Google Sheets is a great tool for organizing and managing data. One way to use it is to create a geographic map chart. This guide will show you how to do it. To create a geographic map chart in Google Sheets, first open the spreadsheet where you want to create the chart. Next, click on the “Charts” tab at the top of the spreadsheet. From here, you can select “Maps” from the list of charts available. Once you have selected Maps, you will see a list of options on the left side of the screen. The first option is “Basemap Type” which allows you to choose between different basemaps that are available in Google Sheets. If you don’t have any basemaps already created, we recommend using “Street View Basemap” because it provides accurate data for most locations around the world. The next step is to select your data source. In this example, we are using Google Maps data so we will select that option from the list on the left side of the screen. After selecting Google Maps, click on “Next” button located in the bottom right corner of your screen. Now you will need to choose your chart type from the list on the right side of your screen. We recommend selecting “Line Chart with Points” because it is an easy and intuitive way to visualize your data. After selecting Line Chart with Points, click on “Next” button located in bottom right corner again and then finish setting up your chart by clicking on “Finish” button located at top right corner of your screen ..
Do you have a lot of geographical data in Google Sheets? Why not use a map chart to create a wonderful visual display of your data? You can insert, customize, and edit a map chart easily in Google Sheets.
Insert a Map Chart in Google Sheets
Head to Google Sheets, sign in, and open your spreadsheet. Select the data you want to use in the map chart. You can do this easily by clicking and dragging your cursor through the range of cells.
Then, click Insert > Chart from the top menu.
Google Sheets will pop a default chart type into your sheet. So the first thing you need to do is change the chart type in the Chart Editor sidebar that displays.
RELATED: How to Make a Graph in Google Sheets
On the Setup tab, click the “Chart Type” drop-down box and scroll down to the Map section. You can choose from a Geo Chart or a Geo Chart With Markers. We’ll use the latter for this tutorial. This is something you can change later if you like.
You’ll see the chart update to the map chart type you select. Next, you can customize the chart.
Customize a Map Chart in Google Sheets
If you’ve already closed the sidebar, you can reopen it easily. Select your chart, click the three dots on the top right, and select “Edit Chart.”
With the Chart Editor sidebar open, click the “Customize” tab at the top.
To change the chart colors and font, expand the “Chart Style” section. Use the drop-down boxes to select a Background Color, Chart Border Color, and Font per your preferences.
To change the region and colors for the region, expand the Geo section. Use the Region drop-down list to focus your map. You can pick from eight regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States.
The region you select obviously depends on the location data in your sheet. For our example, we’ll select the United States since this is where our data is located.
Next, you can adjust the colors for the Min, Mid, Max, and No Value items on the map. Just be sure to use colors that are easy for your audience to see.
Edit a Map Chart in Google Sheets
You can edit any of the customizations you make above at any time. But if you want to change the chart type or data range, or work with longitude and latitude, then use the Setup tab in the Chart Editor sidebar.
To move the chart, select it and drag it where you want it on your sheet. Or to resize the chart, select it and drag from one of the corners or edges.
Add or Remove Data for the Map Chart
The nice thing about the map chart in Google Sheets is that you can add or remove data from your sheet and the chart updates automatically.
Below, we added a couple more cities that popped right onto the map. When we add the final one, Salt Lake City, the chart updates to show the location.
Then when we add the corresponding data, the marker fills with the correct color per the value.
Additional Map Chart Options
You have a few additional options for the map chart you create in Google Sheets. Click the three dots on the top right of the chart and you’ll see these actions.
Edit Chart: Opens the Chart Editor sidebar. Delete Chart: Removes the chart from the sheet. Download: Allows you to download the chart as an image or PDF. Publish Chart: Helps you publish the chart online. Copy Chart: Places the chart on your clipboard to paste elsewhere. Move to Own Sheet: Removes the chart from the current sheet and places it on a new one. Alt Text: Lets you add alternative text to the chart.
The next time you’re working with location data in Google Sheets, consider displaying it in a neat and clean geographical map chart.
RELATED: How to Create a Geographical Map Chart in Microsoft Excel
