Graphs and charts give you visual ways to represent data. So, if you want to show parts of a whole, a pie chart is the way to go. You can create and customize a pie chart in Google Sheets easily.
Create a Pie Chart in Google Sheets
Making a chart in Google Sheets is much simpler than you might think. Select the data you want to use for the chart. You can do this by dragging through the cells containing the data.
Then, click Insert > Chart from the menu.
You’ll immediately see a recommended graph appear based on your data. It may be a pie chart, but if not, don’t worry, you can change it easily.
Select the chart and click the three dots that display on the top right of it. Click “Edit Chart” to open the Chart Editor sidebar.
On the Setup tab at the top of the sidebar, click the Chart Type drop-down box. Go down to the Pie section and select the pie chart style you want to use. You can pick a Pie Chart, Doughnut Chart, or 3D Pie Chart.
You can then use the other options on the Setup tab to adjust the data range, switch rows and columns, or use the first row as headers.
Once the chart updates with your style and setup adjustments, you’re ready to make your customizations.
Customize a Pie Chart in Google Sheets
Click the Customize tab at the top of the Chart Editor sidebar. You’ll see several sections; most are available for all graph types you use in Google Sheets.
Under Chart Style, choose a background color, font style, and chart border color.
In the Chart & Axis Titles section, change the title, add a subtitle, and format the font.
Under Legend, position the legend and pick a font style, size, format, and color.
For pie charts in particular, you have two additional sections to work with: Pie Chart and Pie Slice. These areas let you customize your pie exactly as you like.
Under Pie Chart, add and adjust a doughnut hole in the center or choose a border color for the pie. You can then add labels to the individual slices if you like. You can pick from Label, Value, Percentage, or Value and Percentage. If you do add slice labels, you can then format the font style, size, format, and color.
In the Pie Slice section, change the color of individual slices by selecting one in the drop-down list and then picking a color below. You can also use the Distance From Center drop-down box to make specific slices pop out from the middle of the chart.
Additional Chart Options
You can move the chart by selecting and dragging it where you want it. You can also resize the chart by dragging inward or outward from a corner or edge.
If you want to remove the chart, download, publish, copy, or move it, or add alt text, click the three dots on the top right of the chart and pick an action.
Google Sheets makes creating and customizing a chart easy. So if you’re interested in trying other types of visuals, take a look at how to make a geographical map chart in Google Sheets.
