Shape encoding in Tableau - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Shape encoding lets you use different shapes to show categories or groups in your data. It helps you quickly see differences or patterns by changing the shape of marks on your chart.

When you want to show different product categories on a scatter plot using shapes instead of colors.

When your chart has many colors and you want to add another way to distinguish groups.

When printing in black and white and colors are not clear, shapes help separate data points.

When you want to highlight specific customer segments with unique shapes on a map.

When you want to add a legend that explains groups by shape for easier understanding.

Steps

Step 1: Open your Tableau workbook and go to the worksheet with your chart

- Tableau workspace

You see your current chart with data points or marks

Step 2: Drag the dimension you want to use for shape encoding

- Data pane → drag dimension to the Shape button on the Marks card

The marks on the chart change shapes based on the dimension's categories

💡 Use a dimension with a few distinct categories for clear shape differences

Step 3: Click the Shape button on the Marks card

- Marks card → Shape

The Edit Shape palette opens showing available shapes

Step 4: Select a shape set from the drop-down menu

- Edit Shape palette → Shape Set drop-down

The shapes in the palette update to the selected set

Step 5: Click each category and assign a shape

- Edit Shape palette → click category → select shape

Each category is assigned a unique shape on the chart

💡 Choose simple, distinct shapes for easy recognition

Step 6: Click OK to apply the shape assignments

- Edit Shape palette → OK button

The chart updates with the new shapes and a shape legend appears

Before vs After

Before

All data points on the scatter plot are circles of the same shape regardless of category

After

Data points change to different shapes like squares, triangles, and diamonds based on their category, with a shape legend visible

Settings Reference

Shape encoding

📍 Marks card → Shape button

Assign different shapes to data categories to visually separate groups

Default: Automatic shape assignment by Tableau

Edit Shape palette

📍 Marks card → Shape → Edit Shape

Customize which shapes represent each category

Default: Basic Shapes

Common Mistakes

Using a dimension with too many categories for shape encoding

Too many shapes make the chart confusing and hard to read

Choose a dimension with fewer categories or group categories before assigning shapes

Not assigning distinct shapes manually after dragging the dimension

Tableau may assign similar shapes that are hard to distinguish

Open the Edit Shape palette and assign clear, different shapes to each category

Summary

Shape encoding uses different shapes to show categories in your data visually.

It helps separate groups when colors alone are not enough or not suitable.

Choose dimensions with few categories and assign clear shapes for best results.