

- #How to make a pie chart in excel with multiple data how to
- #How to make a pie chart in excel with multiple data series
Once you have made all the changes you want to the chart you can save it as a picture.

This is best when you only have a few slices (which is really best with pie charts in general). Color matching your labels to your pie chart segments.ĭepending on the colors you are using for your pie chart (and the number of slices), you might choose to adjust the color of the text to match each slice. You also might need to extend the default textbox to show all the included text, and maybe shift it around the chart. If your category labels are too long to fit inside your pie chart, switch the label position to the outside. Just click on the chart box, and then select “No Outline.” What if your pie chart category labels are too long? If you plan to copy this chart into another type of document, I suggest taking away the random chart outline Excel puts in by default. So in my case, the darkest red, the second darkest gray/blue, and the third darkest gray/blue. If you think this might get printed in black and white, I suggest pulling the 3 colors from different color rows. Then I’ll draw from a gray scale for the other two segments. I’ll use a strong color (say red) for the highlight. I like using a highlight color when possible (especially when I am going to discuss the chart in the body of a text). I also want to change the pie chart colors off the default. While I have the data labels selected, I’m going to move to the top of the page and change the font, font size, and data label color. I’m also going to unclick the “Value” box and click on the “Percentage” box. In the same Format Data Labels menu as the previous step, just click on the Category Name box. I also want to add the category name to the label. Adding the Category Name to the Data Label Just right click on the label and select “Format Data Labels” to bring up the menu. I don’t like Excel’s “Best Fit” so I’m going to change the label position. You do this by right clicking on the pie chart and selecting “Add Data Labels” from the menu. So I’m going to delete that (click on the legend and press the delete button) and then directly label the pie chart portions. I’ll just pretend my data is real and not fake.

Lots of pie charts are created using percentages that add up to 100. So in addition to just a column of numbers it’s a good idea to have row labels and column headers. Here are some more steps you probably want to take to create something worth sharing. Okay, so that’s the most basic of basics.
#How to make a pie chart in excel with multiple data how to
Woohoo, you created a pie chart! How to create a good looking pie chart. *If you have any instinct to click the 3-D Pie button, resist that instinct. Click on the insert tab, then the pie chart icon. It just takes a column of data and a couple of buttons.
#How to make a pie chart in excel with multiple data series
This is the fourth in a series of posts on chart design in Excel.
