How to make a Venn diagram
- Choose two or three circles and name each set, for example "Cats" and "Dogs".
- Type the items for each region, one per line: things only in A, only in B, and in the overlap. With three circles there are seven regions, including the centre shared by all three.
- The diagram updates as you type. Download it as a PNG for worksheets and slides, or as an SVG to edit or print at any size.
Using Venn diagrams
A Venn diagram shows how groups relate: the overlap holds what they share, and each outer part holds what is unique. Named after the logician John Venn, who introduced them in 1880, they are used throughout school, from sorting numbers (multiples of 2 and 3) and shapes in maths, to comparing characters, habitats or historical periods, and in business to compare products and markets. Compare-and-contrast essays often start from a Venn diagram, because it makes similarities and differences easy to see before writing.
Keep items short so they fit; each region shows up to six items, and longer entries are shortened. For probability and set theory, label regions with counts instead of words. Your diagram is drawn in your browser and saved on this device for next time.
What goes in the middle of a Venn diagram?
Things that belong to all the circles that overlap there: the similarities.
Can I make a three-circle Venn diagram?
Yes. Choose 3 circles to get seven regions, including the centre shared by all three.
How do I use it for a compare-and-contrast essay?
Put differences in the outer parts and similarities in the overlap, then write a paragraph for each part.