How to Make Pie Chart in Excel

In this articles, you will learn about Pie Chart, Types and steps to make pie chart in Microsoft Excel.

Pie Chart

The “pie chart” or “circle chart”, divides the circular statistical graphic into sectors or slices in order to illustrate the numerical problems. Each sector denotes a proportionate part of the whole. In a pie chart, the arc length of each slice (and consequently its central angle and area), is proportional to the quantity it represents.

In Microsoft Excel, There are 3 types of Pie - Chart:

• 2D Pie

1. Pie

2. Pie of Pie

3. Bar of Pie

• 3D Pie

• Doughnut

Steps to Make Pie Chart

Step 1:

Lets first create a small Excel Data to create Pie chart. Below is the image of the data .

For Example, I made the data of the Animals in Jim Corbet National park (Elephants, Tiger and Deer).

Step 2:

Select the Data.

Step 3:

Then INSERT -> PIE CHART. You will get the Pie chart options in CHARTS.

Step 4:

Select any of the options from the pie chart. After clicking on any of the option, you will get you results.

Types of Pie Chart

1. 2D Pie

The 2 Dimensional Pie Chart is used to show the proportions of the whole data. This type of chart is used when the number is equal to 100%. The 2D pie chart contains few pie slices, too many slices can make the angles hard to read or estimate.

In 2D Pie chart is divided in to further two parts:

• Pie of Pie: This Pie of Pie chart will take some values from the first pie and will combine them with the second pie to make it a smaller percentage. This make the value more readable and clear and the percentage is displayed in the second pie.

• Bar of Pie: This Bar of Pie is as same as Pie of Pie. The Only difference in bar of pie is that the second displayed pie is in the Bar shape.

2. 3D Pie:

This 3 Dimensional pie chart is in the 3D shape. This is only used to give the chart a 3D look. This Type of pie chart is used to aesthetic reasons, the 3D does not improve the reading of the data.

,

3. Doughnut Pie:

We should use it instead of the pie chart when there are multiple series that relates to the larger sum. Doughnut Charts are more space-efficient than Pie Charts because the blank space inside a Doughnut Chart can be used to display information inside it.

Styling Pie Chart:

After creating the particular pie chart. Follow the Below steps:

When you will select the Pie chart, you will get 3 options to make you chart more presentable and easily understandable:

1. Chart Elements

2. Chart Style

3. Chart Filter

1. Chart Elements:

This is used to Add, remove or change the chart elements like Title, Legend and Data Labels .

Title: You can change the Displayed position of the Title.

Legend: Legends are the small description of the data which is displayed at the side of the pie chart. you can change the position of legends according to you preference.

Data Label: This is used to label the pie chart which make it easier to read and understand. You can change the Style, Shape and labelling position of the data.

2. Chart Style:

This is used to change the style and set the different color theme of you chart.

Select the chart, click on the Second option, displayed on the right side of the chart

3. Chart Filter:

This is used to edit the data names and data points displayed on you chart.

If you will select the Whole Excel Data, then only you will get the options in the series (see above image).

And if you will select the single data, Then there will only one option.

Advantages of Pie Chart :

1. Simple Structure

2. Data values can be inserted or changes according to our needs.

3. Good to use when comparing sets of data.

4. Good accuracy of data

5. Neat presentation of data.

Disadvantages of Pie Chart:

1. Small slice can make it look messy and difficult to read.

2. Hard to determine the length of the slice.

3. Harder to have information at one place.

4. Can give false information.

5. Can have errors in understanding the data.

Sofia Sondh

The Tech Platform

www.thetechplatform.com