Heat Map in Excel

Heat map is a type of map in excel which is used to show the representation of data in different colors, the colors show which area of the data needs to be focused on and which can be ignored, the intensity of the colors show the impact of the data series over the whole data set, the color scale in this type of chart varies from green to yellow to red, green color has been given the most importance whereas red has been given least importance.

Heat Map in Excel (Table of Contents)

• Heat Map in Excel
• How to Create a Heat Map in Excel?

What is Heat Map in Excel?

Excel Heat Map is a type of representation, which helps us to compare the huge data as per the specifications. Heat Map in Excel is also called a data visualization technique. In technical terms, Heat Map is a type of visual representation of data, which represent the comparative view of data.

• The heat map in excel is compared to the data on a color scale, which varies from green to yellow to red. In this color scale, green color represents the high value, yellow will represent moderate value & red color represent low value.
• In short, Heat Map is a visual representation of data with the help of colors in accordance with the values.
• In this type of Heat map, we do representation on the basis of colors, which ranges from yellow to orange to red and so on. We can choose some specific colors based on our choices.

How to Create a Heat Map in Excel?

We can create a simple Heat Map using the Conditional Formatting. Here are a few steps to create a Heat Map of a pool of data.

• Step-1) First select the column of the data on which we want to apply the Heat map.
• Step-2) Now, Got to Home tab, then go to Styles & Click on conditional formatting, then you will get a list. Now you have six different color combinations of color scale will be available & you can select anyone to create a Heat Map.
• Step-3) After selecting conditional formatting, click on Color Scales from the list.
• Step-4) Now you have six different color combinations of color scale will be available & you can select anyone to create a Heat Map.

Example #1

We have data of marks of the student for three months sessional exams. In this data, compare the performance of students.

Steps to create an excel Heat map in the following form:

Step #1 – Data of mark of the student for three months is shown below:

Step #2 – Now, Select the column in which you want to create a Heat

Step #3 – Now, go to the home tab, then go to Styles & click on conditional formatting, then you will get a list of options.

Step #4 – Now Click on Color Scales from the list,

Step #5 – Now you have six different color combinations of color scale will be available & you can select anyone to create an excel Heat Map. See the figure below with type of color combination.

Step #6 – Follow the same for the rest of the column & see the result below

Now let us learn with some more examples.

Example #2

We have data on the Quality Score of Advisors for a month of performance in sales. In this data, compare the performance of advisors for the given month.

Steps to create an excel Heat map in the following form:

Step #1 – Data of quality score for three months is shown below:

Step #2 – Now, Select the column in which you want to create a Heat

Step #3 – Now, go to the home tab, then go to Styles & click on conditional formatting, then you will get a list of options.

Step #4 – Now Click on Color Scales from the list,

Step #5 – Now you have six different color combinations of color scale will be available & you can select anyone to create a Heat Map. See the figure below with type of color combination.

Example #3

We have a data of Average sale of Advisors for a month performance in sales. In this data, compare the performance of advisors for the given month

Steps to create an excel Heat map in the following form:

Step #1 – Data of quality score for three months is shown below:

Step #2 – Now, Select the column in which you want to create a Heat

Step #3 – Now, go to the home tab, then go to Styles & click on conditional formatting, then you will get a list of options.

Step #4 – Now Click on Color Scales from the list,

Step #5 – Now you have six different color combinations of color scale will be available & you can select anyone to create a Heat Map. See the figure below with type of color combination.

Things to Remember about Heat Map in Excel

There are few things to remember in the heat map in excel:

1. Heat Map is a visual representation of data which bifurcates data by colors ranging high to low.
2. Colors can be chosen by the user.
3. Heat Map is basically conditional formatting done on a data, the data which applies on certain color has certain cell range color applied to it.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to Heat Map in Excel. Here we discuss how to Create Heat Map in Excel along with practical examples and downloadable excel template. You may learn more about excel from the following articles –

• Examples to Conditionally Format the Dates
• Examples of Conditional Formatting in VBA
• Overview of the Conditional Formatting Window
• Steps to Conditional Format for Blank Cells
• Excel Range VBA
• How to Conditional Format a Pivot Table?
• Use Conditional Formatting Based on Another Cell Value
• How to Highlight Duplicates in Excel?
• Excel VBA Course