Venn diagram examples

Worked examples from primary school to the office. Look inside each one, then open it in the maker to edit, recolour and export.

CatsDogs
Primary · 2 sets

Cats vs dogs

A first compare-and-contrast diagram for young learners.

See what’s in each region
  • Cats only: Purr, Climb trees, Use a litter tray
  • Dogs only: Bark, Need daily walks, Fetch
  • Cats + Dogs only: Fur and whiskers, Four legs, Popular pets, Mammals
Plant cellAnimal cell
Biology · 2 sets

Plant cells vs animal cells

The overlap holds the organelles both cell types share.

See what’s in each region
  • Plant cell only: Cell wall, Chloroplasts, Large central vacuole
  • Animal cell only: Centrioles, Lysosomes (common), Small vacuoles
  • Plant cell + Animal cell only: Nucleus, Cell membrane, Cytoplasm, Mitochondria, Ribosomes
MitosisMeiosis
Biology · 2 sets

Mitosis vs meiosis

A favourite exam comparison.

See what’s in each region
  • Mitosis only: One division, 2 daughter cells, Genetically identical, Growth and repair
  • Meiosis only: Two divisions, 4 daughter cells, Half the chromosomes, Makes gametes
  • Mitosis + Meiosis only: Start with DNA replication, Nuclear division, Happen in eukaryotes
SolarWindHydro
Geography · 3 sets

Solar, wind and hydro power

Three renewable sources compared.

See what’s in each region
  • Solar only: Works on rooftops
  • Wind only: Best on coasts and hills
  • Solar + Wind only: Output varies with weather
  • Hydro only: Needs rivers or dams
  • Solar + Hydro only: Covers large areas of land
  • Wind + Hydro only: Uses turbines
  • Solar + Wind + Hydro only: Renewable, No fuel burned, Low carbon
UMultiples of 2Multiples of 3Multiples of 5
Maths · 3 sets

Multiples of 2, 3 and 5 (1–30)

Sorting numbers makes the regions concrete.

See what’s in each region
  • Outside all sets: 1, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29
  • Multiples of 2 only: 2, 4, 8, 14, 16, 22, 26, 28
  • Multiples of 3 only: 3, 9, 21, 27
  • Multiples of 2 + Multiples of 3 only: 6, 12, 18, 24
  • Multiples of 5 only: 5, 25
  • Multiples of 2 + Multiples of 5 only: 10, 20
  • Multiples of 3 + Multiples of 5 only: 15
  • Multiples of 2 + Multiples of 3 + Multiples of 5 only: 30
UAll sides equalAll angles 90°
Maths · 2 sets

Quadrilateral properties

Where a square lives: equal sides and right angles.

See what’s in each region
  • All sides equal only: Rhombus
  • All angles 90° only: Rectangle
  • All sides equal + All angles 90° only: Square
Ancient GreeceAncient Rome
History · 2 sets

Ancient Greece vs Ancient Rome

A history classic.

See what’s in each region
  • Ancient Greece only: City-states, Olympic Games, Athenian democracy
  • Ancient Rome only: Republic, then empire, Roads and aqueducts, Latin
  • Ancient Greece + Ancient Rome only: Polytheism, Mediterranean trade, Influential law and philosophy
FantasyScience fictionMystery
English · 3 sets

Fantasy, sci-fi and mystery

Sorting books by genre traits.

See what’s in each region
  • Fantasy only: Magic, Mythical creatures
  • Science fiction only: Future technology, Space travel
  • Fantasy + Science fiction only: Invented worlds
  • Mystery only: A crime to solve, Clues
  • Fantasy + Mystery only: Quest to uncover a secret
  • Science fiction + Mystery only: Detective in the future
  • Fantasy + Science fiction + Mystery only: Plot twists, A hero with a goal
PythonJavaScriptJava
Computing · 3 sets

Python, JavaScript and Java

Three programming languages compared.

See what’s in each region
  • Python only: Significant whitespace
  • JavaScript only: Runs in every browser
  • Python + JavaScript only: Dynamically typed
  • Java only: Checked types at compile time
  • JavaScript + Java only: C-style braces
  • Python + JavaScript + Java only: Garbage collected, Object-oriented features, Huge ecosystems
CarBikeBusTrain
Everyday · 4 sets

Car, bike, bus and train

A four-set comparison with ellipses.

See what’s in each region
  • Car only: Door to door
  • Bike only: Exercise
  • Bus only: Stops on streets
  • Car + Bus only: Stuck in traffic
  • Train only: Fastest intercity
  • Bus + Train only: Timetable
  • Car + Bike + Bus + Train only: Gets you there

What the examples teach

Multiples of 2, 3 and 5 shows why the centre holds only numbers divisible by all three (30 is the only one up to 30), and why numbers like 7 and 11 sit outside every circle, in the universal set. Quadrilaterals shows a subset relationship: a square is both a rhombus and a rectangle, so it lives in the overlap. The science and history pairs are classic compare-and-contrast diagrams.

To build one from scratch, start with a template or read our compare and contrast guide.

Questions people ask

What is a good example of a Venn diagram?

A simple one is cats vs dogs: purring and climbing go in the cats-only part, barking and fetching in the dogs-only part, and fur, four legs and being mammals in the overlap. Every example on this page opens in the maker so you can edit it.

What is a Venn diagram used for in real life?

Comparing options (products, candidates, holidays), sorting data in maths and statistics, planning essays, showing where skills or markets overlap, and in biology to show which genes appear in several samples.

How do I make my own version of an example?

Press “Open in the maker”. The example loads with all its text, and you can rename sets, change or delete items, switch colours and export.