If you need to make a pie chart in Microsoft Excel, there are a few things you need to know. First, create a column of data that will hold the slices of the pie chart. For example, if you want to make a pie chart with six slices, create a column that holds the values 1-5. Next, create another column that will hold the labels for each slice. For example, if your data holds the values 1-5 and your labels are A, B, C, D, E and F respectively, your spreadsheet would look like this: Next, use the Pie Chart tool in Microsoft Excel to create your pie chart. To do this:

  1. Select the column of data that will hold the slices of the pie chart (in our example it would be Column A).
  2. Select the Pie Chart tool from the Tools menu (or press Alt+F11).
  3. In Column A select which slice you want to display onscreen (in our example it would be slice 1).
  4. Use the mouse pointer to drag across Column B until all of Column B is selected (this will select all of its cells). Then release the mouse button.
  5. Use Ctrl+Shift+Enter or Command+Shift+Enter to insert a new row at Row 2 and type “1” into cell A2 (this will insert a new value into cell A2 which is equal to slice 1 from our original data). 6. Repeat steps 4-5 for each subsequent slice in Column B (in other words: for slice 2 type “2” into cell A2; for slice 3 type “3” into cell A2 etc.). 7. Click on Cell C3 and drag it down until it intersects with Cell D3 (this will move Cell C3 so that it covers all but one cell in Row 3 - in our case Cell D3). 8. Type “Total” into Cell C4 ..

How to Create a Pie Chart in Excel

To create a pie chart in Excel, first, open your spreadsheet with the Excel app. We’ll use the following spreadsheet for this guide:

In your spreadsheet, select the data that you want to plot on your pie chart. Do not select the sum of any numbers as you probably don’t want to display it on your chart.

While your data is selected, in Excel’s ribbon at the top, click the “Insert” tab.

In the “Insert” tab, from the “Charts” section, select the “Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart” option (it’s shaped like a tiny pie chart).

Various pie chart options will appear.

To see how a pie chart will look like for your data, hover your cursor over the chart and a preview will appear.

Once you decide on a chart, click that chart to add it to your spreadsheet.

The chart is now available in your spreadsheet. To change the chart’s header, double-click the header and enter a new name.

You can change the chart’s position in your spreadsheet by dragging and dropping the chart. There’s an option to lock the position of your chart as well.

And that’s how you go about displaying your Excel data using slices on a pie!

RELATED: How to Lock the Position of a Chart in Excel

How to Customize the Pie Chart in Excel

The default pie chart design looks good on its own, but you can customize it if you want.

To do so, click your chart so it’s selected. Then, in Excel’s ribbon at the top, click the “Chart Design” tab.

In the “Chart Design” tab, you will find various chart customization options. If you’d like to change your chart’s color scheme, click the “Change Colors” option and pick a new scheme.

Similarly, to change your chart’s style, pick a new design from the “Chart Styles” section.

Lastly, if you want to use your chart outside of Excel, save the chart as an image file by right-clicking the chart and selecting “Save as Picture.”

And that’s how you personalize your pie charts in Microsoft Excel. If you’re creating a handout, you may want to save your Excel sheet as a PDF before printing it.

Making multiple pie charts in your spreadsheets? You can also group your charts with an Excel feature.

RELATED: How to Combine or Group Pie Charts in Microsoft Excel