Charts & Visualizations

Donut Chart

A ring-shaped chart that displays proportional data with enhanced readability and nesting capabilities.

Definition

A donut chart is a variation of a pie chart with a hollow center that displays data as segments of a ring. The hollow center can be used to show summary statistics, nested data hierarchies, or additional context, making it more information-dense than traditional pie charts while maintaining part-to-whole relationships.

Examples

Revenue distribution by product

Chart Visualization

This example includes an interactive chart visualization with 3 data points.

Chart type: donut

Usage

Best Used For

  • Displaying hierarchical or multi-level proportional data (with caution)
  • Showing part-to-whole relationships with central KPI focus
  • Comparing segment proportions (slightly better than Pie due to arc length)
  • Visualizing nested categories or drill-down relationships (use sparingly)
  • Dashboard displays requiring compact proportional representations

Data Requirements

[Object]

When to use this chart

Single KPI completion

Data shape: Budget pacing: spend vs plan (one ring)

Same limitations as pie; never use for multi-category channel mix

Source: Few (2009) — donut center can host one summary number without adding accuracy

Limitations

Important Considerations

  • ⚠Still harder to accurately compare segment sizes than bar charts
  • ⚠Limited effectiveness beyond 6-8 primary segments
  • ⚠Nested rings may become too thin or complex to read effectively
  • ⚠Risk of overcomplicating simple data with unnecessary nesting

Best Used For

  • Displaying hierarchical or multi-level proportional data (with caution)
  • Showing part-to-whole relationships with central KPI focus
  • Comparing segment proportions (slightly better than Pie due to arc length)
  • Visualizing nested categories or drill-down relationships (use sparingly)
  • Dashboard displays requiring compact proportional representations

Supplemental Resources

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Donut Chart, answered.

What is a donut chart?
A donut chart is a pie chart with the center removed, leaving a ring of proportional segments around an empty hole. Each segment's angle represents its share of the total, exactly like a pie, while the central space can display the total value or a label. It's a popular dashboard chart for showing a simple composition with a headline number in the middle.
When should I use a donut chart?
Use it for the same situations as a pie chart — a single total split into 2–5 categories — when you also want to show a key number or label in the center, like a completion percentage or grand total. It's well suited to KPI tiles. As with pies, avoid it for many categories or when readers must compare similar-sized segments precisely; a bar chart is clearer there.
Donut chart vs pie chart — which is better?
They convey the same information and share the same strengths and weaknesses. The donut's hole can hold a total or label and some designers find the ring cleaner and less heavy than a solid pie. Neither fixes the underlying difficulty of comparing angles. Pick a donut when you want that central number; pick a pie for the simplest possible composition; pick a bar chart when accuracy matters.
Can I show a single percentage with a donut chart?
Yes — a two-segment donut (the value and the remainder) is a common way to show a single percentage like a goal's progress, with the number in the center. This 'gauge' style reads clearly because there are only two segments. Just keep it to that one comparison; stacking several single-value donuts side by side is fine, but cramming many categories into one donut isn't.
How many segments should a donut chart have?
Two to five, same as a pie. More segments produce thin arcs and a confusing color wheel, and the central hole makes thin outer arcs even harder to judge. For more categories, group a long tail into 'Other' or switch to a horizontal bar chart, which scales cleanly to many categories and supports precise comparison.

Related Terms

Pie Chart

Related term

charts, parent

Treemap

Related term

charts, alternative

Featured in topic hubs

Explore this term in context — alongside the related metrics, calculators, and guides curated in these hubs.

Data Visualization