Parts of a whole Pie and doughnut charts
Pie charts are a simple way to communicate that you are showing parts that make up a single total.
They are most effective when there are a small number of categories with significant differences in size.
A pie chart with a hollow centre is referred to as a doughnut chart. For simplicity, this guide uses the term "pie chart" to refer to both pie and doughnut charts.
Visual styles for pie charts are detailed in our chart style guide on Notion (opens in a new tab) .
Example of a pie chart
When to use a pie chart
Pie charts work best with a small number of categories, ideally three or four.
Avoid using more than six categories as this can make the chart difficult to interpret.
To reduce the number of segments, consider combining the smallest categories into an “other” category.
Use a pie chart when there are substantial differences between the sizes of the segments. If the differences are small, a bar chart is more effective.
Do not use a pie chart for:
- plotting rates for different groups, such as the unemployment rate for different age groups
- incomplete data where parts of the total are missing
- data that can exceed 100%, such as survey responses where participants can select multiple options
Comparing multiple distributions
Avoid using multiple pie charts to compare different groups as this makes comparisons difficult. Instead, use a stacked bar or stacked column chart to compare breakdowns.
Ordering segments
Arrange the segments clockwise starting from the 12 position on a clock.
Segments should generally be ordered from largest to smallest, with the “other” category, if used, placed last. See the Ordering in charts guidance (opens in a new tab) for more details.
Labelling
Label both the categories and their values directly on the pie chart wherever possible. Only use a legend when space is limited, such as on mobile devices.