How to Create a Sunburst Chart in Excel Step by Step

To generate a Sunburst chart in Excel, arrange your data in columns from the highest level of the hierarchy to the lowest, put a numeric value in the final column, select the data, and choose Insert > Insert Hierarchy Chart > Sunburst. Excel turns each hierarchy level into a ring, making it easier to see how smaller categories contribute to a larger total.

The instructions below are for Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows. Sunburst charts are also available in supported desktop versions of Excel 2016 and later. You will get the clearest result when every row describes one lowest-level item and its parent categories.

What You’ll Need

Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, or a supported desktop version with Sunburst charts.
A table with one column for each level of the hierarchy, such as Division, Team, and Product, followed by a numeric measure such as Revenue.
Consistent category names and numeric values. A small sample table is useful for checking the chart before you use a large dataset.

Step-by-Step

Set up the hierarchy columns. Put the broadest category in the leftmost column and each more specific category in the column to its right. Put the number that determines segment size in the last column. For example, use Division, Team, Product, and Revenue as the headers. A row might contain North, Online, Accessories, and 1200. Another row can contain North, Online, Headphones, and 800. In the finished chart, Division is the innermost ring, Team is the next ring, and Product is the outer ring. Revenue controls the relative size of the product segments.
Check the rows before charting. Each row should represent one lowest-level category path and its value. Use a single header row, and do not insert blank rows, merged cells, or subtotal rows within the data. Make sure every value in the final column is a real number rather than a number stored as text. If the data comes from a report with repeated subtotals, clean or summarize it first: including a subtotal alongside its detail can make the chart misleading because the same amounts may be represented twice.
Decide how to handle repeated paths. It is normal for a parent name to repeat across many rows; for example, North may appear for several teams. But if the same complete path appears more than once, combine those records into one total before creating the chart when they represent the same item. You can summarize the source with a PivotTable or prepare a separate clean table. Avoid adding parent totals to the detail rows. A hierarchy chart should receive the values at the lowest level only, so Excel can build the parent segments from those values.
Select the source range. Click and drag across the headers and all data rows, including the numeric values. If you have a contiguous dataset, clicking any cell in it may also let Excel identify the range, but selecting the full range explicitly helps prevent missing rows or columns. For data you will update regularly, consider converting it into an Excel table first: select the range and choose Insert > Table, confirm that My table has headers is selected, and choose OK. A table is easier to maintain as new records are added, though you should still check the chart’s source range after substantial changes.
Insert the Sunburst chart. With the data selected, open the Insert tab. In the Charts area, choose Insert Hierarchy Chart, then select Sunburst. Excel inserts the chart into the worksheet. If the command is unavailable, confirm you are using a desktop Excel version that supports hierarchy charts and that the selection includes both the text hierarchy and numeric values. If Excel places the chart on top of the table, drag it to a clear area of the sheet.
Check that Excel interpreted the levels correctly. Read the rings from the center outward. The first hierarchy column should form the center-level categories, later hierarchy columns should appear farther out, and the final numeric column should affect segment size rather than appear as a category name. Look for missing labels, unexpected blank slices, or segments that seem far too large. If the rings do not reflect your intended structure, go back to the source data and check the column order, blank cells, and whether subtotal figures were included.
Add a meaningful title and labels. Select the chart, then use Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Chart Title > Above Chart to add a title that states what the values measure and, if helpful, the reporting period. To add or adjust labels, use Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Data Labels, then choose an available placement. For more control, open the data-label options from the chart and use the Format Data Labels pane. Available label choices can depend on the chart and Excel build. Show only what helps readers identify segments; a crowded chart is usually clearer with fewer labels and a supporting table.
Format and position the chart. Select the chart and use Chart Design > Change Colors to choose a palette. Related categories should be distinguishable, but avoid using many highly similar shades when viewers need to compare neighboring segments. Drag a corner handle to resize the chart without distorting it, and move it beside any table or explanation that gives it context. Keep the source data on the same sheet or in a clearly named worksheet so you can check a segment’s underlying value later.

Common Mistakes

Putting the value column in the wrong place: Category columns should come first, followed by the numeric measure. If values appear as labels or the chart forms an unexpected ring, inspect the selected range and make sure the measure is in the final column.

Including totals and detail together: A grand total or parent subtotal should not be included as another leaf value when the underlying detail is also present. That duplicates the contribution and exaggerates the size of a segment. Keep one value per lowest-level item and let Excel build the parent totals from the hierarchy.

Leaving gaps in the hierarchy: A blank parent or child cell can create an incomplete or confusing branch. Fill in the correct category where possible. If a level genuinely does not apply, use a consistent label such as Not applicable rather than leaving some records blank and others populated.

Using inconsistent category spelling: Online, On-line, and online may be treated as separate categories even if you mean the same thing. Standardize names and remove accidental spaces before building the chart. Also confirm that values are numeric and use the same unit, such as dollars throughout rather than a mixture of dollars and thousands of dollars.

Trying to show too much detail: A Sunburst chart with many tiny slices can become difficult to read, especially when labels overlap. Group minor categories into a single Other category where that grouping is appropriate, or limit the chart to a useful level of detail and provide the underlying data separately.

Tips

Start with a short, clean example containing a few parents and children. Once the rings look right, use the same structure for the full dataset. This makes it easier to identify whether a problem comes from the chart setup or from a particular record in the source.

Choose hierarchy levels that answer a real question. For example, Region, Channel, and Product can explain where sales come from, while Year, Quarter, and Month can show how a yearly total is divided over time. Adding levels simply because the fields exist often makes the chart harder to interpret.

Use labels sparingly. Category names are useful when there are only a few large segments; values or percentages can help when comparing contribution. If viewers need exact figures for many small slices, pair the visualization with a table rather than shrinking the labels until they are unreadable.

Keep a clear source table and avoid manually editing chart segments. The chart is driven by its data, so corrections belong in the source. If you later change category names or values, check that the chart updates and that the title, labels, and color choices still make sense.

For presentation or printing, give the chart enough space and check it at the size people will actually see it. A chart that looks legible when enlarged on a monitor may be hard to read in a small report. Use a descriptive title and explain the measure, units, and date range in nearby text if those details are not obvious.

Troubleshooting

The Sunburst option is missing. Confirm that you are using a version of desktop Excel that supports hierarchy charts, such as Excel 2016 or later, and that you have selected a suitable range containing category columns and numeric values. In Excel for Mac, look on the Insert tab for the hierarchy chart options; ribbon wording and layout can differ by release. Excel for the web may not offer the same chart-creation controls in every account or build. If the command is not available there, open the workbook in desktop Excel.

The chart is blank or looks nearly empty. Check that the source range includes the numeric measure column and that its cells contain usable numbers. Text-formatted numbers, blank values, or a selection that includes only category labels can prevent the chart from showing the expected segment sizes. Correct the cells, then select the chart and use Chart Design > Select Data to review the source range if needed.

There is an unexpected blank or unnamed segment. Look for empty cells in the hierarchy columns, including cells that look blank because they contain spaces. Fill or standardize those entries in the source table. Also check for rows with a value but no category path, since Excel cannot assign that value to the branch you intended.

The rings or category names are in the wrong order. Reorder the source columns so the broadest level is first and the most detailed level is next to the values. For example, a table arranged Product, Team, Division, Revenue will put Product at the center, which is usually the reverse of the intended view. After correcting the order, recreate the chart or update its data source and verify the center-to-edge structure again.

Labels overlap or disappear. Reduce the number of labels, enlarge the chart, or simplify the data to fewer categories. Use the Format Data Labels pane to adjust the options available for your chart. Excel cannot make every label readable when slices are very small, so a separate detail table may be the most practical solution.

New rows do not appear in the chart. If you added records after chart creation, check whether the source range includes them. A chart based on a normal range may not expand to cover new rows. Convert the source into an Excel table before adding records, or use Chart Design > Select Data to edit the chart’s source range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What data works best for a Sunburst chart?
Use one column per category level, ordered from broad to specific, and a final column of numeric values. Each row should describe one lowest-level item and its parent categories. Avoid blank levels, subtotals mixed with detail, and inconsistent labels.

Can I create a Sunburst chart without numbers?
A useful Sunburst chart needs values to determine the relative size of its segments. If you only have category names, add a meaningful measure, such as counts, or summarize the number of records for each lowest-level category before creating the chart.

Can I change which hierarchy level is in the center?
The order of the category columns determines the hierarchy order. Put the level you want nearest the center in the first category column, then arrange progressively more detailed levels to its right. Rebuild or update the chart after changing the source layout.

Can a Sunburst chart show percentages?
You can inspect the data-label settings available for the chart, but options vary with the chart and Excel version. If you need precise percentages for every category, calculate or display them in a supporting table rather than assuming the chart will show every requested value clearly.

Is a Sunburst chart the same as a Treemap?
No. Both display hierarchical data, but a Sunburst uses concentric rings, while a Treemap uses nested rectangles. Choose Sunburst when the parent-to-child paths and levels are important to show; choose Treemap when comparing the relative area of many categories is the priority.

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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