Power BI Pie Charts

Data visualization is important for understanding data. Power BI has a lot of charts and other ways to present your data, making it a lot easier for your audience to understand it. The Pie chart is one of those charts that have always been very popular because of its simplicity and visualization. Understanding pie charts is important because pie charts are mainly used to visualize the distribution of data across several different categories. We will take a look at pie charts in Power BI, how to use them, and how to create them step-by-step in this blog.

Table of Contents:

• What is a Pie Chart?
• Data Represented by a Pie Chart in Power BI
• How to Understand the Pie Chart
• Best Practices for Pie Chart
• Common Pitfalls
• Alternative to Pie Charts
• Conclusion

What is a Pie Chart?

A Pie Chart in Power BI is a circular statistical graph that uses slices to compare numerical proportions. Each slice represents a part’s contribution to the total value. The entire circle represents 100%, and each slice visually shows how much each part contributes to that whole. Pie charts are great for showing the relative sizes of different categories, which helps users easily understand the distribution of data.

When to Use Pie Charts:

• When you want to show the proportion of the whole.
• When you want to compare a small number of categories.
• The categories are mutually exclusive and do not overlap.
• You want to provide a high-level summary.

Data Represented by a Pie Chart in Power BI

Example Dataset:

Let us use a dataset to create a Pie chart.

Step 1: Load the Dataset into Power BI

Click Home>Get Data>Text/CSV

After following the steps, your data will be loaded into Power BI.

This is what your dataset will look like.

Step 2: In the Visualization Pane,

Click on the pie chart icon and drag the chart onto your canvas.

Step 3: Assign Data Fields

• Drag the Category to the legend field.
• Drag the Sales amount to the values field.

Output:

Explanation: This is how the Pie chart looks once it is created, which is used to compare the sales data across different categories.

How to Understand the Pie Chart

Now that you have created a pie chart, here’s how to read it.

• Size of Slice: Indicates the proportion of sales each category contributes.
• Color Coding: Helps identify categories at a glance.
• Labels: Show both the sales amount and percentage of total.

Example Interpretation:

From the example pie chart:

• Electronics has the largest slice (43.7%)
• Books have the smallest (6.25%)
• We can see that Electronics dominates sales, followed by Clothing.

Best Practices for Pie Chart

• Number of Slices: When you are using a pie chart for interpretation, make sure it doesn’t contain many slices; Limit the number of slices (3-5).
• Use colors: When using a pie chart, use different colors for each slice, which helps you to differentiate them easily.
• Use labels: Try to include percentage labels, as they are easier to understand.
• Sort: Try to sort the slices either from largest to smallest or from smallest to largest.

Common Pitfalls

• Overcrowding: Including too many categories in a pie chart causes tiny slices, which makes it hard for viewers to quickly understand the data distribution.
• Ambiguous colours: Avoid using similar colours, which can make slices look identical and create confusion for viewers in identifying which slices represent which category.
• No Labels: Without data labels, users are forced to guess the values or percentages. Labels provide clarity and context, which makes the chart more interactive.

Alternative to Pie Charts

If your data becomes too complicated or crowded, you can use a better visualization:

Bar Charts

• A Bar Chart is better for comparing when you have multiple values side by side.
• Easier to read when the values are close.

Stacked Column Charts

• Stacked Column Charts show part to whole in a vertical layout.
• It is good for showing change over time across segments.

Donut Charts

• It is very similar to a pie chart but has a central blank space.
• It is used for making your dashboard aesthetics, but also has some limitations.

Conclusion

Pie charts in Power BI are a simple but powerful way to express information to the audience. When used correctly with a limited number of categories, clear labels, and distinct colors, they can deliver information quickly. However, they must be used with caution to avoid common pitfalls, such as overcrowding and misleading designs. By understanding their strengths and limitations and knowing when to consider alternative visuals, you can create pie charts for presenting information.

To learn more about Power BI and its functions, check out this Power BI Course and also explore Power BI Interview Questions prepared by industry experts.

Pie Charts in Power BI – FAQs