Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Creating Venn Diagrams with Excel Data.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 14, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Stuart wonders if there is a way to create Venn diagrams in Excel. He couldn't find it as a charting option in the program, but wondered if there was a possible workaround so that the Venn diagram works directly off data within a worksheet.
A Venn diagram is a type of chart that is often used in set theory—it shows different sets of data and how they relate to each other through intersecting portions of circles. A quick check in the types of charts that Excel can create shows Stuart is correct—there is no choice for creating a Venn diagram.
You can, however, approximate a Venn diagram using the tools that Excel provides. If you aren't too interested in accuracy, you can use the drawing tools in the program to draw circles, size and format them the way you want, and then overlap them as appropriate. You can then add text to the drawing to label the different parts of the diagram.
A more accurate representation can be gained by using a bubble chart (one of the chart types that Excel does provide) to graph the areas. All you need to do is calculate the data points that represent the center of each circle and that circle's size. For instance, you might end up with something like this for three circles in the diagram:
| X-axis | Y-axis | Size | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.00 | 7.00 | 90 | ||
| 6.45 | 5.50 | 120 | ||
| 5.00 | 5.00 | 77 |
How you get your data into a format that is appropriate for a bubble chart depends (of course) on the characteristics of your data.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10843) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Creating Venn Diagrams with Excel Data.
Best-Selling VBA Tutorial for Beginners Take your Excel knowledge to the next level. With a little background in VBA programming, you can go well beyond basic spreadsheets and functions. Use macros to reduce errors, save time, and integrate with other Microsoft applications. Fully updated for the latest version of Office 365. Check out Microsoft 365 Excel VBA Programming For Dummies today!
Got some images that you want to appear in a worksheet based on the result displayed in a cell? Figuring out how to ...
Discover MoreExcel makes it easy to place a graphic in a worksheet. Once there, you may want to chop off a side (or two) of the ...
Discover MoreGraphics can be easily resized once they are placed in a worksheet. Here's how you can make sure that the relationship ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Comments