Few chart types provoke as much debate in the data visualization community as the humble pie chart. Data design experts often dismiss them entirely, suggesting a bar chart is always superior.
Yet, pie and doughnut charts remain incredibly popular because they satisfy a basic human preference: seeing how individual parts contribute to a whole.
When designed poorly, circular charts confuse readers and distort data. But when built using a few core guidelines, they are highly effective.
Let's look at when to choose these charts, why doughnut charts are often the better option, and how to design them for maximum clarity.
The Parts-of-a-Whole Visualization Challenge
The main argument against pie charts is that the human brain is not very good at measuring angles or areas. We are much better at comparing lengths, which is why bar charts are so easy to read.
If you have seven slices of relatively similar sizes, comparing them on a pie chart is nearly impossible without looking back and forth at the numbers. On a bar chart, even a tiny difference in length stands out.
However, pie charts excel at one specific job: showing that the parts equal 100%.
A bar chart shows comparison, but it does not inherently communicate that the categories represent a complete set. A circular chart does this instantly. If your goal is to show how a single category dominates a budget or how a market is split between three major players, a pie chart is a great choice.
When to Use (and When to Avoid) Pie Charts
To decide if a pie chart is right for your data, use this quick checklist.
Use a pie chart if:
- The total equals 100%: You are visualizing a complete set of mutually exclusive categories (e.g., market share, budget allocation, survey responses).
- You have few categories: You have five or fewer slices.
- The differences are obvious: One or two categories are clearly larger than the others, making the main takeaway immediately clear.
Avoid a pie chart if:
- The values do not add up to 100%: For example, a survey where users could check multiple options.
- You have too many slices: If you have more than five categories, the slices become too thin to label or compare.
- The slices are nearly identical: If Category A is 24% and Category B is 26%, your audience cannot visually see the difference. Use a bar chart instead.
Why Doughnut Charts are Often Better
A doughnut chart is a pie chart with a hole in the center. While they function identically, doughnut charts offer two major design advantages:
- Easier Comparison: By removing the center angle, doughnut charts force the viewer's eye to compare the outer arc length rather than the total slice area. Studies show that human brains can judge arc lengths more accurately than angles.
- Central Content Space: The empty center space is a perfect spot to place a key metric, a total value, or a descriptive label (e.g., placing "$1.2M Total Revenue" in the middle of a department budget breakdown). This saves visual space and anchors the chart.
Best Practices for Stunning Circular Charts
If you decide to use a pie or doughnut chart, follow these design rules to ensure they look professional and communicate clearly.
Rule 1: Limit Slices to Five
If you have more than five categories, combine the smallest ones into a single slice labeled "Other." This keeps the chart clean and prevents visual clutter.
Rule 2: Start at 12 O'Clock and Order by Size
Place your largest slice starting at the top vertical axis (12 o'clock) and run it clockwise. Order the remaining slices from largest to smallest. This aligns with standard reading habits and makes the hierarchy instantly readable.
Rule 3: Use Direct Labels
Never force your audience to look back and forth between a legend and the chart. Place labels and percentages directly next to (or inside) the slices. If a slice is too small to label directly, it is a sign you have too many categories.
Rule 4: Choose a Soft, Distinct Palette
Avoid high-contrast primary colors for every slice. Instead, use a cohesive palette with a single primary color for the main slice you want to highlight, and softer, neutral shades (like grays or pastel hues) for the others.
How to Create Circular Charts Online
You do not need to build complex layouts manually. With CreateCharts, you can design professional pie and doughnut charts in your browser in seconds:
- Select Pie Chart or Doughnut Chart from the dashboard.
- Type your category labels and values into the data grid.
- Choose a pre-designed color theme or customize your own.
- Add a total value in the center if you are building a doughnut chart.
- Download a crisp, high-resolution PNG or vector SVG file.
Circular charts do not have to be confusing. By keeping your category count low and labeling slices directly, you can create clean, impactful visuals that tell a clear story. Try the Free Doughnut Chart Maker today and see the difference.
