How to Create a Pie Chart in Google Sheets: Step-by-Step Guide

The Problem

You have categorical data in Google Sheets and need to visualize the proportions or percentages of each category using a pie chart. Pie charts are perfect for showing how parts relate to a whole.

The Easy Way: Use SheetXAI

If you don't want to manually create charts, the fastest way is to simply ask SheetXAI.

With SheetXAI, you can open the sidebar and type:

Create a pie chart from the data in columns A and B showing the percentage breakdown.

SheetXAI will instantly create the pie chart for you, format it with proper colors and labels, and place it in your sheet. It handles all the chart settings automatically.

The Manual Way: Step-by-Step Instructions

To create a pie chart manually in Google Sheets, follow these steps:

Step 1: Prepare Your Data

Organize your data with:

• Column A: Categories or labels (e.g., Product Names, Regions, Departments)
• Column B: Values or percentages (e.g., Sales, Counts, Percentages)

Example:

Product A | 150
Product B | 200
Product C | 180
Product D | 120

Important: Pie charts work best with:

• 2-7 categories (too many slices make it hard to read)
• Positive values only (no negative numbers)
• Categories that represent parts of a whole

Step 2: Select Your Data

1. Click and drag to select the data range you want to chart
2. Include both the categories (labels) and the values
3. Don't include totals or summary rows

Step 3: Insert the Chart

1. Click Insert in the menu bar
2. Select Chart from the dropdown menu
3. Google Sheets will automatically detect your data and suggest a chart type

Step 4: Select Pie Chart Type

1. The chart editor will appear on the right side
2. Under Chart type, click the dropdown
3. Select Pie chart
4. Choose the specific pie chart style:
   • Pie chart: Standard pie with slices
   • 3D pie chart: Three-dimensional pie chart
   • Doughnut chart: Pie chart with a hole in the center

Step 5: Customize Chart Settings

In the chart editor, customize your pie chart:

Setup Tab:

• Data range: Adjust which cells are included
• Labels: Choose which column contains your category names
• Values: Select which column contains your values

Customize Tab:

• Chart style: Colors, fonts, background
• Chart & axis titles: Add a descriptive title
• Legend: Position (right, left, top, bottom, none)
• Pie chart:
  • Slice label: Show category names, values, percentages, or combinations
  • Slice text: Format text size and style
  • Pie hole: Create a doughnut chart (0-90% hole size)
  • Slice colors: Customize individual slice colors
• Tooltip: Customize hover information

Step 6: Add Data Labels

For better readability:

1. In the Customize tab, click Pie chart
2. Under Slice label, choose what to display:
   • Name: Category names
   • Value: Actual values
   • Percentage: Percentages of total
   • Name and value: Both category and value
   • Name and percentage: Both category and percentage
3. Adjust Slice text size and formatting

Step 7: Position Your Chart

1. Click and drag the chart to move it
2. Resize by dragging the corners
3. Place on a separate sheet: Click three dots menu → Move to own sheet

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Too many categories: Pie charts become unreadable with more than 7-8 slices
2. Including totals: Don't include sum rows in your data selection
3. Negative values: Pie charts can't display negative numbers
4. Wrong data type: Pie charts are for proportions, not trends over time
5. Missing labels: Always include category names and percentages for clarity
6. Poor color choices: Use distinct, contrasting colors for each slice

Tips for Better Pie Charts

• Limit categories: Group small categories into "Other" if you have many items
• Sort your data: Consider sorting by value (largest to smallest) for easier reading
• Use percentages: Show percentages on slices for immediate understanding
• Choose appropriate colors: Use a color palette that's accessible and distinct
• Add a title: Always include a clear, descriptive chart title
• Consider alternatives: For many categories, a bar chart might be clearer

When to Use Pie Charts

Pie charts are perfect for:

• Proportions: Showing how parts relate to a whole
• Percentages: Displaying percentage breakdowns
• Categorical data: Comparing categories (not trends over time)
• Simple comparisons: When you have 2-7 categories

When NOT to Use Pie Charts

Avoid pie charts for:

• Time series data: Use line charts instead
• Many categories: Use bar charts for 8+ categories
• Exact comparisons: Bar charts are better for precise value comparisons
• Trends: Line charts show trends better than pie charts

Alternative Chart Types

• Bar chart: Better for comparing exact values or many categories
• Column chart: Similar to bar chart, vertical orientation
• Doughnut chart: Pie chart with a hole, allows for additional information in center
• Stacked bar chart: Shows proportions while maintaining value comparisons

Creating a Doughnut Chart

To create a doughnut chart (pie with a hole):

1. Follow steps 1-4 above
2. In Customize tab → Pie chart
3. Adjust Pie hole slider (0% = pie, 90% = thin ring)
4. The center can be used for additional information or totals

Conclusion

Now you know how to create a pie chart in Google Sheets manually. It's a great way to visualize proportions and show how categories relate to a whole.

But for those times when you want to create multiple charts quickly or need to generate pie charts from complex data, SheetXAI can create pie charts automatically with simple commands, saving you time and ensuring consistent formatting.