There are may different ways to create a hex map in Tableau. The hex map helps visualize state geographic data at the same size which helps to overcome discrepancies that make smaller states harder to interpret. Also, larger states (e.g. Alaska) can overwhelm a traditional map with their size.

I’ve found that the quickest and easiest way to build a hex map is to leverage a pre-built shape file. Shape files can be found at various open data sources like census.gov or data.gov.

In this video I will use a shape file created by Tableau Zen Master Joshua Milligan who runs the blog vizpainter.com. He has a blog post where you can download the shape file I reference. Hats off to Joshua for creating and sharing this great shape file!