Skip to content
Step by Step Internet 馃寪 Guides for learning to surf the Net

How to make a pie chart in an Excel spreadsheet? Step by step guide

When working with this type of calculation programs It is very important to know each of your tools and functions, which will allow power make the most of it. In the case of Microsoft program users have the possibility of add a wide variety of elements to your spreadsheets, like charts.

In these work sheets users can insert a wide variety of chart typeswhere you can find what they are pie charts. These elements have become one of most popular to show that part of a total quantity represents each individual quantity, ideal to show annual sales statistics.

And it is that they are characterized by the fact that all of its shape represents 100% of the data to be included and they are going to separate by portions of different colors where each represents a part of the whole. According to this, here we are going to teach you a little more about this tool and how you can start creating themFor this, follow in detail everything that we will teach you in the post below.

What tools can we use to make pie charts in Excel?

To be able to insert these elements in your excel spreadsheet It is very simple, this can be done either using the SmartArt or Shapes tool, with either of them the user will be in the ability to add these statistical elements to your worksheet.

It should be noted that this type of elements graphic aims show the portions of each of the parts with respect to the total, this means that the sum of all those parts will give The 100%. This will allow you to know the percentage of each of the parts of the pie chart.

These elements can be created from the "Insert" and then in the option of "Graphic", This procedure is very simple to carry out, so you should only bear in mind that data you want to take for said statistical calculation, either to know annual, quarterly sales, among others.

SmartArt or Shapes What is the best tool to make pie charts in Excel?

One of the main advantages of using Microsoft Excel is that you will have the possibility of having a great variety of elements that will help you achieve easily desired results. In the case of adding pie charts to your worksheet you can do it through different tools, the most common for them are through the "Shapes" or "SmartArt". However, it should be mentioned that these elements can also be added directly from the "Graphic" and in the item of "Circular".

Since this process will lead you to insert said element directly. But if you are one of the users who wants it to be a little more personalized and in your own way then you can create it through the two tools already mentioned. If you want to know which of the two is better, either because the procedure is simpler or offers better results, it could be said that SmartArt, since this tool offers you different forms of graphics.

In it you can select the one you like best and then make the modifications you want. While in the case of "Shapes" here you can simply create the circle and then add everything else you think necessary, so the procedure in this case is a bit more tedious and long. So, if you measure by performance the tool "SmartArt" result best alternative, since with it you can save time so your work will be more profitable.

Learn step by step how to make your round charts in Microsoft Excel

Keeping in mind the different ways in which you can create these circular elements in Excel, here we are going to teach you how to create them through each of the methods already mentioned above. This will allow you to decide for yourself which of them all is the simplest and the one that offers the best performance.

To do this, follow each of the methods that we will explain below:

With Shapes

The first method that we present to you is to use the "Shapes" as it was mentioned before in the post, this method will force you to create the pie chart yourself right from the start, so the procedure is more tedious and extensive than using other tools for it.

In order to carry out this process it will be necessary to carry out the following steps that we will teach you below:

  • Once you are in your spreadsheet you should go to the tab of "Insert".
  • There you will find different sections, in this case click "Illustrations" in the option of "Shapes".
  • As you can see, a list of all the forms that you have available there appears. In this case what you want create is a pie chart, so it should be choose the shape of a circle.

  • Once selected you must click on spreadsheet so that the figure appears, with the help of the mouse you give the size and the location that you want.

With Shapes

  • Once selected figure, in the ribbon you will find different sections where you can modify the color, the borders, add new lines, points, among many other elements.
  • In the part top left of your screen you will see a rectangle with various options, as is the option of text, lines, among others. Here you can select the line option to give the different partitions you want to the graph.
  • Once added the lines It will be as follows:

With Shapes

  • Now you can add the percentage of each of the fractions you have created, As you can see in this case, six portions are shown, which will be represented as follows:

With Shapes

  • As you can see each of the parts of the graph have a percentage with respect to 100%, in this case each of these parts can mean different aspects according to the data you are using for it.

With SmartArt

The other method that will allow you to do these graphic elements in your excel sheet it's about the tool SmartArt, this method is much simpler than the previous one since here you will not have to start from scratch as if it happened in the previous case.

For this it is necessary that you follow each of the steps that we are going to teach you below:

  • Once you are inside the sheet Excel you must access the tab of "Insert", there select the option "SmartArt" located in the "Illustrations".
  • There a new window will open with everyone graphics models available in said tool, as you want create a pie chart, then you should go to the section of "Cycle".
  • There you will find different models, in this case select the one that is circular, once selected click on "To accept" to be added to your worksheet.

With SmartArt

  • Now the item will appear on the screen as follows:

With SmartArt

  • As you can see at the top you will find different options with which you can modify its appearanceThis will allow you to fully customize it your way.
  • The image that has been added only it has three parts, in the case you want add a new part to her you must select the option of "Add shape" located in the top left of your screen. Once selected the image will no longer be three parts but four, if you want add a new part you must repeat this step.

With SmartArt

  • The next will be add text and percentage to each part of the element. Please note that these added values ​​will depend on the data you're working with, but this should look like this:

With SmartArt

  • In this way you can start create your own graphics in your excel spreadsheets whenever you want, keep in mind that each of the parts can be differentiated with a different color if you want.

With graphics option

Finally, we present you the most common and simplest method to add these types of elements in your spreadsheets. In this case it is about using the Excel charting tool.

To do this you must follow these steps:

  • When you find yourself in your spreadsheet you must add the values ​​or data you want to use in the element in one of the columns of the sheet.
  • Once added you must select them and click on the tab "Insert".
  • Then select the option "Circular" within the section of "Graphics".

With graphics option

  • There they will appear various chart models availableIn this case, select the one that you like the most.

With graphics option

  • As you can see on the screen it appears the image according to the data you have previously selected where each of the parts have their percentage. At the top of your screen you will find different elements that They will allow you to customize the image a little more.

With graphics option

  • In this way you can also add these graphical representations to your worksheets in a much more direct and easy way, which will allow you decrease working time and therefore achieve better performance.