Excel Charts: Explore our guide on mastering pie charts. Learn to create, customize, and use pie charts professionally for clear data insights.
by Mihir Kamdar / Last Updated:
This comprehensive guide on mastering Excel bar charts. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to:
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Excel pie charts are powerful tools for visualizing and comparing parts of a whole. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the various aspects of creating and customizing Excel pie charts, empowering you to create compelling and professional-looking visualizations that drive understanding and decision-making.
Before diving into creating pie charts, let’s first understand what they are and when they should be used.
A pie chart is a circular graph that displays data as slices of a pie, with each slice representing a category or segment of the whole pie. The size of each slice is proportional to the value it represents, making it easy to compare the relative sizes of the categories.
Pie charts are particularly useful when you want to:
Pie charts are most effective when:
However, pie charts may not be the best choice when:
Now that you understand the basics of pie charts, let’s walk through the process of a pie chart icon creating one in Excel.
1. Open a new Excel workbook and enter your data in a tabular format, with categories in the first column and values in the second column.
2. Select the data range, including the column headers (A1:B6 in this example).
1. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon.
2. In the Charts group, click on the Pie Chart button.
3. Choose the desired pie chart type from the dropdown menu. For this example, let’s select the 2-D Pie chart.
Excel will create a pie chart based on format data series your selected data range and place it on the same worksheet.
1. Click on the chart and select the “+” button on the right side of the chart. which includes options for adding or removing chart elements like the title, legend, and data labels.
2. Still on the Design tab, you can select a color scheme for your chart from the Change Colors dropdown.
3. To fine-tune individual chart elements, click on the element you want to modify (e.g., the chart title), and use the options on the Format tab to customize its appearance, such as font, size, color, and position.
By customizing the format chart area these elements, you can create a pie chart that effectively communicates your data and aligns with your branding or presentation style.
Excel offers several types of pie charts to suit different data and visualization needs.
A basic pie chart is the most common type of pie chart, displaying categories as pie slices out of a circular pie.
To create a basic pie chart:
1. Select your data range, including the category and value headers.
2. Go to the Insert tab and click on the Pie Chart button.
3. Choose the first option, the basic 2-D Pie chart.
Customize the slice chart colors and labels as needed using the Chart Tools tabs on the ribbon.
A doughnut chart is similar to a pie chart but has a hole in the center, making it easier to see the individual slices.
To create a doughnut chart:
1. Select your data range, including the category and value headers.
2. Go to the Insert tab and click on the Pie Chart button.
3. Choose the Doughnut chart option.
You can display multiple data series in a pie or doughnut chart by including additional columns of data in your selected range.
A bar of pie chart combines a pie chart with a stacked bar chart, allowing you to show the relationship between the whole and its parts in two different ways.
To create a bar of pie chart:
1. Select your data range, including the category and value headers.
2. Go to the Insert tab and click on the Pie Chart button.
3. Choose the Bar of Pie chart option.
Excel will create a chart only one data series with a pie showing the whole and a stacked bar chart displaying the individual categories.
A three-dimensional (3-D) pie chart adds depth and visual interest to your data, making your chart more engaging.
To create a 3-D pie chart:
1. Select your data range, including the category and value headers.
2. Go to the Insert tab and click on the Pie Chart button.
3. Choose one of the 3-D Pie chart options.
Use the Chart Tools Format tab to adjust the 3-D rotation and elevation settings for your chart.
Take your pie chart to the next level with these customization techniques.
1.Click on the chart and select the “+” button on the right side of the chart.
2. Hover over Chart Title and select the desired title position (Above Chart, Centered Overlay, or None).
1. Select your chart and navigate to the Chart Tools Design tab.
2. In the Chart Styles group, click on the More button to expand the style options.
3. Hover over each style to preview how it would look on your chart.
4. Click on the desired style to apply it to your chart.
You can further customize individual chart elements using the Format tab or the Format pane (right-click on an element and choose Format).
1. Right-click on any slice in your pie chart and select Add Data Labels from the context menu.
2. Choose the desired label options (Category Name, Value, Percentage, or a combination) from the Label Options dropdown on the Format tab.
3. Use the Label Position dropdown to select the preferred placement for your labels (Inside End, Outside End, or Center).
4. Customize the label font, size, color, and formatting using the options on the Format tab or the Format Data Labels pane.
To connect labels to their corresponding slices with leader lines, select a label, go to the Format tab, and click on the Data Label dropdown. Choose More Data Label Options and select the Leader Lines checkbox in the Format Data Labels pane.
Explore advanced features and formatting options to create more impactful pie charts.
1. Select your pie chart to access the Chart Tools tabs on the ribbon.
2. Use the Design tab to apply predefined chart layouts, color schemes, and styles.
3. Click on individual chart elements and use the Format tab to fine-tune their appearance, including fill colors, outlines, effects, and sizes.
1. Select your chart and go to the Chart Tools Design tab.
2. Click on the Change Chart Type button in the Type group.
3. In the Change Chart Type dialog box, explore the various 2-D and 3-D pie chart options.
4. Select a chart type and click OK to apply it to your chart.
1. Select your chart and click on the Chart Elements button (the plus sign) on the right side of the chart.
2. In the Chart Elements menu, check or uncheck the boxes next to the elements you want to add or remove, such as the legend, data labels, or data table.
3. Click on the arrow next to each element to access additional formatting options.
4. Use the Chart Tools Format tab or the Format pane to customize the appearance of each element.
To create compelling and impactful pie charts, follow these best practices for data visualization.
1. Use a pie chart when you want to compare parts of a whole, and the categories are few (ideally 5-7 or fewer).
2. Consider using a bar chart or a table when you have a larger number of categories or need to compare precise values.
3. Choose a doughnut chart to draw attention to the individual slices or to display multiple data series.
4. Use a 3-D pie chart sparingly, as it can make the data harder to interpret accurately.
1. Display the percentage or value for each slice to provide context and make the data easier to understand.
2. Format the data labels consistently, using the same font, size, and color.
3. Position the labels inside or outside the slices, depending on the size of the slices and the length of the category names.
1. Limit the number of slices in your pie chart to ensure clarity and readability.
2. Combine smaller categories into an “Other” slice if they represent a small percentage of the whole.
3. Use data labels strategically to avoid cluttering the chart – consider showing only the category name or percentage.
To create a pie chart in Excel, follow these steps:
To plot a pie chart in Excel, use the following steps:
To create a percentage pie chart in Excel:
To organize data for a pie chart in Excel:
Data for a pie chart should be arranged in the following manner:
To create and edit a pie chart in Excel:
To modify a created pie chart in Excel:
Yes, you can rearrange the slices in a pie chart in Excel using the following methods:
To update the data in a pie chart in Excel:
Mastering Excel pie charts is essential for creating compelling and informative data visualizations that drive understanding and decision-making. By understanding the different types of pie charts, following best practices for data visualization, and leveraging advanced features, you’ll be well-equipped to create charts that effectively communicate your insights and drive results.
You’ve learned how to:
You can create powerful and engaging data visualizations by continually practicing and refining your Excel pie chart design skills.
