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3D Globe Maker

Plot points by latitude and longitude on a globe you can drag and zoom, with optional country shading and a timeline. Upload a spreadsheet and publish it free.

Create a 3D Globe (free)See the gallery

What is a 3D Globe?

A 3D globe chart puts data points on a sphere instead of a flat map, so the reader can turn the planet and see where things happen in relation to each other. Each row of your data is a point with a latitude and a longitude. Points can be sized by a number, coloured by a category or a value, and revealed over time with a timeline. Countries can also be shaded by a second value, so one globe can show both places and totals. It is drawn as vector graphics, so it stays sharp when you export it as an image.

When to use a 3D Globe

  • Your data is spread across the world

    Events in several continents read well on a globe, because nothing is stretched toward the poles.

  • You want readers to explore

    Dragging and zooming invite people to look around, which suits an article or a landing page.

  • Time is part of the story

    A timeline reveals points as it moves, so you can show where something happened and when.

  • You have one row per place

    Earthquakes, offices, launches and sightings all fit a table with a latitude and a longitude.

When not to use a 3D Globe

  • Your data is in one region

    A globe wastes most of its surface. A flat marker map or choropleth zooms in closer.

  • Readers must compare exact values

    Half the globe is always hidden, so a bar chart is better for precise comparison.

  • The output is a printed page

    A single static view shows only one side of the planet. Use a flat map for print.

  • You only have place names

    Points need coordinates. Add a latitude and longitude column first.

How to make a 3D Globe

From a spreadsheet to a published chart, step by step.

  1. 01Open the 3D Globe template
  2. 02Add your points
  3. 03Bind size, colour and time
  4. 04Style the globe
  5. 05Shade countries
  6. 06Set the view and publish
Read the full 3D Globe guide

The parts of a 3D Globe

Globe
The sphere that carries the land and the points.
Points
One circle for each row, placed by latitude and longitude.
Legend
Shows what each point colour stands for. Click a category to filter.
Country shading
An optional fill that colours each country by a value.
Timeline
A slider under the globe that reveals points as it moves.
Tooltip
The popup that lists a point's name and details when you hover or click.

Common 3D Globe mistakes

Swapping latitude and longitude

Latitude runs from -90 to 90 and longitude from -180 to 180. Swapped columns put points in the wrong place or out of range.

Plotting hidden points

Points on the far side fade out. Check the starting view so the important ones face the reader.

Using too many colours

Five or six categories are the limit before the legend becomes hard to read.

Sizing points too large

Big circles pile up in dense areas and hide each other. Lower the size range.

3D Globe: common questions

A chart that plots data points on a rotating sphere, placed by latitude and longitude.

Make your 3D Globe now

Free to start with 300+ templates. No credit card required.

Create a 3D Globe (free)All chart types