At the beginning of 2021, I was tasked with an consignment: Create a pie chart showcasing which types of content performed best on the Marketing Weblog in 2020.

The question was an undeniably important i, as it would influence what types of content we wrote in 2021, along with identifying new opportunities for growth.

But one time I'd compiled all relevant data, I was stuck — How could I hands create a pie chart to showcase my results?

Fortunately, I've since figured information technology out. Here, let's dive into how you can create your own excel pie chart for impressive marketing reports and presentations. Plus, how to rotate a pie chart in excel, explode a pie nautical chart, and even how to create a 3-dimensional version.

Let'southward dive in.

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How to Make a Pie Chart in Excel

1. Create your columns and/or rows of data. Feel complimentary to label each column of data — excel will utilise those labels as titles for your pie chart. Then, highlight the data you want to display in pie nautical chart grade.

Highlighted columns of data in excel to create a pie chart.

two. Now, click "Insert" and so click on the "Pie" logo at the top of excel.

The pie chart tool in excel.

3. Y'all'll come across a few pie options here, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional. For our purposes, allow's click on the kickoff image of a 2-dimensional pie chart.

Various pie chart design options, including 2-D and 3-D pies, in excel.

4. And at that place you take it! A pie chart will appear with the data and labels y'all've highlighted.

A complete pie chart created in excel.

If you're not happy with the pie chart colors or design, notwithstanding, yous likewise have enough of editing options.

Let'southward dive into those, next.

How to Edit a Pie Chart in Excel

Background Color

i. You lot can change the background colour by clicking on the paint bucket icon under the "Format Chart Expanse" sidebar.

Then, choose the fill blazon (whether you desire a solid color equally your pie nautical chart groundwork, or whether you want the fill to exist gradient or patterned), and the background color.

The background color tool for pie charts in excel.

Pie Chart Text

2. Next, click on the text within the pie nautical chart itself if you desire to rewrite anything, expand the text, or move the text to a new area of your pie chart.

The text editor tool for pie charts in excel.

Pie Nautical chart Border

3. Within the Format Chart Expanse, you can edit the border of your pie nautical chart also — including the border transparency, width, and color.

The border tool for pie charts in excel in the Format Chart Area sidebar.

Pie Nautical chart Shadows

four. To modify the pie nautical chart box itself (including the box'southward shadow, edges, and glow), click on the pentagon shape in the Format Chart Area sidebar.

So, toggle the bar across "Transparency", "Size", "Mistiness", and "Angle" until you're happy with the shadow of your pie chart box.

The shadow, glow, soft edges, or 3-d format options for pie charts in excel.

Pie Chart Colors

5. Click the color paint palette, at the top left of excel, to change the colors of your pie chart.

Excel offers a range of complementary colors — including a few presets under "Colorful", and a few presets under "Monochromatic". Yous tin can click between the options until you detect a color palette you're happy with.

(Alternatively, if you lot want to alter the colors of your pie chart pieces individually, simply double click on the pie chart slice, toggle onto the paint section of the Format Chart Surface area, and choose a new color.)

The color options for your pie chart in excel as pre-set by excel.

how to change the color of an individual pie chart piece in excel.

Chart Title

vi. Change the chart championship by clicking on the iii bars graph icon in the top left of excel, and and then toggling to "Nautical chart Title > None", "Chart Championship > Above Nautical chart", or "Chart Championship > Centered Overlay".

The chart title tool in excel to edit the placement of your title for your pie chart.

Modify Location of Information Labels

7. On the aforementioned iii bar graph icon, click "Information Labels" to alter where your labels appear on the pie chart. (For case, do you want the pie chart pieces labelled in the middle of each pie nautical chart portion, or on the outside?)

Switch Row/Column

viii. If you'd prefer to switch which information appears in the pie nautical chart, click "Switch Row/Cavalcade" to come across alternate information aligned from your original data set up.

The switch row/column button in excel.

How to Explode a Pie Chart in Excel

i. To explode a slice of your pie chart (which can help you emphasize or draw attending to a specific section of your pie chart), simply double-click on the piece you want to pull away.

Then, elevate your cursor until it's the distance you desire it, and you're all set up!

The tool to drag a piece of your pie chart away from the whole in excel.

How to Create a 3D Pie Chart in Excel

1. To create a 3-dimensional pie nautical chart in excel, only highlight your data and then click the "Pie" logo.

The pie chart button in excel

2. Then, cull the "iii-D Pie" option.

The 3-D option for pie charts in excel to create a 3-dimensional version.

3. Finally, choose the design option you like at the meridian of your screen.

The design options for pie charts in excel.

How to Rotate a Pie Chart in Excel

Finally, to rotate your pie chart, double-click on the chart and and so click on the 3-bar icon nether "Format Data Point".

Then, toggle the "Angle of first slice" until you've rotated the pie chart to the degree you want.

How to rotate a pie chart in excel using format data point.

And there yous have information technology! You're well on your manner to creating clean, impressive pie charts for your marketing materials to highlight important data and move stakeholders to take activity.

Ultimately, yous'll desire to experiment with all of excel's unique formatting features until you figure out the pie chart that works all-time for your needs. Good luck!

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Originally published Apr 23, 2022 7:00:00 AM, updated April 23 2021