Harvey Balls in PowerPoint: How to Add and Customize Them

Vendor comparison matrices live or die by scannability. When a procurement team reviews 8 vendors across 12 criteria, they cannot parse 96 text cells quickly. Harvey balls solve this by converting qualitative assessments into visual patterns. A column of mostly filled circles signals strength. A column of empty circles signals weakness. The evaluation becomes visible at a glance.

We have built Harvey ball matrices for software evaluations, M&A target screenings, and capability assessments across 45+ projects. The implementation challenge is consistency: when one analyst scores "75% filled" differently than another, the visual comparison breaks down. We now use explicit scoring rubrics that define what each fill level means for each criterion, eliminating the subjective drift that undermines comparison matrices.

This guide covers the three methods for adding Harvey balls to PowerPoint, the scoring consistency problems most teams encounter, and when checkmarks or numeric scales would serve you better.

What Are Harvey Balls?#

Harvey balls are circular symbols divided into segments to represent qualitative data at a glance—visual shorthand for "how much" or "how well" without exact numbers.

The standard Harvey ball uses a five-point scale:

Common use cases: vendor comparisons, capability maturity assessments, feature matrices, skill evaluations, and competitive analysis.

Harvey balls work best when comparing multiple items across multiple criteria. For single comparisons or precise quantitative data, use text or exact numbers instead.

How to Create Harvey Balls in PowerPoint#

PowerPoint doesn't include native Harvey balls, so you have three options: manual shapes, Unicode characters, or add-ins.

Method 1: Unicode Characters (Fastest)#

Copy and paste these directly into PowerPoint:

○ ◔ ◑ ◕ ●

Or insert via Unicode codes:

Limitations: Size depends on font size, appearance varies by font, can't customize colors easily.

Method 2: Manual Shapes (Most Control)#

1. Create the base circle: Insert > Shapes > Oval (hold Shift for perfect circle). Set size to 0.2"-0.3", remove fill, set outline to black 1pt.

2. Create the fill segment: Insert > Shapes > Pie. Adjust yellow handles for desired fill level (90° = quarter, 180° = half, 270° = three-quarters).

3. Combine: Position pie inside circle, select both, Format > Align > Center + Middle, then Group (Ctrl+G).

4. Create all five variations and save to a template slide for reuse.

Pro tip: Create a horizontal row with all five balls as your legend and copy source.

Method 3: Add-ins (Best for Scale)#

If you build capability matrices regularly, add-ins provide the best workflow.

Deckary's icon library includes Harvey ball sets alongside 600+ business icons. Insert with consistent sizing and adjust colors to match your brand. $49-119/year with Mac + Windows support.

Think-cell ($299/year) includes Harvey balls as part of its charting toolkit.

Comparison of Methods#

Our recommendation: Start with Unicode for quick work. Use add-ins like Deckary if you build comparison matrices regularly.

Best Practices#

Always Include a Legend#

Never assume your audience knows what Harvey balls mean:

Keep Sizing Consistent#

Every Harvey ball in your matrix should be identical in size. Recommended: 0.2"-0.3" diameter for standard matrices.

Define Scoring Criteria Upfront#

Before filling in Harvey balls, document what each level means for each criterion:

• ● = Native integrations with top 5 platforms
• ◕ = Native integrations with 3-4 platforms
• ◑ = Native integration with 1-2, APIs for others
• ◔ = API-only integrations
• ○ = No integration capability

This prevents debates about whether something should be "half" or "three-quarters."

Limit Matrix Size#

For scannability: maximum 8-10 rows, 10-12 columns. If you need more, split into multiple matrices or group related criteria under headers.

Example: Vendor Selection Matrix#

Structure:

• Rows: Vendor names (5-8 vendors)
• Columns: Selection criteria grouped by category
• Column groups: Functionality, Integration, Vendor Stability, Commercial Terms

Add a weighted score row at the bottom if certain criteria matter more than others.

Summary#

Harvey balls transform dense evaluation data into instantly scannable matrices.

Key takeaways:

1. Three creation methods: Unicode (fastest), manual shapes (most control), add-ins (best for scale)
2. Always include a legend — never assume your audience knows the fill levels
3. Define scoring criteria upfront — document what each level means
4. Keep it consistent — same size, same scoring, same legend
5. Limit matrix size — 8-10 rows, 10-12 columns maximum

For consultants building comparison matrices regularly, Deckary offers Harvey ball icons alongside charts and productivity shortcuts at $49-119/year.