How to Make a Pie Chart in Google Sheets (Step-by-Step Guide)

Pie charts are one of the simplest and most effective ways to visualize data. Whether you’re showing survey results, budget breakdowns, or sales distribution, Explora BI Google Sheets Add-on makes it easy to turn numbers into a pie chart in just a few clicks.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to make a pie chart in Google Sheets, customize it for maximum impact, and even show you how to make your charts interactive with the Explora BI Charts Add-On.

Table of Contents

• Why Use a Pie Chart in Google Sheets?
• Step 1: Enter Your Data
• Step 2: Insert a Pie Chart in Google Sheets
• Step 3: Customize Your Pie Chart
• Step 4: Make Your Pie Chart with the Explora BI Add-On
• Step 5: Share Your Pie Chart
• Best Practices for Pie Charts
• Final Thoughts

Why Use a Pie Chart in Google Sheets?

A pie chart is great when you want to highlight proportions and percentages. Here are a few examples:

• Budget allocation: Show how much of your spending goes toward housing, food, travel, etc.

• Market share: Visualize competitors’ shares of a market.

• Survey results: Display responses in an easy-to-read format.

• Resource allocation: Show how different projects or departments use company resources.

Pie charts are quick to create and very easy for audiences to understand at a glance.

Step 1: Enter Your Data

First, make sure your data is structured correctly:

Each category should have a label in one column and its corresponding value in another.

Step 2: Insert a Pie Chart in Google Sheets

1. Highlight your data (both columns).

2. Go to the top menu and click Insert > Chart.

3. By default, Google Sheets will create a chart.

4. In the Chart editor panel on the right, change the chart type to Pie chart.

Now you have your basic pie chart!

Step 3: Customize Your Pie Chart

Google Sheets allows you to adjust your chart design. In the Customize tab of the Chart editor, you can:

• Change colors for each slice

• Add labels (percentages, values, or category names)

• Choose 2D or 3D pie chart

• Adjust the legend (position, font size, etc.)

• Add a chart title

This makes your chart easier to read and more professional.

Step 4: Make Your Pie Chart with the Explora BI Add-On

While the native Google Sheets pie chart is great for simple visuals, it has limitations — especially if you want advanced styling. That’s where the Explora BI Charts Add-On comes in.

With Explora BI, you can:

• Create pie charts with advanced styling.
• Change colors, fonts, labels, etc.
• Copy your configuration if you want to reuse it later.
• Embed the chart in your spreadsheet.
• Export as an image (JPG, PNG) or as a vector image (SVG)
• Share your charts with teammates or clients in a polished format.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Step 5: Share Your Pie Chart

Once your chart looks good, you can share it in multiple ways:

• Copy and paste into Google Docs or Slides.

• Publish to the web directly from Google Sheets.

• Download as PNG, PDF, or SVG.

This makes it easy to include your charts in reports, presentations, or client updates.

Best Practices for Pie Charts

Before you publish, keep these tips in mind:

• Use no more than 5–6 slices for clarity.

• Highlight the most important slice with color or emphasis.

• Label slices with percentages for easy interpretation.

• Avoid using too many similar colors.

• If your data has too many categories, consider a bar chart instead.

Final Thoughts

Making a pie chart in Google Sheets only takes a few clicks, and it’s one of the easiest ways to bring data to life. For simple visuals, the built-in tool works fine. But if you want professional-grade charts, the Explora BI Charts Add-On is the best way to upgrade your reporting.

Try it today and transform your Google Sheets: your team and clients will love.

Area charts are a fantastic tool when used correctly, offering a clear and impactful way to show trends and the cumulative impact of those trends over time. Whether you’re tracking website traffic, sales, or resource consumption, area charts allow you to show not just the growth or decline of data points but also how different categories contribute to a whole.

By focusing on the right use cases—such as cumulative data over time—and following best practices like using transparent colors and limiting categories, you can create area charts that enhance your data storytelling.