Pie Chart Maker: Create Pie Charts and Donut Charts Online
Need to show how categories contribute to a whole? Paste a CSV, map one category column and one numeric value column, then switch between a pie chart and a donut chart directly on the page.
- Best for simple share-of-total comparisons with a small number of categories
- Works with tidy CSV or TSV data and sums repeated categories automatically
- Exports the finished chart as PNG or SVG after you tune the slice order and labels
What a pie chart is and when to use one
A pie chart divides a whole into slices so readers can compare category share at a glance.
Use a pie chart when the question is simple:
- which categories take the biggest share
- how the total is split across a small set of groups
- whether one segment clearly dominates the whole
If exact comparisons matter, a Bar Chart Maker is usually easier to read. If the share changes over time, use an Area Chart Maker or Line Chart Maker instead.
Which pie chart style should you choose?
| Style | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pie chart | Simple part-to-whole view | direct and familiar |
| Donut chart | Same share comparison with more open center space | often cleaner for labels |
| Percent labels | Emphasizing share | good for presentations |
| Value labels | Emphasizing raw totals | useful when totals matter too |
Keep the number of slices small when possible. Once the chart gets crowded, bars usually communicate the comparison more clearly.
Format your data for this pie chart maker
The cleanest input is a table with:
- one category column
- one numeric value column
Example:
channel,leads
Organic Search,420
Paid Search,190
Referral,120If your source data contains repeated categories, this tool sums them automatically. For related workflows, see Bar Chart Maker, Area Chart Maker, Histogram Maker, and How to Make a Pie Chart in Excel.
Common pie chart mistakes
- Do not use too many slices. A crowded pie chart is hard to compare.
- Do not use a text column as the value field. Slice size must come from numbers.
- Do not use a pie chart for trends over time.
- Do not rely on pie slices when the audience needs precise ranking between similar values.
If you need tighter comparisons across many categories, switch to the Bar Chart Maker.
FAQ
What is the best data format for a pie chart maker?
The best format is tidy CSV or TSV with one category column and one numeric value column. Each row should represent a category-value pair.
What is the difference between a pie chart and a donut chart?
A donut chart is a pie chart with a hollow center. It shows the same share relationship but can feel cleaner when labels or surrounding UI need more breathing room.
Can this tool combine repeated categories?
Yes. If the same category appears more than once, the maker sums those values before drawing the slices.
When should I use a bar chart instead of a pie chart?
Use a bar chart when you have many categories, need precise comparisons, or want readers to see small differences more clearly.