How to Make a Heatmap in Excel (2 Easy Ways)

Download Excel Workbook of Heat Map


Method 1 – Make a Heatmap with Conditional Formatting

Steps:

  • Select the entire dataset excluding the labels as shown in the following image.

select dataset

  • Go to Home >> Conditional Formatting >> Color Scales >> Red – Yellow – Green Color Scale.

apply conditional formatting color scales

  • The following heatmap will be created.

heatmap with numbers

  • Select the entire heatmap, right-click on it, and select Format Cells.

format cells

  • Select the Custom category from the Number tab, enter three semicolons (;;;) in the Type field and click OK.

custom format

  • It will make a heatmap without numbers as shown below.

make a heatmap in excel without numbers

Read More: How to Create a Zip Code Heat Map in Excel (with Useful Steps)


Method 2 – Make a Dynamic Heatmap with Scroll Bar

Steps:

  • Copy the city names (from the dataset) to a new sheet and format the area where you want the data to be visible as shown below.

format visible area

  • Go to Developer >> Insert >> Scroll Bar (Form Control) and drag the cursor to place it anywhere you like.

insert form control scroll bar

  • Right-click on the scroll bar and select Format Control.

format control

  • Set the Minimum value to 1, Maximum value to 7, Incremental change to 1, Page Change to 2, enter a cell reference for the Cell link, and click OK.

format object

  • Enter the following formula in cell C4 and drag it to the last cell of the visible area (H13). Change any formatting if required. (The dataset is in Sheet1)
=INDEX(Sheet1!$C$4:$N$13,ROW()-3,$B$4+COLUMNS($C$4:C4)-1)

apply INDEX formula

  • Select the visible values and apply the Conditional Formatting Color Scales.

conditional formatting

  • You can use the scroll bar to show the part of the dataset as required.

make a dynamic heatmap in excel


How to Make a Geographic Heatmap in Excel

Assume you have the following dataset containing the state-wise total Covid-19 cases in the USA.

dataset for geographic heat map

To create a geographic heat map using this data in excel:

Steps:

  • Click anywhere in the data or select it entirely. Go to Insert >> Maps >> Filled Map.

insert filled map

  • The following geographic map will be created.

basic geographic heat map

  • Right-click on the data points and select Format Data Series.

format data series

  • Set the Series Color to Diverging (3-color) and change the color sets as required.

series color

  • It will create the following geographical heat map in excel.

make a geographical heatmap in excel


How to Create a Risk Heatmap in Excel

Steps:

  • Create a table specifying the impact and likelihood labels as shown below.

basic table to make a risk heatmap

  • Enter the following formula in cell D6 and drag the Fill Handle icon to fill the entire table.
=$C6*D$5

complete risk matrix

  • Apply conditional formatting color scales to the values in the table.

color scale for risk heat map

  • It will create the following risk heat map in excel.

make a risk heatmap in excel


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Siam Hasan Khan
Siam Hasan Khan

Hello! Welcome to my Profile. Here I will be posting articles related to Microsoft Excel. I have completed my BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from American International University-Bangladesh. I am a diligent, goal-oriented engineer with an immense thirst for knowledge and an attitude to grow continuously. Continuous improvement and life-long learning are my mottoes.

5 Comments
  1. Hi,, please give me a tip on how to create an amazing payroll format based on 15days payroll period,, Thanks…

  2. Is it possible to create Heatmap based on Cities ? (Not State, Country)

    But based on cities?

    • Reply Avatar photo
      Naimul Hasan Arif Nov 15, 2022 at 10:42 AM

      Definitely possible. You just need to follow the following procedures to do so.
      After selecting the entire dataset, go to the Insert tab. Followingly, click on Filled Map from the Maps option and you will have your desired output.

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