How to Create a Beeswarm Chart in Tableau with Viz Extensions

What is a Beeswarm Chart?

A beeswarm chart is a type of data visualization that displays individual data points in a way that prevents overlap, making it easy to see the distribution and density of the data. It is particularly useful for visualizing categorical data with a continuous variable.

A beeswarm chart is useful in:

• Comparing distributions across different categories.

• Identifying clusters, outliers, and patterns within the data.

• Providing a more intuitive and detailed view than box plots, which only summarize key statistics.

Example of a Beeswarm Chart

(Instead of summarizing each Sub-category with a box plot or histogram, a beeswarm plot shows the sales as individual dots, arranged to prevent overlapping, making it easy to see where most sales fall and whether there are outliers.)

Step-by-Step Guide

To create a beeswarm chart in Tableau. Add the beeswarm chart viz extension by going to the Marks card and select Add Extension.

On the pop-up window - go to the search bar and search “beeswarm”.

Select beeswarm viz extension by LaDataViz and open it.

Notice the changes on the marks card and the view.

Note you can purchase the extension to enjoy its full features and capabilities.

In this example using the Sample – Superstore dataset, I am going to create a beeswarm chart by dragging Sales to the X-Axis.

Next, I will add the dimension Product Name to the Detail shelf and the dimension Category to the Color shelf.

Drag the dimension Category to the Y-Axis to see distribution per Category.

Formatting the View

Under the Format Extension option, you can customize the look and the feel of your viz using the Size and Collide options as well as change the color palette among other formatting options.

Conclusion

The integration of beeswarm charts in Tableau using the Viz Extensions offers a dynamic and insightful approach to visualizing data distributions. By preserving individual data points while ensuring clarity through strategic positioning, these charts enable analysts to uncover patterns, clusters, and anomalies with greater precision. This level of detail surpasses traditional summary statistics, allowing for deeper data exploration and storytelling.

With Tableau’s Viz Extensions, the power of beeswarm charts expands further—offering customization, interactivity, and enhanced flexibility in data presentation. Whether used in business intelligence, scientific research, or social data analysis, beeswarm charts provide a compelling alternative to box plots and histograms, ensuring that decision-makers can interpret and communicate complex data effectively.

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