Ever stared at a long list of categories and subcategories in a spreadsheet and wished there was an easier way to make sense of it all? That’s exactly where Treemap and Sunburst charts come in. These chart types help you visualize hierarchical data — like categories and their subcategories — in a colorful, compact, and easy-to-understand format.
If you’re a beginner in Google Sheets, don’t worry — creating these charts is surprisingly simple, and they can totally transform how you present information. Whether you’re tracking expenses, analyzing product lines, or summarizing survey data, these visualizations make your spreadsheets more insightful and engaging.
What Are Treemap and Sunburst Charts?
A Treemap chart displays data in nested rectangles, with each level of the hierarchy represented by a set of boxes. A Sunburst chart shows the same hierarchy in concentric rings. Both are great for showing how parts relate to the whole, and which items are the biggest contributors within a group.
Real-Life Example: Tracking Department Budgets
Imagine you’re managing budgets across different departments in a company. Each department has sub-teams, and you want to understand how much each team spends relative to others. Instead of analyzing dozens of rows, a Treemap or Sunburst chart instantly shows which teams have the highest or lowest spending — all in one view.
Sample Data Table
| Department | Team | Expense |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | Social Media | 12000 |
| Marketing | 8000 | |
| Sales | Domestic | 15000 |
| Sales | International | 18000 |
| HR | Recruitment | 7000 |
How to Create a Treemap or Sunburst Chart in Google Sheets
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Enter your hierarchical data in three columns: Parent, Child, and Value.
- Select the full range including headers (e.g., A1:C6).
- Go to Insert > Chart.
- In the Chart Editor sidebar, click on Chart Type and select either:
- Treemap Chart — for nested rectangles
- Sunburst Chart — for concentric rings
- Use the Customize tab to change chart title, colors, and labels.
Key Benefits
- Hierarchy Visualization: Quickly understand how parts contribute to a whole.
- Space-Efficient: Great for summarizing large data in a small area.
- Interactive & Colorful: Easy to read and visually appealing.
- Ideal for Dashboards: Combine with KPIs or other visuals for quick insights.
Pro Tips
- Use consistent naming in parent-child columns to avoid blank segments.
- Hover over each segment in the chart to see exact values and labels.
- Use conditional formatting on your data table to spot outliers before charting.
- Use Treemaps for comparing areas; use Sunburst for showing depth in hierarchy.
Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet
| Chart Type | Best Use |
|---|---|
| Treemap | When you want to compare values across groups in a rectangular layout |
| Sunburst | When you want to show hierarchical levels in a circular view |
| Required Data Format | Parent | Child | Value |
| Insert Chart | Insert > Chart > Treemap / Sunburst |
Treemap and Sunburst charts are perfect for turning layered, hierarchical data into clear visuals. Whether you’re analyzing budgets, product categories, or survey results, these chart types help you communicate structure and proportion at a glance — without the need for advanced software.
Next time you’ve got nested data to present, give these charts a try in Google Sheets. You’ll be surprised how much easier it is to spot patterns, insights, and opportunities!