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]
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
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.
