Are you still Googling "how do I create a pie chart in Excel?" Don't waste your time searching or filtering for the answer. Here in this guide, we will fully introduce two ways to create a pie chart in Excel. Let’s break it all down step by step.
How to create a pie chart in Excel: 2 proven methods
Pie charts are one of the easiest ways to show how different parts add up to a whole, especially when you're working with percentages or proportions. They're great for making data more digestible, which is why you’ll often see them in reports and presentations. In this guide, I will show you two simple ways to build pie chart in Excel. The methods are the Insert tab and the Quick Analysis tool. The Insert tab is perfect for complete customization, while the Quick Analysis tool is super handy for quickly creating a pie chart in Excel. Have your own decision now? Let's follow the guide!
Method 1: How do I create a pie chart in Excel with Insert tab
The Insert tab in Excel makes it easy to customize your pie chart exactly how you want it. You can pick from different styles, change labels, and adjust colors to fit your theme. It's a simple way to create a clean, professional-looking chart that suits your project.
- STEP 1
- Open MS Excel
Launch Excel and click "Blank workbook" to create a blank spreadsheet. Then, enter your data for your pie chart.
- STEP 2
- Select your data
Select the range of data you want to include in your pie chart.
- STEP 3
- Go to the Insert tab
When you have highlighted your data, click "Insert" in the toolbar. Look for the Charts group and click on the pie chart icon. You'll see several options appear—2-D Pie, 3-D Pie, and Doughnut Chart. Select the style that best works for your presentation, and Excel will immediately create a chart using your selected information.
- STEP 4
- Format and Download
Use the "Chart Design" and "Format" tabs to customize your pie chart. When you are done, click "File" in the top menu and select "Save as," then choose a location to save it to your PC.
Method 2: How to make pie diagram with Excel Quick Analysis tool
The Quick Analysis tool makes it super easy to create a pie graph in Excel with just a few clicks. Simply select your data, and it quickly generates a pie diagram to help you see the proportions and relationships. It's perfect for getting fast insights or creating a rough draft for your analysis.
- STEP 1
- Launch MS Excel
Open MS Excel and click "Blank workbook." On the empty sheet, enter your data for your pie chart.
- STEP 2
- Select your input
Next, highlight the inputs you want to include in your pie chart.
- STEP 3
- Quick Analysis
After you have highlighted your chart inputs, an icon will appear at the bottom-right corner of the selection. That is the Quick Analysis, just click on it and move your cursor to "Charts" tab. Then, click on the charts and then click on "Insert Chart". On the next display, select "Pie" and then choose your preferred pie chart style.
- STEP 4
- Customize and Save
After you have selected your preferred pie chart style, your pie chart will be generated and displayed on the worksheet. What to do now is to customize your pie charts, such as changing the color and renaming the title. When you are done, click on "File" at the top toolbar to save your customized pie chart to your computer.
Full review: Is Excel the right tool for creating pie charts?
As we illustrated, Excel is a great choice for office workers to make a pie chart. But, is it really a perfect tool? To give a balanced review, here we dive down the pros and cons respectively. Come and check!
- Data integration: Excel's biggest strength is its seamless integration with spreadsheet data. When you build a pie chart in Excel, they are directly created from the data you input into cells, meaning that any updates to the underlying data are automatically reflected in the chart. This integration simplifies the process of data manipulation and visualization, especially when working with large datasets.
- Basic customization: For users who need simple charting solutions, Excel offers basic customization features for creating a pie chart in Excel. You can easily adjust labels, change colors, and tweak the layout of your pie chart to meet basic presentation needs. Though it is not advanced, but these options provide enough flexibility for most everyday tasks.
- Familiar interface: One of Excel's strongest selling points is its familiarity. Most professionals are already proficient with Excel, so there’s a little learning curve to creating and editing charts. For those who need to make a pie chart in Excel, its straightforward design will be immediately accessible, making it easy to generate quick and effective visualizations.
- One-time purchase option: For businesses or individuals who prefer not to commit to ongoing subscription fees, Excel offers a one-time purchase option through Office 2021. This makes Excel an attractive option for those who don’t need access to constantly updated software features but want a reliable, static tool for chart creation, including tasks like how to create a pie chart in Excel.
- Limited design flexibility: Although Excel provides some customization when learning how to make pie diagram in Excel, the design options for pie charts are relatively limited. You're confined mainly to preset chart styles and color schemes, which can make your pie charts look generic or uninspired. Those seeking highly unique or advanced visuals might find Excel's offerings restrictive.
- Multiple-step process: While creating basic pie charts with Excel is relatively easy, customizing them to look polished and professional can be a multi-step process. For example, learning how to make pie chart with Excel involves selecting the correct data and navigating through various chart options. Adjusting settings like labels, legends, and colors often requires navigating through several menus. For more sophisticated customization, users may need to perform additional steps, which can be time-consuming.
- Learning curve for advanced features: Excel offers an extensive range of chart features, which allows users to create more advanced and dynamic piecharts. But, the challenge here is that these tools requires time and practice which is something that not everyone has. For beginners or those without a background in data representation, the learning curve can be steep when it comes to completely understanding how to use Excel's pie chart capabilities.
- Static results: One of the biggest drawbacks of Excel charts, including pie charts, is that they are static. Once created, the chart doesn't allow dynamic updates or interactivity. If your data changes, you’ll need to manually update the chart, and it won’t offer real-time updates or interactive capabilities like other specialized charting tools. This can limit its usefulness in more complex data-driven scenarios where frequent updates are required.
While Excel handles the basics, it quickly shows its limits when you need creativity, flexibility, or a touch of automation. Wrestling with formulas and formatting can drain your time and your energy. But do you really have to stick with the old way of doing things? Absolutely not. If you’re ready for a tool that actually works with you, not against you, say hello to Dreamina, your AI-powered sidekick that brings smart design, automation, and style to the table. It’s time to ditch the grid and upgrade to a faster, fresher way of working.
Dreamina: Create stunning pie charts in seconds with AI
As an AI image generator, Dreamina assists you in creating eye-catching pie charts by just describing them. First off, there’s no need to stress about design skills; just type in what you need, adjust the settings, and in just a few seconds, you’ll have a chart that looks clean, sharp, and totally ready to share. On the other hand, you can tweak and polish your chart using built-in features like Inpaint or Remove. Whether it’s for a report, a pitch deck, or a school project, it’s a super handy way to make your data stand out.
Steps to create beautiful pie charts with Dreamina
No need to stress about making a pie chart because Dreamina makes it easy. When you're ready, just click the link below to get started with Dreamina:
- STEP 1
- Write your prompt
After you have signed up on Dreamina, go to the Image generator tab and click "Generate." On the next screen, enter your pie chart prompt in the text box. Here is an example of a prompt to help you get started:
Create a clean, simple pie chart with four segments. Name each segment: "Rent", "Cloth", "Goods", "Fun".
- STEP 2
- Generate your chart
For step 2, scroll down and choose the type of "Model" you want for your chart. Next, manually enter your preferred dimension for your chart or choose a preset size under the "Aspect ratio." After all this is done, click "Generate" to craft your pie chart.
- STEP 3
- Download
Once your chart has been generated, you will see four different types of pie charts. Check them and choose the one you prefer the most. Then click the "Download" icon at the top of your chosen pie chart to save it to your computer.
More powerful AI tools from Dreamina:
- 1
- AI text effects
The AI Text effects tool in Dreamina allows you to turn plain text into styled graphics. Simply type in your text, and the AI gives you an AI text style, or you can describe the style you want, like "metallic chrome," "neon light," or "painted brushstroke." And the AI instantly transforms it into an eye-catching visual. This feature is perfect for titles in your pie chart, social media posts, or any design where your words need to stand out.
- 2
- Smart inpainting
The Inpaint tool in Dreamina allows you to add or modify your pie chart with precision and ease. Whether you're fixing a missing segment, updating a data label, or enhancing the visual with new elements, the AI intelligently analyzes the surrounding chart structure to blend in your changes seamlessly. Just brush over the area you want to adjust, enter your prompt, and let the tool do the work. No manual editing or redrawing is needed. It's a time-saving feature that keeps your data visuals clean and consistent.
- 3
- Creative expander
The Expand tool in Dreamina lets you extend the background of your pie charts without messing up the design. Just select the edges you want to grow, and the AI smoothly fills in the extra space to match the original style. It’s perfect when you need more room for text, icons, or other design elements without any awkward cropping or resizing required. It is also great for turning a tight chart into a more spacious, polished layout.
- 4
- Image blender
The Blend tool in Dreamina is a powerful tool that allows you to combine two images into an harmonious design. When you want to use this tool, first upload your two images and then click on "Blend" in the toolbar to combine your images into a natural and visually balanced composition. This tool is very effective for combining charts with branding elements, layering product labels or creating a unique visual mashup giving you professional-looking results without spending hours on editing.
- 5
- HD upscale
The HD Upscale tool in Dreamina allows you to refine the resolution of your pie chart without losing quality. It is mostly used for enhancing old or blurry charts into a clear visuals, which you can confidently use in your presentations, reports or print without the need to recreate the whole design from scratch.
Conclusion
So now that you've got the hang of making a pie chart in Excel by doing it step by step or using the quicker tools. But if you ever feel like skipping the fuss and jumping straight to great-looking visuals, Dreamina's a solid option. The best part about Dreamina is that it is super easy to use and still looks professional. You don't need to worry about formatting or design because it does all that for you. Go ahead and give Dreamina a try. You might just love how simple it makes things.
FAQs
- 1
- How can I create a pie chart in Excel with different percentages?
First, enter your data with the corresponding values in Excel and use your preferred method to create the chart with different percentages. Once you have it, you can elevate its look by customizing the labels and legend for a professional finish. However, if you need something quicker and smarter? Dreamina can transform your data into a stunning pie chart with different percentages with just a simple prompt. All you need to make sure is that your prompt is well-detailed enough. Visit Dreamina today and create your pie chart effortlessly!
- 2
- How to make pie diagrams in Excel with different colors?
To make pie diagrams in Excel with different colors, click on the chart to select it, then choose the individual slices you want to change. After that, head over to the "Format" option and adjust the fill color of each slice. If you want to skip the manual work and still get a professional result? With Dreamina, all you need to do is include color in your prompt. For example, say, "Pie chart in five colors showing market segments," and let AI take care of the rest. It's fast and easy, and you can customize it exactly how you want. Get started with Dreamina for free and see how smooth it can be!
- 3
- How do you create a pie chart on Excel with a custom background?
You can create a pie chart in Excel with a custom background by right-clicking on the chart and selecting "Format Chart Area." Then, choose "Fill" and opt for "Picture or Texture Fill" to add your custom background. But, if you’d like to skip the manual steps, Dreamina makes it even easier. Simply tap "Remove background" to ease the backdrops, upload your own background or use the Text-to-image option to make a custom image from your prompt. Finally, drag and drop the layers to make a perfect fit. Go to Dreamina now and discover how it can make chart creation seamless!