Make a heat map from locations
Turn thousands of points into a glowing density map in seconds. Use your own spreadsheet or a ready-made layer, then tune the radius, intensity and colour ramp.
How to create a heat map
- Bring in some points. Import a CSV, GeoJSON, KML or GPX file, or add a built-in layer such as restaurants, bus stops or EV charging stations for a country.
- Switch the layer to heatmap. In the layer's style panel choose Heatmap instead of markers.
- Tune the radius. A small radius shows street-level hot spots; a large radius shows regional patterns.
- Set intensity and weight. Raise intensity for sparse data. To weight by a number (sales, population, visits), pick that column as the weight.
- Choose a colour ramp. Pick from classic thermal, viridis, ocean, magma or a custom two-colour blend, and set the opacity.
- Share it. Copy a link, or embed it on your site. Heat maps automatically fade into individual points as you zoom in.
When a heat map is the right choice
- Too many points to read – 5,000 pins are noise; a heat map shows where they concentrate.
- Finding gaps – where are there no chargers, pharmacies or schools? Cold spots are as useful as hot ones.
- Demand and activity – customer orders, enquiries, incidents, sightings or deliveries.
- Site selection – overlay a competitor heat map with your own locations.
If you want to compare areas (states, counties, postcodes) rather than show raw density, a colour-coded region map is usually clearer – try the color map maker.
Heat map settings explained
| Setting | What it does | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Radius | How far each point's glow spreads, in screen pixels | 20–30 |
| Intensity | Multiplies the glow; higher for sparse data | 1 |
| Weight | Optional numeric column that makes some points count more | None |
| Opacity | How much of the basemap shows through | 0.8 |
Design tips
- Use a dark or light grey basemap (Dark Matter or Positron) so the colours pop.
- Keep labels on top of the heat so place names stay readable.
- Preview on mobile before you share – a radius that looks right on a desktop may be too strong on a small screen.
Related
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a heat map from Excel data?
Yes. Include latitude and longitude columns, save as CSV or copy and paste the cells, then switch the layer to heatmap.
Can a heat map be weighted by a value?
Yes. Pick any numeric column as the weight and points with higher values glow more strongly.
Is the heat map maker free?
Yes – making, styling, sharing and embedding heat maps is free. You can use up to two built-in data layers per map at no cost.
Can I export the heat map as an image?
PNG and PDF export are unlocked with any data layer purchase, along with all the other export formats.
What is the difference between a heat map and a choropleth?
A heat map shows the density of individual points as a smooth surface. A choropleth colours whole areas, such as states or postcodes, by a value. Use a heat map for "where are things?" and a choropleth for "how do areas compare?".
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