Gauge Chart in Excel: Build and Format One

To make a gauge chart in Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, create a doughnut chart from three values: the current value, the amount remaining to the maximum, and a second copy of the maximum. Hide the final slice to make a semicircle, then format the remaining slices as a gauge. Excel does not include a standard chart type called Gauge, so this is a practical workaround.

What a Gauge Chart Shows

A gauge chart, sometimes called a speedometer chart, places a value on a visual scale. It is useful when a reader needs to see at a glance whether a measure is low, on target, or approaching a limit. Common examples include progress toward a sales goal, a service-level score, or the percentage of a project completed.

Unlike a column chart, a gauge emphasizes one measure rather than comparing a set of categories. That makes it easy to read in a dashboard, but it also means a gauge usually provides less precise comparison than a labeled number or bar. Treat it as a visual summary, not a substitute for the underlying value and its units.

Excel’s built-in chart list includes doughnut charts but not a dedicated gauge chart. The familiar half-circle design is assembled from doughnut slices: the visible slices represent the scale, while an extra slice is hidden to create the flat bottom. The design can show progress simply, or be extended with colored threshold bands and an indicator.

Prepare the Gauge Values

Start with a clear maximum and a current value. For a simple progress-style gauge, suppose the scale runs from 0 to 100 and the current result is 68. The visible part of the ring needs a value of 68 for the completed portion and 32 for the remaining portion. A final value of 100 supplies the hidden half of the doughnut.

Set up a small table in a blank worksheet. With the maximum in A2 and the current value in B2, put the capped current value in C2. This formula prevents a result above the maximum or below zero from distorting the chart:

With the maximum in A2 and the current value in B2, use =MIN(MAX(B2,0),A2) in C2. For A2 equal to 100 and B2 equal to 68, C2 returns 68.

With the maximum in A2 and the capped current value in C2, use =A2-C2 in D2. In this example, D2 returns 32, the amount remaining.

With the maximum in A2, put =A2 in E2 to create the hidden slice value. It returns 100. The chart’s three values are therefore 68, 32, and 100. If the current value is already guaranteed to be within the scale, you can enter the values directly instead of using formulas.

Make sure the maximum is greater than zero and that the current value and maximum use the same units. A maximum of 100 paired with a current value recorded as 0.68 would produce a very different chart from a current value of 68.

Create the Semicircular Doughnut

Select the three chart values, C2:E2 in this example. Do not include the labels or the separate maximum and current-value input cells.
Choose Insert > Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart > Doughnut.
Select the chart, right-click a slice, and choose Format Data Series. In Series Options, adjust Angle of first slice so the hidden slice sits on the lower half of the chart. A setting of 270 degrees is a useful starting point; the direction can depend on the chart’s orientation, so check the result rather than relying on the number alone.
Click the slice representing the final value, 100, again if needed to select that individual data point. In Format Data Point, set Fill to No fill and Border to No line. The remaining visible slices should form the upper semicircle.

Excel’s formatting pane appears at the side of the window. If a click selects the whole series instead of one slice, click the slice a second time, taking care not to double-click so quickly that Excel opens a different editing mode. You can also use the chart’s selection controls on the Format tab to move between chart elements.

To color the progress and remainder separately, select each slice and use Format Data Point > Fill. For example, give the 68 slice a strong blue fill and the 32 slice a light gray fill. Use a solid fill for a clean dashboard appearance. On Excel for Mac, the same doughnut chart approach is available, although pane labels and ribbon layout can differ slightly. Excel for the web can handle common chart tasks, but some detailed formatting controls may be more limited; use the desktop app if you cannot access the needed point-level formatting.

Format the Gauge for Readability

Set the doughnut hole size to leave room for a prominent number. Select the doughnut series and adjust Doughnut Hole Size under Series Options; a value around 55% to 70% is a reasonable starting range, not a rule. A larger hole gives the center label more room, while a smaller hole makes the band thicker.

Keep the chart focused. Remove the legend if it only repeats information, and consider removing the chart title if a nearby dashboard heading already explains the measure. A center label can show the current value and unit, such as 68% or 68 of 100. To make a live label, insert a text box, select the text box border, click the formula bar, type = followed by the cell reference, and press Enter. For example, link it to the cell containing the current value. The text box then displays that cell’s contents and updates when the cell changes.

Use a distinct color for the completed portion and enough contrast against the remainder.
Keep a visible numeric value and, where useful, a short label such as On-time delivery.
Remove chart borders and backgrounds that compete with the data, but retain enough whitespace to separate the gauge from nearby visuals.
Use consistent scale limits when comparing gauges. A gauge capped at 100 is not directly comparable with one capped at 1,000.

Color alone should not carry the meaning. A red-to-green palette may be familiar, but it can be difficult for some readers to distinguish and may suggest a judgment that the data does not justify. Pair color with a number, text, or clearly labeled thresholds.

Add Threshold Bands or a Pointer

A basic three-slice gauge shows a colored completed arc and a remaining arc. It does not have a needle. That distinction matters: the chart’s colored progress segment is the indicator, and there is no separate pointer marking a precise location on a fixed scale.

For a gauge with threshold bands, divide the visible half into ranges. For example, a 0–100 scale might use three bands of 60, 30, and 10, followed by a hidden value of 100. Those values total 200, so the three bands occupy one half of the full doughnut and the hidden slice occupies the other half. Format the visible ranges in different colors to represent the categories. Choose thresholds that have a real meaning for the measure, and label them if a reader might not know what the colors represent.

Threshold bands alone do not tell the reader where a current value falls. A needle or marker can be added using a more elaborate chart construction, or a simple shape can be placed over the gauge. A manually placed shape will not move automatically when the value changes. If you need a genuinely dynamic pointer, test the construction carefully and document it; a standard doughnut chart does not provide a built-in gauge needle setting.

For many dashboards, a progress-style gauge plus a linked center value is clearer and easier to maintain than a needle design. If precise position matters, consider a bar or bullet-style chart instead. It is generally easier to label and compare than a decorative speedometer.

Common Problems and Fixes

The chart is a full ring. The final maximum-sized slice is still visible. Select that individual data point and set its fill and border to No fill and No line.
The flat edge is at the top or side. Change Angle of first slice in Series Options until the hidden slice is at the bottom. The setting rotates the chart; it does not change the data.
The gauge shows the wrong proportion. Check that the chart uses current, remaining, and maximum values in the intended order, and that the current value does not exceed the scale. Check that all values use matching units.
A slice will not format independently. Click once to select the series and click the specific slice again to select its data point. Confirm the pane says Format Data Point before changing its fill.
The center number does not update. A number typed directly into a text box is static. Link the text box through the formula bar to a worksheet cell, and make sure the reference points to the cell that actually changes.
The graphic looks precise but is hard to interpret. Add a scale label or threshold context, and keep the numeric value visible. A half-circle without tick marks does not communicate exact positions as reliably as a labeled scale.

When a Gauge Is—and Is Not—the Right Choice

Use a gauge when a single value must be understood quickly against a meaningful fixed range. It can work well as one compact element in a dashboard, especially when the audience already understands the scale and the chart is paired with a clear number.

A gauge is less suitable for comparing many departments, products, or time periods. Multiple half-circles consume space, and small differences between angles are hard to judge. A bar chart makes side-by-side comparisons easier; a line chart is better for change over time. If the goal is to show progress toward a target, a simple data bar or conditional formatting may communicate the same information with less visual decoration.

Also choose the scale carefully. A gauge with a moving or inconsistent maximum can make the same value appear more or less impressive from one report to another. If a measure has a meaningful target, show the target explicitly. If it has no meaningful upper bound, forcing it into a capped gauge can conceal important differences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Excel have a built-in gauge chart?
Not as a standard chart type in Excel for Microsoft 365. You can create a gauge-like display from a doughnut chart, and more elaborate versions use additional chart elements or shapes.

How do I make a half-doughnut chart in Excel?
Create a doughnut chart with values for the visible portions and an extra value equal to the visible total. Hide that extra slice, then rotate the chart until the hidden portion forms the lower half.

Can an Excel gauge chart update automatically?
Yes, if its chart values are linked to worksheet cells that change. Formulas can calculate the current portion and remaining portion. A manually drawn pointer or label, however, will not update unless it is linked or repositioned by another method.

Why does my gauge show a full circle?
The slice intended to make the lower half invisible is probably still filled, or the chart does not include the extra maximum-sized value. Confirm both the source data and the formatting of the final slice.

Can I make a gauge with red, yellow, and green zones?
Yes. Divide the visible scale into values for the zones, add a hidden slice equal to the visible total, and format each zone separately. Add a current-value label or marker as well, because the colored zones by themselves do not show the current result.

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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