [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking inner ring shows individual sales
• Confusing total sum with category totals
• Assuming only first row is shown

4. You tried to create a treemap chart but Excel shows an error. Which of these is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You used a formula instead of typing numbers

B. You selected the Insert tab instead of the Data tab

C. Your data has missing or blank cells in the hierarchy columns

D. You applied a filter to the data before inserting the chart

Solution

1. Step 1: Check data requirements for treemap

   Treemap requires complete hierarchy data without blanks in category columns.

2. Step 2: Analyze error causes

   Missing or blank cells break the hierarchy, causing Excel to error. Other options don't cause chart errors.

3. Final Answer:

   Your data has missing or blank cells in the hierarchy columns -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Complete hierarchy data needed [OK]

Hint: No blanks allowed in hierarchy columns for treemap [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking Insert tab is wrong
• Believing formulas cause chart errors
• Assuming filters block chart creation

5. You have sales data for regions and products:

Region | Product | Sales
North  | A       | 200
North  | B       | 300
South  | A       | 150
South  | B       | 350

You want to create a treemap chart that shows sales by region and product. Which steps should you follow to prepare your data and insert the chart correctly?

hard

A. Arrange data with Region and Product columns, no blanks; select all data; go to Insert > Charts > Hierarchy Chart > Treemap

B. Sort data by Sales descending; select only Sales column; Insert > Charts > Pie Chart

C. Create a pivot table first; then insert a line chart from pivot data

D. Filter data by Region; select filtered data; Insert > Charts > Bar Chart

Solution

1. Step 1: Prepare data with complete hierarchy

   Ensure Region and Product columns have no blanks and all sales data is included.

2. Step 2: Insert treemap chart

   Select all data, then use Insert > Charts > Hierarchy Chart > Treemap to visualize sales by region and product.

3. Final Answer:

   Arrange data with Region and Product columns, no blanks; select all data; go to Insert > Charts > Hierarchy Chart > Treemap -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Complete data + Insert > Hierarchy > Treemap = correct [OK]

Hint: Select full hierarchy data before inserting treemap [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting only sales column
• Using wrong chart type like pie or line
• Filtering data before chart insertion