How to Format a Doughnut Chart in Excel for Clarity

To format a doughnut chart in Excel, select the chart and use the Chart Design tab to change its colors, style, labels, and layout; right-click a ring and choose Format Data Series to adjust the hole size or angle. Start with a clear category-and-value table, then make only the changes that help readers understand the proportions.

What You’ll Need

Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows. The main chart and formatting controls are also available in current Excel for Mac, though ribbon placement and pane layouts can differ slightly.
A small table with one category column and one numeric value column. For example, list expense categories in A2:A6 and their amounts in B2:B6, with column headings in row 1.
Values that represent parts of one whole, such as the number of responses by choice or the budget by department. A doughnut chart is most useful when the categories are mutually exclusive and there are not too many of them.

Step-by-Step

Arrange and check your source data. Put category names in one column and the corresponding values in the next, with a header above each column. Keep the rows together, remove blank rows within the list, and check that the values are numeric. A simple example might be Category and Share, followed by Rent 45, Food 25, Transport 15, and Other 15. The values need not add to 100: Excel calculates each slice’s proportion of the total. If they are intended to be percentages, confirm that they describe the same whole and do not overlap.
Select the data range. Drag across both columns, including their headings. If the data is in an Excel table, select a cell in the table instead; Excel can use the table as the chart source. Avoid selecting unrelated totals or notes, since Excel may interpret extra cells as chart categories or values. If the chart comes out wrong, you can correct its source later with Chart Design > Select Data.
Insert the doughnut chart. On Windows, go to Insert > Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart and choose Doughnut. Excel places the chart on the worksheet. On Mac, select the data and use the Insert tab to find the pie or doughnut chart choices; the command may appear in a chart gallery. In Excel for the web, the chart can also be inserted from the Insert tab, although some detailed formatting controls may be more limited than in the desktop app.
Confirm the chart is using the right series. Click the chart and check that each category appears as one slice. A basic doughnut chart is clearest with one value series. If the chart shows the category names as slices or includes headings as values, open Chart Design > Select Data and review the chart data range, series values, and category labels. Use Switch Row/Column if Excel has interpreted rows and columns in the opposite way from what you intended.
Choose a chart style and color palette. With the chart selected, open Chart Design > Chart Styles to preview built-in styles. Choose Change Colors to select a coordinated palette. Make adjacent slices easy to distinguish, but avoid using a different bright color for every category if the chart feels busy. If one category needs emphasis, format that slice separately: click a slice once to select the series, then click it again to select just that point. Right-click the selected slice and choose Format Data Point to change its fill.
Set the doughnut hole size and starting angle. Right-click a ring and choose Format Data Series. In the formatting pane, open Series Options. Adjust Doughnut Hole Size to make the centre smaller or larger; a moderate hole leaves enough room for slices while preserving the doughnut appearance. Adjust Angle of first slice to rotate the chart and place important categories where they are easier to see. These controls affect the arrangement, not the underlying values, so check the result against the category labels after rotating.
Add labels that explain the slices. Select the chart, then use Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Data Labels and choose a position to try. To control what appears, right-click a label and choose Format Data Labels. In Label Options, select the useful fields, such as Category Name, Percentage, or Value. For a share-of-total chart, percentage labels are often more informative than raw values; for a chart where exact quantities matter, show values instead. Avoid displaying category name, value, and percentage together if that makes labels overlap.
Format label appearance and precision. In the Format Data Labels pane, adjust number formatting if percentage labels show too many decimal places. Choose a font size and text color that remain legible at the chart’s final size. If labels collide, try another label position, remove less important fields, or enlarge the chart area. Some label positions and leader-line controls depend on the chart layout and Excel version; if an option is unavailable, use a legend or a data table rather than squeezing every label onto the ring.
Add a useful title and tidy the layout. Use Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Chart Title to add or position a title, then click the title text to replace it with a specific description. A title such as Budget by Category is more useful than Doughnut Chart. Add a legend from the same menu if category names are not shown on the slices, and remove it if labels already identify every slice. Drag the chart’s edges to resize it, and use the chart elements button beside the chart, when available, to show or hide items such as the legend and title.
Review the finished chart at its intended size. Check that all categories are represented, colors are distinguishable, and labels match the slices. Look at the chart in the worksheet or report layout where it will be used, not only at a large editing size. If readers need to compare precise values, keep the source table nearby or use a bar chart instead. Save the workbook after confirming that the chart remains linked to the correct data.

Common Mistakes

Using too many categories. A doughnut chart with many thin slices is difficult to scan and label. Combine genuinely minor categories into an Other group when that grouping is appropriate, or choose a bar chart when every category must remain distinct.
Showing overlapping labels. Category names, values, and percentages can crowd both the ring and the space around it. Pick the one or two details readers need most, then use a legend or nearby table for the rest.
Assuming the values must total 100. Excel calculates each slice as a share of the selected values, so ordinary counts or amounts work too. However, the categories should represent the same whole; otherwise the apparent proportions can mislead.
Choosing colors only for appearance. Similar shades can make neighboring slices hard to tell apart, while relying on color alone can exclude readers who have difficulty distinguishing colors. Use clear labels and strong contrast as well.
Making the hole too large. A very large hole can leave narrow slices and make the chart harder to interpret. If you want a number in the centre, use a text box carefully and verify that it stays aligned when the chart is resized; Excel does not automatically calculate a centre label just by changing the hole.

Tips

Order the source categories deliberately. The order in the data table affects the order around the ring, so place categories in a sequence readers will recognize, such as descending size or a meaningful process order.
Use the same category colors across related charts. Consistent colors make it easier to recognize a category when readers compare charts in a report.
Keep the chart focused on one takeaway. If the point is the largest category, emphasize it modestly and keep the remaining slices visually calm. Avoid 3-D effects, which can distort how large slices appear.
Use a descriptive title that supplies context, such as Survey responses by option. If the values refer to a particular period or group, include that information in the title or a subtitle.
When the chart’s source data changes, confirm that the new categories are included. Excel tables usually expand as you add rows, but a chart based on a fixed cell range may not include data entered outside that range.
Remember that doughnut charts can display multiple data series as concentric rings. Add another series only if comparing rings is genuinely useful and the categories align; too many rings can make the chart difficult to read.

Troubleshooting

The chart is blank or missing categories: Select it and open Chart Design > Select Data. Confirm the chart data range includes the intended category and value cells, and check for blank cells or numbers stored as text. Correct the range or convert the entries to numeric values.
The slices represent the wrong information: In Select Data, check whether Excel has treated each row or each column as a series. Use Switch Row/Column if needed, then confirm the category labels and series values in the dialog.
Labels are missing or unreadable: Add labels again through Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Data Labels. In Format Data Labels, select the label fields you need and try a different position. If the chart is too small to fit them, enlarge it or use a legend instead.
Percentages look unexpected: Check that the chart contains only the intended values and that each category is part of the same whole. A doughnut chart calculates percentages from the values it plots. An included grand-total row, duplicate category, or unrelated value changes the total and therefore changes every percentage.
New rows do not appear: Check the chart’s source in Chart Design > Select Data. If the source is a fixed range, expand the range to include the new rows. Consider converting the source list to an Excel table before adding future categories so the data range can expand with the table.
You cannot find a formatting control: First select the chart or the specific ring, slice, or label; contextual tabs and pane options change based on the selected object. On Mac or the web, controls may be arranged differently or be less extensive than in Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows. Use the desktop app for detailed formatting if the required option is not available.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change the size of the hole?
Right-click a ring, choose Format Data Series, open Series Options, and adjust Doughnut Hole Size. The change affects the ring’s appearance, not its data.

Can I put a total in the centre of a doughnut chart?
Yes. Insert a text box and position it over the chart’s centre, then type the total or other short text. It will not update automatically when the source data changes, so update it yourself or use a carefully linked text box if the total must stay current.

How do I show percentages instead of values?
Right-click a data label, choose Format Data Labels, and select Percentage while clearing Value if you do not want both. Excel calculates each percentage from the plotted series total.

Can a doughnut chart show more than one ring?
Yes. Each data series can appear as a separate concentric ring. This works best when the series use the same categories and the comparison is easy to explain; otherwise, separate charts or a different chart type may be clearer.

Why is a doughnut chart not suitable for my data?
It is designed to show how categories contribute to a whole, not to compare many values precisely or show trends over time. Use a bar or column chart for detailed comparisons and a line chart for trends. If readers cannot quickly identify the largest and smallest slices, another chart type is likely a better fit.

Try it: the Percentage Formula Generator: percent of, percent change, increase and decrease, with the formula.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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