BeCharts

Charts & graphs

Free online heat map maker

Use this heat map creator to build intensity grids in your browser—enter row, column, and value triples, tune the color scale, and export PNG, SVG, or PDF. A free heatmap generator with no account required.

  • Free heat map maker—no credit card or signup
  • Online heat map generator with editable matrix cells
  • Make heatmaps from category grids or calendar layouts
  • Export PNG, SVG, or PDF for reports and slides
Heat map creator with matrix data table, color scale legend, and export options

Styling

Customizable color scales and cell labels

Adjust visual map min and max, sequential or diverging ramps, cell borders, and label density in the editor sidebar. Keep large grids readable with tuned axis spacing.

Heatmap styling sidebar with color scale, labels, and axis controls

Data

Edit matrix values in a cell table

Update row index, column index, and magnitude per cell in the heatmap data panel. Replace demo triples from any template without rebuilding the grid manually.

Row-column-value table feeding a heatmap with color legend

Output

Export for presentations and reports

Download high-resolution PNG for slides, vector SVG for design tools, or PDF for documents. Color ramps and axis labels carry through to every export format.

Heatmap with PNG, SVG, and PDF export format options

Heatmap layouts

Start from a category grid heatmap or a calendar-style density view, then open any example in the editor.

  • Cartesian category heatmap
    Map values to color across two labeled axes—days versus hours, SKUs versus regions, or any row-column matrix.
    Open category heatmap
  • Calendar heatmap
    Plot daily values on a date grid when the story is intensity over time rather than arbitrary categories.
    Open calendar heatmap

Where intensity grids help

Color matrices reveal patterns across two dimensions at once. These are common workflows teams build in the editor and export for analysis decks.

  • Usage and activity grids
    See when traffic, logins, or support tickets cluster by day and hour—hot cells stand out without scanning raw tables.
  • Correlation matrices
    Color-code coefficients between variables so strong positive or negative pairs pop on a symmetric grid.
  • Product and region performance
    Compare SKUs, stores, or campaigns across weeks with one matrix instead of dozens of mini bar charts.
  • Survey response intensity
    Show answer counts or average scores across question rows and respondent cohort columns.
  • Operations monitoring
    Track error rates, latency bands, or queue depth across service pairs to spot recurring hotspots.
  • Calendar-style daily metrics
    Use the calendar template for commits, sales, or health data when each day is one cell in a month grid.

What you get in the editor

Matrix editing, visual map controls, and export options to move from raw triples to a readable intensity grid quickly.

  • Heatmap templates
    Jumpstart from Cartesian category grids and calendar density examples you can open in one click.
  • Matrix value table
    Edit row index, column index, and value per cell in the heatmap data editor. Changes update colors immediately.
  • Visual map controls
    Set min and max bounds, continuous or piecewise ramps, and legend placement so readers decode color accurately.
  • Axis and label options
    Configure category labels, split areas, and cell label visibility for dense or sparse grids.
  • Spreadsheet import
    Paste or import CSV and Excel data when the heatmap chart type supports table import, then refine cells in the editor.
  • Export and share
    Save PNG, SVG, or PDF files for presentations, documentation, and publication workflows.

Common heat map creator searches

How this tool handles typical requests—from generating a color grid online to building a free heat map for slides or reports.

  • Heat map generator
    Generate a color-coded grid from row-column-value triples in the editor. Import CSV or Excel when supported, adjust the visual map, then download PNG, SVG, or PDF from the toolbar.
  • Heat map creator
    Create a heat map from category axes and numeric cell values. Pick a Cartesian or calendar template, replace sample data in the matrix table, and style labels before export.
  • Heatmap creator
    The same editor supports both "heat map" and "heatmap" workflows. Open a template, edit matrix cells, tune sequential or diverging color ramps, and export when the grid reads clearly.
  • Create heatmap online
    Build the chart entirely in the browser—no install. Paste spreadsheet rows, refine individual cells, and preview color changes live as you edit the matrix table.
  • Free heat map generator
    Templates, the matrix editor, and PNG, SVG, and PDF export cost nothing. No account or credit card is required to generate a color grid and download files.
  • Heatmap generator
    One-word and two-word searches reach the same editor. Open a template, edit matrix cells, tune sequential or diverging ramps, and export when the grid reads clearly.

How to make a heat map online in 4 steps

Four steps to make a heatmap: pick a template, add matrix data, customize, and export
  1. Open the heat map maker or pick a category or calendar template below.
  2. Replace sample row-column-value triples in the matrix table or import spreadsheet data.
  3. Customize the color scale, cell labels, axis titles, and legend until the grid reads clearly.
  4. Export as PNG, SVG, or PDF and add the chart to your slide deck, report, or dashboard mockup.

What is a heat map chart?

A heat map chart maps numeric magnitude to color across a two-dimensional grid—also called an intensity matrix or heatmap. Darker or warmer cells usually mean higher values, which makes clusters, gaps, and diagonal patterns easy to spot in dense tables.

Online heat map creators and generators let you enter row-column-value triples instead of coloring cells by hand. Edit the matrix table, tune the visual map, and export when the intensity story is clear.

These charts work when both dimensions are categories or ordered buckets and the question is where values concentrate—not how one metric changes over continuous time alone. Pair the grid with a labeled color legend so viewers interpret hues correctly.

Labeled heatmap showing row axis, column axis, color legend, and grid cells

Heatmap vs scatter plot vs matrix chart

Use a heatmap when both axes are categorical or ordered buckets and color should show magnitude across the full grid. Scatter plots fit numeric x-y pairs where each observation is a dot, not a filled cell. Matrix templates on BeCharts can overlap with heatmap styling but may emphasize bubble or label variants.

Calendar heatmaps specialize in date grids; category heatmaps fit arbitrary row and column labels. Export PNG, SVG, or PDF when the intensity story is clear.

Heatmap templates

Browse heatmap chart examples, then open any layout in the editor to replace sample matrix values with your own.

Explore BeCharts

Jump to templates, the editor, documentation, and guides for heatmaps and related workflows.

More chart makers

Frequently asked questions

How do I create a heat map?
Click "Create your heat map" or open any template on this page. Enter row, column, and value cells in the matrix table, adjust the color scale and axes, then export PNG, SVG, or PDF from the toolbar.
How do I make a heat map online?
Pick a Cartesian or calendar template, replace the sample triples with your data, tune the visual map legend, and download the finished graphic—everything runs in the browser with no install.
How do I make a heat map?
Follow the four-step guide on this page: open a template, enter row-column-value triples, tune the color scale, then export PNG, SVG, or PDF from the toolbar.
Is this a free heat map generator?
Yes. Templates, the matrix editor, and export to PNG, SVG, and PDF are free. No account or credit card is required.
What is the difference between a heat map generator and a heat map creator?
Search engines treat both phrases similarly—they describe the same chart-building task. BeCharts uses one editor for generating and customizing intensity grids from matrix data.
Can I create a heatmap online from a spreadsheet?
Yes. Heatmap charts support CSV, Excel, paste, and Google Sheets import when enabled. After import, refine individual cells in the matrix editor.
What data format does a heat map need?
Most templates use triples: row index, column index, and value. Category labels come from the x and y axis configuration—you replace numeric values in the data table.
Is this a Google Maps heat map tool?
No. BeCharts builds data visualization heat maps from your matrix values—not geographic map overlays. For map-based density layers, use a mapping platform; for table-driven color grids, use this editor.
Is this a website click heatmap tool?
No. BeCharts builds data visualization heat maps for reports and slides—not session replay or click-tracking overlays on live web pages. For analytics-style website heatmaps, use a dedicated UX analytics product.
What is the difference between a heat map and a calendar chart?
Calendar layouts place one value per date cell on a month grid. Category grids use arbitrary row and column labels. BeCharts includes both—pick the template that matches your structure.
How do I choose colors for a heat map?
Use the visual map panel to set min and max, pick a sequential or diverging ramp, and show a legend. Keep enough contrast between low and high values for accessibility.
Is a heat map the same as a scatter plot?
No. Scatter plots place dots at numeric x-y coordinates. Heat maps fill category cells with color by magnitude. Use scatter when both axes are continuous measurements; use intensity grids for categorical matrices.
What file formats can I export?
PNG and SVG are supported for digital use, and PDF for documents. Exports reflect color scales and axis styles from the editor.

Start your heat map

Open the free heat map generator with a template and replace the sample matrix values with your data.