Distributed Treemap Chart Maker

Each tile automatically gets its own distinct color - ideal when your categories are independent and unrelated.

Import from Excel

Col A: labels · Col B: values

Tile Color Palette

Colors rotate automatically through the palette.

Export Chart

What Is a Distributed Treemap Chart?

A distributed treemap is a treemap where each tile gets its own distinct color instead of sharing one uniform hue. The size of each tile still reflects its value - but the color now signals to the reader that every category is a separate, independent entity. This is particularly useful when your categories are unrelated, like different countries, brands, or product lines, where grouping them under one color would imply a connection that does not exist.

The visual result is more vibrant and immediately engaging than a single-color treemap. Each tile stands on its own, making comparison and identification faster. This free tool automatically assigns colors from a 15-color palette and rotates through it as you add more tiles - no manual color assignment required.

Best Use Cases for a Distributed Treemap

Independent Category Comparison

When your categories are genuinely unrelated - like different countries, departments, or product brands - individual colors make each tile feel like its own distinct item.

Infographics and Presentations

Multi-colored treemaps are more visually striking and memorable than single-color ones, making them a better choice for slide decks and published reports.

Alternative to Pie Charts

A distributed treemap with 10 or more categories is far more readable than a pie chart with the same number of slices, while still conveying the same part-to-whole story.

Competitive Landscape

Showing how different competitors or brands divide up a market - where each company deserves its own identity, not a shared color with rivals.

Survey & Poll Breakdown

Visualizing how respondents split across multiple independent answer choices, where colors help readers identify each option instantly.

Dashboards & Reports

Multi-color treemaps are a staple of executive dashboards because they are both information-dense and easy to scan at a glance.

Getting the Most Out of a Distributed Treemap

  • Sort descending. Enter your largest value first so the biggest tile anchors the top-left corner - the natural starting point for a reader's eye when scanning a chart.
  • Use distributed colors when categories are unrelated. If they share a relationship (like months of the year or branches of one company), a single-color standard treemap or a grouped multi-dimensional treemap is a better fit.
  • Keep tile count manageable. The 15-color palette loops if you have more than 15 tiles, which can cause two tiles to share a color. Aim for 15 or fewer for maximum visual clarity.
  • Enable data labels in the Advanced tab when exporting for static use. In presentations and PDFs, readers cannot hover for the tooltip, so the printed value on each tile is essential.
  • Export as SVG for the sharpest result at any size - especially important for multi-color charts where the vibrancy of colors should be preserved perfectly.

Distributed Treemap - Common Questions

What makes a distributed treemap different from a standard treemap?+

In a standard treemap, all tiles share one color and size is the only differentiating visual signal. In a distributed treemap, each tile gets its own distinct color from a preset palette. This makes it faster to identify individual categories and gives the chart a more vibrant, dashboard-style appearance.

Can I choose the colors for each tile?+

The colors are automatically assigned from a fixed 15-color palette that rotates through as you add tiles. If you need fully custom colors per tile, you might want the multi-dimensional treemap type, where each group (parent series) has a color picker.

When should I use distributed colors versus a single color?+

Use distributed colors when your categories are independent of each other and there is no implied relationship between them - like different countries, competitors, or product lines. Use a single color when the categories belong to the same continuous group, like months of the year or stages of a pipeline, where a uniform look reinforces their connection.

How many tiles can I add before it becomes unreadable?+

The palette has 15 colors. Beyond 15 tiles, colors start to repeat, which undermines the purpose of distributed coloring. Practically, readability also drops once tiles get very small. Aim for 10 to 15 tiles for the best result.

Is the color order fixed?+

Yes - colors are assigned in the order you enter your categories. The first category gets the first color (blue), the second gets green, and so on. If you want a specific category to have a specific color, place it in the corresponding position in your label and value lists.

Can I import data from Excel?+

Yes. Use the Import from Excel button and upload a file with category names in column A and values in column B. CSV files are also accepted. Download the template for a ready-to-fill format.

What export formats are supported?+

PNG, JPEG, JPG, and SVG. PNG is the most versatile for general use. SVG is ideal whenever the chart needs to remain crisp at any display size - for websites, printed posters, or anywhere it might be scaled up later.

Is my data safe?+

Yes - everything runs in your browser. No data is uploaded to any server, and nothing is stored on our end. You can safely paste in confidential or sensitive information.

Explore More Chart Tools

A distributed treemap is the most visually engaging way to compare independent categories using proportional tiles. The automatic color assignment means you get a polished result without any manual styling work. Enter your data, adjust the layout if needed, and export a chart that is ready for any report, dashboard, or presentation - all running privately in your browser.