Half Circle Graph in Excel: How to Make One

To make a half-circle graph in Excel, create a doughnut chart with three values: the amount reached, the amount remaining, and a hidden value equal to the total of the first two. Set the first-slice angle so the first two slices form the visible semicircle, then format the third slice with no fill.

What a Half-Circle Graph in Excel Shows

A half-circle graph is usually a semicircular gauge: a curved scale shows progress toward a target, capacity, or other total. For example, it can show that a project is 65% complete, a tank is 40% full, or a team has met 8 of 10 weekly goals. Excel does not have a standard chart type named “half circle,” but a doughnut chart can create the appearance.

The chart is still built from a full circle. The trick is to make one slice transparent so it disappears, leaving the other half visible. This is useful for a single measure and a simple target. It is not the same as a conventional pie chart: a gauge emphasizes progress along a scale, while a pie chart compares parts of a whole.

A semicircular gauge is primarily a visual summary. It can make a dashboard easier to scan, but it uses less of the chart area than a bar or bullet chart and is less precise for comparing several values. For an exact figure, show the percentage or value as a label alongside the gauge.

Prepare the Data

Use three categories in one series. The first two values must add up to the amount represented by the visible half; the third value creates the hidden half. For a percentage gauge, use a total of 100% for the visible section and another 100% for the hidden section.

Complete: 65%
Remaining: 35%
Hidden half: 100%

Put the category names in one column and their values in the next, such as A1:B4. Enter the first value as 65%, the remaining value as 35%, and the hidden value as 100%. Excel stores percentages as decimal values, so these entries are represented internally as 0.65, 0.35, and 1. The chart uses their relative sizes; it does not require the hidden value to have the same units as a separate measure on your worksheet.

To calculate the remainder automatically, with the completed percentage in B2, enter =1-B2 in B3. If B2 contains 65%, B3 returns 35%. Put 100% in B4 for the hidden half. If your source value is a count rather than a percentage, first decide what total the gauge represents and calculate the share reached against that total; do not chart the raw count as a percentage unless the scale makes sense.

Create the Doughnut Chart

Select the category and value cells, including their headings if you have them.
On the Windows ribbon, choose Insert > Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart > Doughnut.
Excel creates a full doughnut chart. Click a slice once to select the series, then click the particular slice again to select that data point.
Right-click the selected data point and choose Format Data Point. In the formatting pane, open Fill & Line, set Fill to No fill, and set Border to No line.
Click the doughnut series and choose Format Data Series. Under Series Options, set Angle of first slice to 270 degrees as a starting point. The first two values should now occupy the top half, with the hidden value below.

Excel’s chart formatting pane may open on the right. If the wrong object is selected, click the chart and use the chart element selector or click the slice again; the pane heading indicates whether you are formatting a data point or the whole series. The Mac version of Excel has similar chart controls, though pane layout and labels can differ slightly. Excel for the web may offer fewer detailed formatting controls, so use the desktop app if you cannot set the individual slice to no fill.

Format the Gauge for Readability

Once the hidden slice is removed visually, adjust the chart so the remaining arc communicates clearly. In Format Data Series, change Doughnut Hole Size to control the thickness of the ring. A smaller hole makes a thicker band; a larger hole leaves more room for a central label. Choose a size that leaves enough color to read without making the center feel cramped.

Give the completed slice a strong color and the remaining slice a quieter contrasting color. Select each visible slice separately and use its Fill controls. The transparent slice should stay unfilled; assigning it a color will reveal the lower half again. Remove the legend if the category names are self-explanatory, or keep it if readers need help distinguishing the segments. A short chart title can explain what the measure tracks, while a text box or linked cell in the center can show the exact value.

For example, a 65% project-completion gauge might use a blue completed arc and a light-gray remainder, with “65% complete” in the center. Avoid relying on color alone: include a text label, and use colors with enough contrast against the chart background. A visible tick mark or target marker requires additional chart elements or shapes and is not built into the basic doughnut setup.

Keep the Chart Updated

If the value changes regularly, keep the chart linked to worksheet cells rather than typing values directly into the chart’s data editor. With the completed percentage in B2 and the remaining percentage calculated in B3, changing B2 updates the chart as long as B3 is calculated from it and the chart series includes both cells. The hidden value remains fixed at 100% for a percentage gauge.

For a dashboard that tracks several measures, make a separate data block and chart for each gauge, or consider another chart type. A single three-slice doughnut chart represents one progress measure; adding extra categories changes the arc divisions and can make the gauge confusing. Keep the scale consistent when comparing gauges—for instance, use 0–100% for every chart rather than giving each one a different maximum.

Be mindful of values outside the intended range. A completion percentage above 100% or below 0% may produce a misleading or invalid remainder. Decide whether values should be capped, flagged, or shown as exceptions, and make that decision in the underlying data rather than hiding the issue through chart formatting.

Common Problems and Fixes

The chart still looks like a full doughnut: The hidden data point may still have a fill or outline. Select that slice specifically and set both Fill and Border to no fill and no line.
The opening is on the wrong side: Change the angle of the first slice. Start at 270 degrees for a top-facing arc; if the category order or appearance differs, adjust the angle until the transparent half is at the bottom.
The progress arc is too large or too small: Check that the completed and remaining values add up to the intended visible total. For a 65% gauge, use 65%, 35%, and 100%, not 65%, 35%, and 50%.
The colors change the wrong segment: Excel may have selected the entire series rather than one data point. Select the slice a second time, then confirm the pane identifies a data point before changing its fill.
The center label is not readable: Increase the doughnut hole size, shorten the label, or place the value in a text box. Do not shrink the chart until the text becomes difficult to read.

Data labels can also be awkward on a gauge: labels may appear on the hidden point or crowd the visible arc. If you add labels, check their position and remove any label that does not help interpretation. A separate text box is often clearer for the main percentage.

When to Choose Another Chart

A half-circle gauge works best when one number needs a quick, prominent status display. It is visually compact in meaning but consumes a relatively large amount of space for one value, and readers often estimate the arc rather than read it precisely. If your audience needs exact comparisons, a horizontal bar with a target marker or a simple percentage cell may communicate more efficiently.

Use a full doughnut chart when the whole circle matters and the goal is to show composition. Use a standard bar chart when comparing categories, especially when there are several values or small differences. A semicircular gauge can be attractive on a dashboard, but it should not replace a clear scale, labels, or context such as the target and reporting period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Excel have a built-in half-circle chart type?
No. Excel includes doughnut and pie chart types, but not a dedicated semicircular gauge chart. The common approach is to create a doughnut chart and make one slice transparent.

What numbers do I use for a 65% gauge?
Use 65% for complete, 35% for remaining, and 100% for the hidden half. The first two values form the visible semicircle, while the third creates the part that is formatted as transparent.

Can I show the value in the middle?
Yes. Increase the doughnut hole size and place a text box in the center, or use a cell-linked text box if the number should change with the data. A short label such as “65%” is usually easier to read than a sentence.

Why does my half-circle show at the bottom instead of the top?
The angle of the first slice controls the rotation. In Format Data Series > Series Options, adjust Angle of first slice; 270 degrees is a useful starting point for placing the transparent half below the visible arc.

Can I make a gauge with a target marker?
Not with the basic three-value doughnut alone. You can add a marker using additional chart construction or a shape, but it needs careful positioning and may not stay aligned if the chart is resized. For a simple, reliable target comparison, a bar chart with a target line is often easier to maintain.

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

More in Charts & pivot tables

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

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.