Donut Chart
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.
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
