Filled maps (choropleth) in Tableau - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Filled maps show areas colored by data values, helping you see patterns across regions. They solve the problem of understanding geographic data quickly by coloring regions based on numbers like sales or population.

When you want to show sales amounts by state or country on a map.

When you need to compare population density across different regions.

When your dashboard should highlight areas with high or low values using colors.

When you want to visualize election results by coloring states or counties.

When you want to spot regional trends in customer data visually.

Steps

Step 1: Connect to your data source

- Tableau start page

Your data appears in the Data pane on the left

Step 2: Drag a geographic field (like State or Country) to the Rows shelf

- Data pane and Rows shelf

Tableau creates a map view with marks for each region

Step 3: Drag a measure (like Sales) to the Color shelf on the Marks card

- Data pane and Marks card

Regions on the map fill with colors representing the measure values

Step 4: Click the Marks card dropdown and select 'Map' or 'Filled Map'

- Marks card

The map changes to a filled map where regions are colored areas, not points

Step 5: Adjust color by clicking Color on the Marks card and selecting Edit Colors

- Marks card > Color

You can choose a color palette that fits your data story

Step 6: Add labels by dragging the geographic field to Label on the Marks card

- Data pane and Marks card

Region names appear on the map for easier reading

Before vs After

Before

Map shows points or symbols for each region without color fill

After

Map shows regions filled with colors representing measure values, making patterns clear

Settings Reference

Marks type

📍 Marks card dropdown

Choose how data points appear on the map, 'Filled Map' colors regions

Default: Automatic

Color palette

📍 Marks card > Color > Edit Colors

Control the colors used to represent data values on the map

Default: Tableau default sequential palette

Map layers

📍 Map menu > Map Layers

Customize map background and details for better clarity

Default: Borders and Names on

Common Mistakes

Using a geographic field that Tableau does not recognize

Tableau cannot plot the map correctly without recognized geographic roles

Assign the correct geographic role to the field by right-clicking it and selecting 'Geographic Role'

Dragging a dimension to Color instead of a measure

Colors will not represent numeric values, so the map won't show meaningful gradients

Always drag a numeric measure to Color to create a choropleth effect

Summary

Filled maps color geographic areas based on data values to show patterns clearly.

Use geographic fields on Rows or Columns and measures on Color to create filled maps.

Make sure your geographic fields have correct roles and use measures for coloring.