Generate a Doughnut Chart with AI

What is a Doughnut Chart?

A doughnut chart shows the relationship of parts to a whole. It can contain more than one data series, with each series adding a ring to the chart. The first data series is displayed in the center.

While effective for displaying parts of a whole, doughnut charts can be difficult to read due to their circular nature. The difficulty increases with multiple data series, affecting the accurate representation of data sizes.

Despite these challenges, doughnut charts are ideal for comparing a small number of categories. They are efficient in conserving space and highlighting a single variable, making data visualization simpler.

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When to Use a Doughnut Chart

Overview of Doughnut Charts

Doughnut charts are useful for showing proportions within a dataset. Suitable for comparing parts of a whole, they provide a clear visual representation similar to pie charts but with a central hole. This design enhances readability and allows for additional data labeling.

Pros of Using Doughnut Charts

Doughnut charts excel in visual appeal and efficiency. They condense information into a compact, easy-to-read format. The central space can display extra data or labels, providing flexibility in presenting detailed insights. This makes them ideal for dashboards and reports.

Cons of Using Doughnut Charts

Despite their advantages, doughnut charts can become cluttered with too many segments. Overuse of colors or labels can confuse viewers. They are not suitable for large datasets or for showing trends over time. Their simplicity can also limit detailed data comparisons.

Doughnut Charts vs. Pie Charts

Both doughnut and pie charts display proportions well. However, doughnut charts offer more space for annotations. The central hole can be used creatively for additional information, making them more versatile in some scenarios.

Doughnut Charts vs. Bar Charts

While doughnut charts are great for depicting parts of a whole, bar charts are superior for comparing values across categories. Bar charts handle large datasets and trends over time more effectively. They also offer a straightforward way to compare different groups.

Doughnut Charts vs. Line Charts

Line charts excel in showing data trends over time, which doughnut charts cannot do. Line charts connect individual data points, making them ideal for time-series analysis. Conversely, doughnut charts are limited to static data without temporal dimensions.

How to Generate a Doughnut Chart in Excel and Google Sheets

Creating a Doughnut Chart in Excel

Open Excel and input your data into the worksheet. Select the data range you want to visualize as a doughnut chart. Navigate to the Insert tab, and in the Charts group, click Other Charts. Under Doughnut, select Doughnut. Click the plot area to display the Chart Tools.

On the Design tab, choose your preferred layout in the Chart Layouts group and select a style in the Chart Styles group. To resize the chart, click it and adjust the Shape Height and Shape Width in the Size group on the Format tab. To alter the size of the doughnut hole, click a data series, then select Format Selection on the Format tab, and adjust the doughnut hole size slider.

Creating a Doughnut Chart in Google Sheets

Open Google Sheets and select the data range you want to visualize. Click Insert in the main menu, and then Chart. In the Chart editor sidebar, click the drop-down box below Chart Type and select Donut Chart. Customize the chart by adding a title, changing fonts, or adjusting sizes as needed.

Benefits of Doughnut Charts

Doughnut charts are effective for visualizing compositions of a whole and comparing sizes. They can display more data in the center compared to pie charts, which are often misinterpreted. For alternative visualizations, consider using stacked bar charts or stacked area charts.