Beginnercomposition
Donut Chart
A pie chart with a center hole — allows a summary metric in the middle.
Quick Facts
Complexity
beginner
Category
composition
Donut Chart · Example Data
When to use a Donut Chart
- Dashboard widgets where a center KPI label adds value
- Part-to-whole with 2–5 segments
- When you want a slightly more modern look than a pie chart
About the Donut Chart
A donut chart is a pie chart with its center removed. The hollow center can display a summary metric (like total count or percentage for the dominant segment), making it a practical upgrade over the standard pie chart for dashboards.
Most of the guidance for pie charts applies: limit to 5 segments, sort by size, and start at 12 o'clock. The donut is slightly easier to read than a pie chart because the eye compares arc lengths rather than sector areas, and arc length comparison is marginally more accurate.