How to Create a Pie Chart in Microsoft Excel

PDF download Download Article
Display your Excel data in a colorful pie chart with this simple guide
PDF download Download Article

Do you want to create a pie chart in Microsoft Excel? You can make 2-D and 3-D pie charts for your data and customize it using Excel's Chart Elements. This is a great way to organize and display data as a percentage of a whole. This wikiHow will show you how to create a visual representation of your data in Microsoft Excel using a pie chart on your Windows or Mac computer.

Making a Pie Chart in Excel

  • You need to prepare your chart data in Excel before creating a chart.
  • To make a pie chart, select your data. Click Insert and click the Pie chart icon. Select 2-D or 3-D Pie Chart.
  • Customize your pie chart's colors by using the Chart Elements tab. Click the chart to customize displayed data.
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the Data

PDF download Download Article
  1. You can use an existing project or create a new spreadsheet .
  2. To do so, click the B1 cell and then type in the chart's name.
    • For example, if you're making a chart about your budget, the B1 cell should say something like "2022 Budget".
    • You can also type in a clarifying label—e.g., "Budget Allocation"—in the A1 cell.
    Advertisement
  3. You'll place prospective pie chart sections' labels in the A column and those sections' values in the B column.
    • For the budget example above, you might write "Car Expenses" in A2 and then put "$1000" in B2 .
    • The pie chart template will automatically determine percentages for you.
  4. Once you've completed this process, you're ready to create a pie chart using your data.
    5. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Creating a Chart

PDF download Download Article
  1. To do so, click the A1 cell, hold down the Shift key, and then click the bottom value in the B column. This will select all of your data. [1]
    • If your chart uses different column letters, numbers, and so on, simply remember to click the top-left cell in your data group and then click the bottom-right while holding the Shift key.
  2. It's at the top of the Excel window, to the right of the Home tab. [2]
  3. This is a circular button in the "Charts" group of options, which is below and to the right of the Insert tab. You'll see several options appear in a drop-down menu: [3]
    • 2-D Pie : Create a simple pie chart that displays color-coded sections of your data.
    • 3-D Pie : Uses a three-dimensional pie chart that displays color-coded data.
    • Donut : Displays color-coded data with a hole in the center for series of data.
    • You can also click More Pie Charts… to view all available options.
  4. Doing so will create a pie chart with your data applied to it; you should see color-coded tabs at the bottom of the chart that correspond to the colored sections of the chart itself. [4]
    • You can preview options here by hovering your mouse over the different chart templates.
    5. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Formatting Your Pie Chart

PDF download Download Article
  1. This is the tab on the top toolbar, next to Help and Format . You'll be able to change the way your graph looks, including the color schemes used, the text allocation, and whether or not percentages are displayed. [5]
    • If you don't see this tab, you'll need to click on your chart first.
  2. Switch between styles by clicking the previews above Chart Styles . [6]
    • Only one style preset can be applied at a time.
    • You can also click the paintbrush icon next to the chart to find Chart Styles in the Styles tab.
  3. Click the Change Colors icon. This looks like a color palette. A drop-down menu will appear with multiple color themes listed. [7]
    • Click the color scheme you want to apply.
    • You can also click the paintbrush icon next to the chart and click the Color tab to change your chart colors.
  4. Click your chart, then click the + from the side icons. [8]
    • To remove data and percentage labels from your chart, uncheck Data Labels underneath Chart Elements .
    • To remove category or percentage labels separately, click the arrow next to Data Labels , then More Options . Use the right panel to uncheck Percentage or Category name .
  5. With the chart selected, the Format Chart Area will be visible in the right panel. [9]
    • Fill & Line : Customize Fill and Border options.
    • Effects : Add effects such as Shadow, Glow, Soft Edges, and 3-D Format.
    • Size & Properties : Customize the height, width, and scale of your chart.
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I create a pie chart without percentages?
    Community Answer
    You'll have to make percentages. A pie chart by definition is 100%. If your data is not in percent, then Excel will create percentages for you.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 42 Helpful 53
  • Question
    How do I change the color of the pie chart?
    Community Answer
    Once you have the pie chart on the board, there are different shades next to it that says "change color"; click on that.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 16 Helpful 19
  • Question
    What am I doing wrong if I tried this method and the pie chart didn't show up?
    Community Answer
    You might have entered information wrongly and it can't process. Try re-entering your data.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 49 Helpful 39
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • You can copy your chart and paste it into other Microsoft Office products (e.g., Word or PowerPoint).
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • If you want to create charts for multiple sets of data, repeat this process for each set. Once the chart appears, click and drag it away from the center of the Excel document to prevent it from covering up your first chart.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Merge Cells in Microsoft Excel: A Quick Guide
      How to
      Unprotect an Excel Sheet
      How to
      Unhide All Rows and Columns in Microsoft Excel
      How to
      Use If‐Else in Microsoft Excel: Step-by-Step Tutorial
      How to
      Insert Pictures in Excel That Automatically Size to Fit Cells
      How to
      Create a Mortgage Calculator With Microsoft Excel
      How to
      Create a Graph in Excel
      How to
      Show Hidden Columns in Microsoft Excel & Unhide Column A
      How to
      Fix Ethernet Doesn't Have a Valid IP Configuration on Windows
      3 Easy Ways to Freeze Panes to Lock Columns or Rows in Excel
      How to
      Change from Lowercase to Uppercase in Microsoft Excel
      How to
      Make a Spreadsheet in Excel
      New to Excel? Here's Super Easy Tricks to Get You Started
      How to
      Link Sheets in Excel
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/select-data-for-a-chart-5fca57b7-8c52-4e09-979a-631085113862
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-a-pie-chart-1a5f08ae-ba40-46f2-9ed0-ff84873b7863
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-a-pie-chart-1a5f08ae-ba40-46f2-9ed0-ff84873b7863
      4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-a-pie-chart-1a5f08ae-ba40-46f2-9ed0-ff84873b7863
      5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/change-the-layout-or-style-of-a-chart-a346e438-d22a-4540-aa87-bce9feb719cf
      6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/change-the-layout-or-style-of-a-chart-a346e438-d22a-4540-aa87-bce9feb719cf
      7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/change-the-color-or-style-of-a-chart-in-office-f4db3f23-f5a1-4b30-abb3-62e8c2c33d9b
      8. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-or-remove-data-labels-in-a-chart-884bf2f1-2e29-454e-8b42-f467c9f4eb2d
      9. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/format-elements-of-a-chart-b6c787d5-f90a-41d2-a901-9d3ed9f0dbf0

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Excel .
      2. Enter your data.
      3. Select all of your data.
      4. Click the Insert tab.
      5. Click the "Pie Chart" icon.
      6. Click a pie chart template.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,153,022 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement