How to Make a Pie Chart in Excel (5 Suitable Examples)

If you are looking for ways to make a Pie Chart in Excel, then this article will be helpful for you. The focus of this article is to demonstrate how to make a Pie Chart in excel.

A Pie Chart is made of slices that form a circularly shaped graph to represent numerical data of an analysis. Pie charts are difficult to draw as they present the relative value of some particular data as a value or as a percentage in a circular graph. With the help of Excel, the graphical analysis of pie charts has become popular and easier. You also can follow the video tutorial to make pie chart in Excel.

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5 Simple Ways to Make a Pie Chart in Excel

The first condition of making a Pie Chart in Excel is to make a table of data. To explain this article, I have taken the following dataset. This dataset contains the Course Name and Average Number of Present Students in 6 Months. I will make a Pie Chart using this dataset.

1. Using Charts Group to Make a Pie Chart in Excel

For this method, I will use the Charts group to make a Pie Chart in Excel. Let’s see how it is done step by step.

Step-01: Inserting Pie Chart

In this step, I will show you how you can insert the Pie Chart.

• Firstly, select the data range with which you want to make the Pie Chart. Here, I selected cell range B4:D11.
• Secondly, go to the Insert tab.
• Thirdly, select Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart from the Charts group.

After that, a drop-down menu will appear.

• Then, select the type of Pie Chart you want. Here, I selected Pie from 2-D Pie.

Finally, you will see that a Pie Chart with your selected data has been inserted into the Excel Sheet.

Step-02: Adding Legend and Data Labels to Pie Chart

Now, I will explain how you can add Legend and Data Labels to your Pie Chart. To begin with, I will add the Legend.

• Firstly, select the Pie Chart.
• Secondly, select Chart Elements.
• Thirdly, select Legend.

After that, you will see that you have added Legend to your chart.

Now, I will format the Legend.

• Firstly, Right-click on the Legends.
• Secondly, select Format Legend.

After that, the Format Legend task pane will appear on the right side of the screen.

• Now, select the Legend Position you want for your chart. Here, I selected Bottom.

Here, you will see that the Legends are shown at the bottom of the chart.

Now, I will add the Data Label to the Pie Chart in Excel.

• Firstly, select the Pie Chart.
• Secondly, select Chart Elements.
• Thirdly, check the Data Labels.

After that, you will see that you have added the Data Labels to your Pie Chart.

Step-03: Formatting Pie Chart in Excel

In this 3rd step, I will explain how you can format your Pie Chart in Excel.

• Firstly, select the Pie Chart.
• Secondly, select Chart Styles.
• Thirdly, select the Style tab.
• After that, select the Chat Style you want for your chart. Here, I selected Style 7.

Finally, you can see that I have changed the Chart Style to my desired style.

Now, I will change the color of the Pie Chart.

• Firstly, select the Pie Chart.
• Secondly, select Chart Styles.
• Thirdly, select the Color tab.
• After that, select the Color Palette you want for your chart. Here, I selected Colorful Palette 4.

In the following picture, you can see how my Pie Chart looks after formatting it.

Read More: How to Edit Pie Chart in Excel (All Possible Modifications)

Step-04: Adding Percentage to Pie Chart

Here, I will explain how you can add Percentage to your Pie Chart.

• Firstly, Right-click on the Pie Chart.
• Secondly, select Format Data Labels.

After that, the Format Data Labels task pane will appear on the right side of the screen.

• Next, select the Label Options tab.
• Then, select Percentage.

Now, you will see that Percentage is added to your Pie Chart.

Here, I will format the Data Labels to give them more clear look.

• Firstly, Right-click on the Pie Chart.
• Secondly, select Format Data Labels.

Now, the Format Data Labels task Pane will appear on the right side of the screen.

• Firstly, select Text Options.
• Secondly, select the Text Fill and Outline tab.
• Thirdly, select the drop-down option for Color.
• After that, select the color you want for your text. Here, I selected White color.

• Next, select the Text Effects tab.
• Then, select the drop-down option for Presets.

• After that, select the Glow Variation you want. Here, I selected the marked Glow Variation.

In the following picture, you can see that the Data Labels are looking more clear than before.

Read More: How to Show Percentage in Excel Pie Chart (3 Ways)

Step-05: Filtering Pie Chart

In this step, I will show you how you can Filter your Pie Chart.

• Firstly, select the Pie Chart.
• Secondly, select Chart Filters.
• Thirdly, select the Value tab.
• After that, select the fields you want to show in your Pie Chart. Here, I selected the first 3 months.
• Finally, select Apply.

Now, you will see that you have Filtered your pie chart as you wanted.

Step-06:  Exploding Pie Chart in Excel

Here, I will explain how you can Explode a Pie Chart in Excel.

• Firstly, Right-click on the Pie Chart.
• Secondly, select Format Data Series.

After that, the Format Data Series task pane will appear on the right side of the screen.

• Now, increase the Pie Explosion according to your preference. Here, I selected 20%.

Now, you will see you have got your desired Exploded Pie Chart.

In the following picture, you can see how my final Pie Chart looks.

Read More: How to Explode Pie Chart in Excel (2 Easy Methods)

2. Employing Quick Analysis Feature to Make a Pie Chart in Excel

In this method, I will explain how to make a Pie Chart in Excel by employing the Quick Analysis feature. Let’s see the steps.

Steps:

• Firstly, select the data range you want to insert in the Pie Chart. Here, I selected cell range B6:D11.
• Secondly, click on the Quick Analysis button.

After that, a drop-down menu will appear.

• Thirdly, select the Charts tab.
• Then, select Pie.

Now, you will see a Pie Chart with your selected data inserted into the Excel sheet.

• After that, change the Chart Title by selecting the marked portion in the following picture. Here, I changed mine to the Average Number of Present Students.

• Next, add Legend and Data Labels by following the procedure from Step-02 of method-1.

• Then, format the Pie Chart by following the procedure from Step-03 of method-1.

• After that, add the Percentage to the Pie Chart by following the procedure from Step-04 of method-1.

Finally, you will get your desired Pie Chart. In the following picture, you can see my final Pie Chart.

You can also Filter the Pie Chart by following Step-05 from method-1 if you want.

3. Inserting Pivot Chart to Make a Pie Chart in Excel with Multiple Data

In this method, I will explain how to use Pivot Chart to make a Pie Chart in Excel with multiple data. I have taken the following dataset to explain this method. It contains the Sales of 2 States in different Departments. Here, I will make a Pie Chart with this dataset.

Let’s see the steps.

Steps:

• Firstly, select the data range for the Pie Chart. Here, I selected B4:D10.
• Secondly, go to the Insert tab.
• Thirdly, select the Pivot Chart.

After that, a dialog box named Create PivotChart will appear. Here, your selected data range will automatically be selected as Table/Range.

• Firstly, select Existing Worksheet.
• Secondly, select the Location where you want your Pivot Chart.
• Thirdly, select OK.

Now, you will see a blank Pivot Table and a blank Pivot Chart has been inserted into your worksheet.

Here, you will see the PivotChart Fields task pane will appear on the right side of the screen. You will have to choose your fields here.

• Firstly, select and drag the fields you want in Axis (Categories) area. Here, I selected Departments and State because I want both of them in my Pivot Chart.
• Secondly, select and drag the field you want in the Values area. Here, I selected Sales.

After that, you will see that your selected data is inserted into the Pivot Chart and the Pivot Table. But the chart is a Column Chart. Now, I will change the chart to a Pie Chart.

• Firstly, Right-click on the Pie Chart.
• Secondly, select Change Chart Type.

Here, the Change Chart Type dialog box will appear.

• Firstly, select Pie from All Charts.
• Secondly, select the type of Pie Chart you want. Here, I selected Pie.
• Thirdly, select OK.

Now, you will see the Pivot Chart has changed to a Pie Chart.

• After that, add Data Labels by following Step-02 of method-1.

• Then, format the Pie Chart by following the procedure from Step-03 of method-01.

• Next, you can also add a percentage to the Pie Chart by following Step-04 of method-1.

In the following picture, you can see my final Pie Chart.

Now, you can also change the fields of the Pie Chart at this point.

• Firstly, select the Pie Chart.

• Secondly, select the PivotChart Fields button.

Now, the PivotChart Fields task pane will appear.

• Thirdly, uncheck the field you do not wish to see in your Pie Chart. Here, I unchecked State because I want to see the Sales in each Department.

In the following picture, you can see that I have got my desired Pie Chart. Here, I kept it this way. But you can also Explode it by following Step-06 from Method-01.

4. Making a Pie Chart with Subcategories

In this section, I will show you how you can make a Pie Chart with subcategories in Excel. There are two different ways of doing it. One is by using the Pie of Pie Chart and another is by using the Bar of Pie Chart. Here, I have taken the following dataset to explain this section. It contains names of some Indoor Games and Votes for them. I will make a Pie Chart with subcategories with this dataset in 2 different ways.

4.1. Using Pie of Pie Chart to Create a Pie Chart with Subcategories

In this method, I will use the Pie of Pie chart to create a Pie Chart with subcategories. Here, one slice of the Pie Chart is shown in a Secondary Pie Chart. Let me show you the steps.

Step-01: Inserting Pie Chart with Subcategories

In this step, I will insert the Pie Chart with Subcategories.

• Firstly, select the data range you want to display on your Pie Chart. Here, I selected cell range B4:C9.
• Secondly, go to the Insert tab.
• Thirdly, select Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart.
• After that select Pie of Pie.

Now, you will see that you have inserted a Pie Chart with subcategories. Here, the Votes for Darts and Card Games are shown in a Secondary Pie Chart.

• After that, add Data Labels by following Step-02 of method-1.
• Next, format the Pie Chart by following Step-03 from method-1.
• Then, add the Percentage to the Pie Chart by following Step-04 from method-1.

In the following picture, you can see my final Pie Chart with subcategories after these steps.

You can also filter this Pie Chart if you want by following Step-05 of method-1.

Step-02: Changing Data Categories for Secondary Chart (Percentage Value)

When you insert a Pie Chart with subcategories the data categories for the Secondary Chart are selected automatically. But you can change it according to your preference. Here, I will explain how you can do it.

• Firstly, Right-click on the Pie Chart.
• Secondly, select Format Data Series.

After that, the Format Data Series task pane will appear on the right side of the screen.

• Firstly, select the drop-down option for Split Series By.
• Secondly, select the option you want. Here, I selected Percentage value.

• Thirdly, write a value for Values less than. Here, I wrote 20%. That means the values that are less than 20% will be displayed on the Secondary Pie Chart.

In the following picture, you can see my final Pie Chart with subcategories and the values that are less than 20% are displayed on the Secondary Pie Chart.

4.2. Use of Bar of Pie Chart to Create a Pie Chart with Subcategories

In this method, I will explain how you can create a Pie Chart with subcategories by using the Bar of Pie chart. In this type of chart one slice of a Pie Chart is displayed on a Stacked Bar Chart. Let’s see how you can make this chart.

Step-01: Inserting Bar of Pie Chart with Subcategories

Here, I will show you how you can insert a Bar of Pie Chart.

• Firstly, select the data range you want to display on your Pie Chart. Here, I selected cell range B4:C9.
• Secondly, go to the Insert tab.
• Thirdly, select Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart.
• After that select Bar of Pie.

Now, you will see that you have inserted a Pie Chart in Excel with subcategories.

• Next, add Data Labels by following Step-02 of method-1.
• After that, format the Pie Chart by following Step-03 from method-1.
• Then, add the Percentage to the Pie Chart by following Step-04 from method-1.

In the following picture, you can see my final Bar of Pie Chart with subcategories after these steps.

Step-02: Changing Data Categories for Secondary Chart (Custom)

In this step, I will explain how you can change data categories for the Secondary Chart.

• Firstly, Right-click on the Pie Chart.
• Secondly, select Format Data Series.

After that, the Format Data Series task pane will appear on the right side of the screen.

• Firstly, select the drop-down option for Split Series By.
• Secondly, select the option you want. Here, I selected Custom.

This option will let me customize the fields.

• Firstly, select the field you want to move to. Here, I selected Carrom because I want to move it to the Secondary Chart.

Now, in the Format Data Point task pane you will see that the selected Point Belongs to the First Plot.

Here, I will shift this point to the Second Plot.

• Firstly, select the drop-down option for Point Belongs to.
• Secondly, select Second Plot from the drop-down menu.

Finally, you will see that your selected data category is moved to the Secondary Chart.

Read More: How to Make Pie Chart in Excel with Subcategories (2 Quick Methods)

5. Creating a Pie Chart in Excel with Only Words

Here, I will explain how you can make a Pie Chart in Excel with only words. For example, I have taken the following dataset. It contains the Name of 10 students and the Subject they have taken. I will show you how you can make a Pie Chart with this type of data.

Let’s see the steps.

Steps:

• Firstly, make a table to count the number of students who have taken a particular subject.

• Secondly, select the cell where you want to calculate the number of students who have taken a particular subject. Here, I selected cell F5.
• Thirdly, in cell F5 write the following formula.

Here, in the COUNTIF function, I selected C5:C14 as the range and E5 as the criteria. Now, the COUNTIF function will count the values in the selected range that match the criteria and return the number as result.

• Finally, press ENTER to get the result.

• Now, drag the Fill Handle to copy the formula.

Here, you can see that I have copied the formula and got the number of students for every subject.

Now, I will insert a Pie Chart for this table.

• Firstly, select the data range. Here, I selected cell range E4:F7.
• Secondly, go to the Insert tab.
• Thirdly, select Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart.
• After that, select the type of Pie Chart you want. Here, I selected 3-D Pie.

Now, you will see that you have inserted a Pie Chart for your dataset.

• Then, add Data Labels by following Step-02 of method-1.
• After that, format the Pie Chart by following Step-03 from method-1.
• Next, add Percentage to the Pie Chart by following Step-04 from method-1.

In the following picture, you can see how my final Pie Chart looks after these steps.

Read More: How to Format a Pie Chart in Excel

How to Make a Pie Chart in Excel with One Column of Data

In this section, I will explain how to make a Pie Chart with one column of data in Excel. For example, I have taken the following dataset. It contains the Sales in Week-1 of September 2022. This dataset has this one column only. Now, I will make a Pie Chart with this dataset.

Let’s see the steps.

Steps:

• Firstly, select the data range for your Pie Chart. Here, I selected cell B4:B11.
• Secondly, go to the Insert tab.
• Thirdly, select Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart.
• After that, select the type of Pie Chart you want. Here, I selected Pie from 2-D Pie.

Here, you will see a Pie Chart has been inserted for your selected data.

• Next, add Data Labels by following Step-02 of method-1.
• After that, format the Pie Chart by following Step-03 from method-1.
• Then, add the Percentage to the Pie Chart by following Step-04 from method-1.

Now, you can see how my final Pie Chart with one column of data looks after these steps.

Practice Section

Here, I provided a practice sheet for you to practice how to make a Pie Chart in Excel.

Conclusion

To conclude, I tried to cover how to make a Pie Chart in Excel in this article. I hope after reading this article you will not face any difficulties with the pie chart. This article covers all the necessary things regarding Excel Pie Chart. Stay tuned with ExcelDemy for more useful articles.

Let me know what problems you face with Excel Pie Chart. If that specific topic is not covered in this article, I will update it. Your comments, feedback, and appreciation are our most valuable assets.

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