Pie Chart vs Donut Chart: When to Use Each

Pie charts and donut charts are two of the most recognizable data visualizations. They both show parts of a whole, but they have subtle differences that make each better for specific situations. This guide explains when to pick one over the other.

What Is a Pie Chart?

A pie chart is a circle divided into slices where each slice represents a proportion of the total. The size of each slice is proportional to its value. Pie charts have been used since 1801 when William Playfair invented them.

Best for: showing simple percentage breakdowns with 2-5 categories.

What Is a Donut Chart?

A donut chart is a pie chart with a hole in the center. This hollow center can display a total value, a label, or simply serve as a design choice. Donut charts are increasingly popular in dashboards and infographics.

Best for: dashboards, infographics, and when you need space for a center label or KPI.

Key Differences

When to Use a Pie Chart

• You have 2-5 categories
• You want to emphasize one dominant category
• Your audience expects a traditional visualization
• All slices are clearly different in size (no slices under 5%)

When to Use a Donut Chart

• You want to display a total or KPI in the center
• You're building a dashboard with multiple charts
• You prefer a more modern, clean aesthetic
• You need to show multiple related breakdowns (nested rings)

When to Avoid Both

Neither pie nor donut charts are ideal when:

• You have more than 6 categories — use a bar chart instead
• Slices are similar in size — humans are bad at comparing angles; bars are clearer
• You need precise comparisons — bar charts are more accurate for reading exact values
• You're showing trends over time — use a line chart

How to Create Both in ChartLoad

Creating pie and donut charts in ChartLoad takes seconds:

1. Go to ChartLoad.com
2. Click Pie Chart or Donut Chart from the gallery
3. Enter your labels and values (or pick a template)
4. Customize colors — try the "pastel" or "corporate" palette
5. Download as PNG, PDF, or SVG

Pro tip: Use the colorblind-safe palette if your chart will be viewed by a diverse audience.

The Bottom Line

Both charts show the same data. Choose pie for simplicity and tradition, donut for modern dashboards and center labels. When in doubt, default to a bar chart — it's almost always clearer.

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Worked Example: SaaS Revenue by Plan

A SaaS founder needs one chart for the investor deck's MRR slide. The board wants the total monthly recurring revenue front and center, but also a quick read on which plan tier carries the business.

Sample data: Free $0, Starter $18,400, Pro $61,200, Enterprise $44,900 — total MRR $124,500 across 4 plans.

The donut wins here: the hollow center displays "$124.5K MRR" as the headline number, while the ring shows Pro and Enterprise together make up ~85% of revenue. A plain pie would force the total into a caption and bury the lede. With only 4 well-separated slices, readability stays high either way — so the center KPI is the deciding factor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are donut charts harder to read than pie charts?

Slightly, in theory — removing the center means your eye judges arc length and ring thickness instead of full wedge area, and studies on perception suggest that costs a little accuracy. In practice the difference is negligible for 2-6 clearly-sized slices, and the recovered center space for a total or KPI usually outweighs it.

Can I turn a donut chart into a pie chart later without re-entering data?

Yes. In ChartLoad the data table stays the same for both, so you can switch a pie to a donut (or back) by changing the chart type or adjusting the inner-radius / hole size. Your labels, values, and colors carry over instantly with no re-typing.

What hole size makes the best donut chart?

A center hole of roughly 40-60% of the chart's diameter is the sweet spot: large enough to fit a KPI or label, small enough that the ring stays thick and easy to read. Go above ~70% and the slices become thin slivers that are hard to compare; below ~30% and there's little room for a center value.