Pie Chart Maker — Free Online

What Is a Pie Chart?

A pie chart is a circular graph divided into slices, where each slice represents a proportion of the whole. The size of each slice corresponds to its value relative to the total. Pie charts are one of the most recognizable data visualizations — they appear in business reports, news articles, school projects, and dashboards everywhere. This tool lets you create professional-looking pie charts instantly without any design software.

When to Use a Pie Chart

Pie charts work best when you want to show how parts make up a whole. They are ideal for: budget breakdowns (where does the money go?), survey results (what percentage chose each option?), market share comparisons, and composition analysis. They work best with 2-7 slices — too many slices make the chart hard to read. If you have more than 7 categories, consider grouping smaller ones into "Other."

Pie Chart vs. Bar Chart

Both visualize data, but they have different strengths. Pie charts are best for showing parts of a whole when you care about proportions. Bar charts are better for comparing individual values, showing trends over time, or handling many categories. If the question is "what fraction of the total?" — use a pie chart. If the question is "which is bigger?" — use a bar chart.

Reading Percentages

Each slice's percentage is calculated as (slice value / total of all values) times 100. A slice showing 25% means that category represents one quarter of the total. The percentages always add up to 100% (with minor rounding). Looking at the visual angle, a 25% slice occupies 90 degrees of the full 360-degree circle.

Donut Charts

A donut chart is a pie chart with the center removed. It displays the same information but leaves space in the middle for a label, total, or just cleaner aesthetics. Some data visualization experts prefer donut charts because they draw attention to the arc lengths (which humans compare more accurately) rather than the angles and areas of wedge shapes.