Pie charts should be avoided when there are many categories, or when categories do not total 100%. The human eye has trouble comparing the relative size of slices in a pie chart, so pie charts should also be avoided when slices are similar, unless similarity is the point.
Pros
Simple, compact presentation Can be read “at a glance” with limited categories Excel can calculate % values automatically
Cons
Difficult to compare relative size of slices Become cluttered and dense as categories are added Limited to part-to-whole data Poor at showing change over time
Tips
Limit categories Avoid all 3d variants
See also: Dataviz expert Ann Emery’s Pie Chart Guidelines. Author
Dave Bruns
Hi - I’m Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.
