Excel Half Circle Chart: How to Create One

To make a half-circle chart in Excel, create a doughnut chart with two visible values and a third value equal to their combined total, then set the first-slice angle to 270 degrees and format the third slice with No fill. The hidden slice takes up the lower half, leaving the other values visible as a semicircle.

What an Excel half-circle chart shows

A half-circle chart is usually a doughnut or pie chart with one section made invisible. It is not a separate built-in chart type in Excel. The invisible section completes the circle mathematically, while the visible sections show the comparison you want readers to see.

This design is often used as a gauge: a semicircular arc can show how much of a target is complete and how much remains. It can also display a small number of categories across a half-circle. For example, a project dashboard might show a completion value of 65 and a remaining value of 35 across the visible arc.

A half-circle gauge is a visual summary, not a measurement instrument. It can be attractive in a dashboard, but it is harder to read precise values from an arc than from a data table or bar chart. Include a clear number or label when accuracy matters.

Set up the chart data

Put the category names in one column and the values in the next, with the hidden section as the final row. For a gauge showing 65 percent completion, a simple table is:

Complete — 65
Remaining — 35
Hidden half — 100

The first two values add to 100, and the hidden value is also 100. That makes the visible values occupy exactly half of the full doughnut: together they account for 100 of the chart’s 200 total units. Within the visible semicircle, the completed portion takes 65 percent of the arc and the remaining portion takes 35 percent.

For a different gauge scale, use the same principle: the hidden value should equal the sum of the visible values. If the visible values are 40 and 60, use 100 for the hidden section. The chart values need not literally be percentages, but the visible values should represent parts of a meaningful whole.

Create the doughnut chart

Select the labels and values, including the hidden-half row.
On the ribbon, choose Insert > Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart > Doughnut.
If Excel plots the labels as data instead of using them as categories, choose Chart Design > Switch Row/Column or adjust the selected source range.
Right-click a doughnut segment and choose Format Data Series. In the formatting pane, adjust Doughnut Hole Size if you want a wider or narrower ring.

Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows uses these ribbon paths. Excel for Mac has the same general doughnut-chart command on the Insert tab, though the formatting pane and some controls may be arranged differently. In Excel for the web, chart insertion and basic formatting are available, but some fine formatting controls can vary; open the workbook in the desktop app if a control you need is absent.

At this stage, the chart is still a complete ring. The next two changes create the half-circle appearance: rotate the series so the hidden segment is at the bottom, then remove that segment’s fill and border.

Hide the lower half

Right-click a segment and select Format Data Series. Find Angle of first slice in Series Options and enter 270 degrees. This places the first visible segment at the left and makes the first two values run across the upper half of the chart.
Click the segment representing Hidden half. If a single click selects the whole series, click that segment again to select just the data point, then right-click and choose Format Data Point.
In the point-formatting pane, open Fill & Line. Set Fill to No fill and Border to No line.

The precise position can depend on the order of your data points. Keep the hidden value last, and check the chart after setting the angle. If the open side appears at the top rather than the bottom, adjust the angle or reorder the categories until the hidden segment occupies the lower half. The intended result is an arc across the top with the chart’s lower half transparent.

When the invisible section is selected, make sure you are formatting the data point rather than the entire series. Applying No fill to the whole series would erase every segment. If you later change the source data or add categories, recheck which point is hidden because the order may have changed.

Format the chart for easy reading

Use color to distinguish the completed portion from the remainder, but choose colors with enough contrast to remain clear on the page or screen. A neutral gray for the remaining section and a stronger color for completion is a common arrangement. Avoid relying on color alone: add text such as Complete or Remaining when readers need to identify each segment.

Remove the legend if it repeats labels already shown elsewhere; select it and press Delete.
Remove the chart title if a nearby dashboard heading already explains the graphic.
Set the chart-area fill to No fill if you want the sheet’s background to show through.
Resize the chart from its corner handles to keep the semicircle balanced rather than unusually tall or flat.
Keep the doughnut hole large enough for a central number, if you plan to add one.

You can add a central number with a text box placed over the hole, or place a linked cell value in a nearby dashboard cell. A text box is easy to position but may need adjustment if the chart is resized. For a polished sheet, group related objects where available and check the layout after changing the chart’s dimensions.

Show values without misleading labels

One common surprise is that Excel’s percentage data labels calculate each slice as a share of the entire chart, including the hidden section. With values 65, 35, and 100, Excel’s displayed percentages for the first two slices are 32.5 percent and 17.5 percent, not 65 percent and 35 percent. The hidden section still contributes to the chart total even though it is not visible.

If you want labels on the arc, use data labels that show the category name or value rather than the chart percentage. Select a visible slice, choose Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Data Labels, then use Format Data Labels to choose the information to show. The exact label options can vary with the chart and Excel version. Another practical choice is to leave labels off the arc and put the completion figure in the doughnut hole or in an adjacent cell.

For a live gauge, put the current value in B2 and the remaining amount in B3. With the current value in B2 and a 100-point target, enter this in B3:

=100-B2

If B2 contains 65, the formula returns 35, so the visible values total 100 and the hidden value can remain 100. Keep the current value within the intended range. A negative remainder or a value above the target can make a gauge confusing; decide how your worksheet should handle values below zero or above 100 before presenting it.

Common problems and fixes

The chart is still a full ring: The hidden slice may still have a fill or outline. Format that data point, not the full series, and set both Fill and Border to No fill and No line.
The gap is in the wrong place: Check Angle of first slice and the data-point order. The hidden value should be the last category for the suggested setup.
The half-circle is divided in unexpected proportions: Confirm that the hidden value equals the sum of the visible values. If it is larger or smaller, the visible arc will not be exactly half.
The labels show unexpected percentages: Excel includes the hidden value in the percentage calculation. Show values or category names instead, or provide the desired percentage outside the chart.
The hidden section appears as a white wedge: White fill is not the same as No fill. A white wedge can cover a colored background; set the point to No fill so the worksheet background can show through.
Only one slice is selected: Click once to select the series and click the same slice again to select the individual point. The selection handles and formatting-pane heading help identify what is selected.

Also check that the chart source includes all three values and that Excel has not interpreted a row as a separate series. A doughnut chart with multiple series creates concentric rings, which is usually not the intended result for a single semicircular gauge.

When to choose another chart

A half-circle gauge is useful when a dashboard needs a compact, familiar progress display. It is less suitable when readers must compare many values, see small differences, or understand exact amounts quickly. A horizontal bar chart often makes comparisons easier because people can judge lengths against a shared baseline.

For several categories, a regular doughnut or bar chart usually uses space more efficiently than trying to fit every category into half a ring. For a simple percentage, a large number with a progress bar may be clearer and easier to maintain. If the data changes frequently, a chart tied to worksheet cells updates automatically, but the graphic still needs a sensible scale and clear labels to avoid implying more precision than it provides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Excel have a half-circle chart type?
No. Create a doughnut or pie chart, then hide one portion of the series. A doughnut chart is generally preferred when you want a ring-shaped gauge with room for a value in the center.

What values make a doughnut chart show exactly half?
Make the hidden value equal to the sum of all visible values. For a gauge, visible values of 65 and 35 pair with a hidden value of 100, giving a total of 200 and placing half the total in the visible sections.

Why does my 65 percent slice label show 32.5 percent?
The hidden slice remains in Excel’s percentage denominator. With values 65, 35, and 100, the total is 200, so 65 is 32.5 percent of the full chart. Show the raw value or a separate 65 percent label instead.

Can I make the half-circle face downward?
Yes. Change Angle of first slice in Format Data Series, or change the order of the source categories, until the hidden segment is at the top and the visible arc is on the lower side.

Will the chart update when the value changes?
Yes, if the chart is linked to worksheet cells. Use a formula for the remaining amount, such as the formula above, and the visible slices update when the input changes. Recheck the chart if you change its category order or add data points.

Can I use a half-circle pie chart instead?
Yes. The same hidden-segment idea works with a pie chart, but it has no central hole. Choose a doughnut chart for a gauge-style ring and a pie chart only if a solid semicircle better fits the design.

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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