A Scatter chart and a Bubble chart are two chart types of the Chart widget. Each plots one dot per record, placed by two numeric fields. A Bubble chart adds a third numeric field that sets the size of each dot.
The settings for each type are described in full in their own articles, Scatter Chart and Bubble Chart. This page is the short route to them from the dashboard side, with the one thing that differs: the widget path.
Example: a Vendor Management solution with a Vendors table. On the Vendor risk overview dashboard, the Security lead adds a Scatter widget called Value against risk. Annual Contract Value places each vendor left to right and Inherent Risk Score places it bottom to top. A second widget, Value, risk and findings, uses Open Findings as the bubble size. Both are grouped by Vendor Tier, so the dots are colored by tier.
The two widgets side by side on the overview: the scatter at the left, the bubble chart at the right, both colored by Vendor Tier.
Plan Availability | All plan types. |
Permissions | Solution Managers and members with Full Access add and set up widgets on a public dashboard; the owner does so on a private one. |
Platform | Web |
Related Reading |
What the two charts show
A Scatter chart answers one question: do two numbers move together? Each record is a dot. With many records, the dots form a cluster, a trend or a few outliers. For the example, a dot in the top right is a vendor with high value and high risk.
A Bubble chart answers the same question with a third number in view. The size of each dot carries it. For the example, a large dot is a vendor with many open findings.
Note: A few records rarely show a pattern. With a dozen vendors, a Bar chart of the same values says more.
Adding a Bubble or Scatter chart widget
Open the dashboard and set the View | Edit switch in the upper right to Edit.
Select + Add Widget in the toolbar. The Add New Widget panel opens at the right, with a Search Widget box and thirteen collapsible categories.
Open the Charts category and select the Scatter card or the Bubble card. The Scatter card's description reads "Displays data points as dots on a two-dimensional grid, showing the relationship between two numerical variables". The Bubble card's reads "Visualizes three numerical variables, using dots' position to show two values and their size to represent a third".
A full-width window opens with the type preset. Under Settings, the Chart Type reads Scatter Chart or Bubble Chart. Pick the table under Source, set the axis fields, and select Add Widget.
The rest of the window is the Chart widget's; see Chart Widget. Any Chart widget can be switched to either type under Chart Type, which clears the Values set before.
The widget window with Chart Type set to Bubble Chart and the X-Axis, Y-Axis and Bubble Size rows under Values.
What each chart needs
On these two types the Values section changes shape. The aggregation dropdown goes away, and each row is a Select Value field picker.
Scatter Chart: two rows, X-Axis and Y-Axis.
Bubble Chart: three rows, X-Axis, Y-Axis and Bubble Size.
Each row takes a numeric field. Group By stays and colors the dots by its values, with a legend entry per color. Sort by Values and Benchmark Line are not shown on either type. Chart Total, Dynamic Filter and Advanced Options remain, and Advanced Options carries Include empty values, the two axis labels and both axis formatting buttons.
Tip: Group by a Single Select such as Vendor Tier. The colors then sort the dots into the groups the team already uses.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the Scatter and Bubble settings described?
Where are the Scatter and Bubble settings described?
In Scatter Chart and Bubble Chart. Each article covers the axes, the grouping, the totals and the display options.
Can I put a Scatter or Bubble chart on a dashboard?
Can I put a Scatter or Bubble chart on a dashboard?
Yes. Select the Scatter or Bubble card under Charts, or change any Chart widget's type under Chart Type.
Which fields can go on an axis?
Which fields can go on an axis?
A numeric field. The types accepted are listed in Scatter Chart.
Is a Heat Map also a widget?
Is a Heat Map also a widget?
Yes. Select the Heatmap card under Charts, or pick Heatmap Chart under Chart Type. See Chart View: Heat Map.
Last verified 30 Oct 2026.