Create Progress Donut Chart in Google Sheets

Creating a progress donut chart in Google Sheets can be a powerful way to visualize your data, especially when you want to show a part-to-whole relationship. This type of chart is perfect for displaying percentages, like project completion rates, sales targets, or progress towards goals. Let's dive into the step-by-step process of creating a progress donut chart in Google Sheets.

Before we begin, ensure you have Google Sheets open and a dataset ready. For this guide, let's assume you have a simple dataset with two columns: 'Task' and 'Completion Percentage'.

Preparing Your Data

Before creating the chart, it's crucial to ensure your data is clean and formatted correctly. For a progress donut chart, you'll need to have your data in a table format with the whole (total) and parts (individual data points) clearly defined.

In our example, the 'Completion Percentage' column represents the parts, and the sum of these percentages should equal 100% for the whole. If your data doesn't meet this criterion, you might need to adjust it before proceeding.

Creating the Donut Chart

Now that your data is ready, let's create the progress donut chart. Google Sheets uses the Pie chart type to create donut charts, so we'll start by creating a Pie chart and then adjusting its format.

Step 1: Create a Pie Chart

Select your data, then click on 'Insert chart' in the toolbar. In the 'Chart editor' panel that appears on the right, select 'Pie' as the chart type. Google Sheets will create a basic Pie chart based on your data.

Initially, the Pie chart might not look like a donut. To achieve the donut effect, we'll need to adjust the chart's format.

Step 2: Format the Chart as a Donut

In the 'Chart style' section of the 'Chart editor' panel, click on the 'Donut' option. This will create a hole in the center of your Pie chart, transforming it into a donut chart.

You can further customize the chart's appearance by adjusting the chart theme, colors, and other settings in the 'Chart style' section. Make sure to preview your changes in the chart to ensure they meet your needs.

Step 3: Add a Progress Bar

A progress donut chart typically includes a progress bar to indicate the current status. To add a progress bar, click on the chart to select it, then click on the 'Add a data label' icon (a small 'i' with a circle around it) in the toolbar.

In the 'Data label' panel that appears, select 'Value' as the data label type. This will add a percentage value to each slice of the donut chart. You can adjust the position and format of these labels as needed.

Customizing the Chart

Now that you have a basic progress donut chart, you can further customize it to meet your specific needs. Here are a few customization options to consider:

Change the Chart Title

Click on the chart title to select it, then enter your desired title. You can also adjust the font, size, and color of the title in the 'Chart & axis titles' section of the 'Chart editor' panel.

Add a Legend

In the 'Chart editor' panel, click on the 'Legend' toggle to add or remove a legend from your chart. You can also adjust the legend's position and format.

Creating a progress donut chart in Google Sheets is a straightforward process once you understand the basic steps. With a little customization, you can create engaging and informative visualizations that help you and your team track progress and make data-driven decisions. Happy charting!