— Menu — Home » Visualization » Gauge Chart Gauge Chart Last Updated on: September 2, 2022 “ & mem ® The popularity of the gauge chart is indisputable. It's a combination chart: a doughnut that displays the zones, and a pie chart indicates the actual value. Not only is it used by Excel PowerB| but leading Bl providers too. When you look at the above visualizations, it is clear why it is so widely used. When we talk about key performance indicators, gauge charts are essential. In today's, tutorial, we show you the making of the gauge chart using Excel. Furthermore, we'll assess the pros and cons. Finally, we provide you with chart templates free to download. What is a gauge chart? The concept of the gauge charts can be taken back to the dashboards of the cars. How easy is it to read the current speed? Probably this is why one other name for the chart isthe speedometer. This is how the gauge chart developed. They needed a solution that provided immediate feedback about the actual status of the indicators. These days a CEO doesn't have the time to examine reports lengthily. So a solution was needed that gives the feedback ASAP. “A" or B,” “yes or no” is that simple. We decide and, if necessary, intervene. After this introduction, let's see the most important part of the article and create our chart. After that, we'll talk about every little detail in the next chapter. The gauge chart is a key element of the dashboard; we can even call it the industry standard. How to create a Gauge chart in Excel? 1. Select the data range you want the speedometer to show! In this example, choose the range D3:£6 (Column D for Doughnut Chart) and (Column E for Pie Chart). The Pie chart series is based on 3 data points, and the Doughnut chart series has 4 data points. ©@ € JOM Tit TH oh Gauge Dual Gauge Tafic ight Radial Ring Bullet ScoveMeter Valance Special Vari Waterfall Meo Soles TieeMap Frequency © Chat Chan” Widget arChart Chat Charts~ Charts Charey Charts~ Chart Chart Funnel Chart” Distribution Ch aH Live Dashboard Tools ‘Advanced charts ua T fe c Db E F 6 4 i K L M 1 2 Zone Setup Donut Pie Ticker setup 2 Rea 25 7 Value 4 Orange 3 1 Ticker 5 Green 2 74 Restvalue 8 Masked 50 2. Select the D3:E6 range. Next, click on the Insert Tab on the ribbon. To create a custom combination chart, select the Combo Charts Group. Then, click on the ‘Create custom combo chart’ icon.ge chart effin © P Search View RC Developer UOT os gee DE ih? ae Blk eae ine » Sing People | Recommended SOM Addins ~ sags Gioph | hat a “ie vidy lily create Custom Combo Chat. snl ae ‘ine Column Wied loss 3. Choose Doughnut as the chart type for Series 1 and Pie chart type for Series 2. Make sure that mark the checkbox to Plot the Pie series on the secondary axis. Recommended Grats AUCharts comm le fl et Treemop Sint ‘choose the chart type and ais or your daa series: Histogram [Seiecname SS Rhye ‘cy FPORB REG SMORFOS Box Whisker | | WL setest Doughnut ¥ ia Wate — 1 senes2 me ¥ | qe Funnel (a) Fane) 4. Click the OK button! 5. Remove the title, border, background fill, and legend. 6. Select the chart area. Select the Format tab on the ribbon. Choose the Pie series using the drop-down list on the top-left corner. You can find this tool in the ‘Current Selection’group. Autosve CD) KE] Ov O- = gauge chet offviadse + Home insert Page Layout Formulas Review Oata.« View «RC Developer. UDT Chart Dee — Di Shope Fit =) =| =] (=) 2zame Dsrope tH ‘E] Reset to Match Style curve section Inset shapes shape styes Format Data series 7. Select the Format tab. Click the Format Selection type In the Current Selection group. Move the slider right to add 240 degrees to the Angle of the first slice field. By Format Data Series ~ x Series Options > 2 ill 4 Series Options Plot Series On a Secondary Pie Faplosion ' 8. Choose the Doughnut Chart Series. Repeat the last step and change the Doughnut Chart Hole size to 80%.Format Data Series Series Options © 2 ill 4 Series Options Angle of Fist sce + Doughnut Explosion ' Doughnat Hole Sie 9. Use the Ctrl and the left or right arrows to change the data points. First, click on the Format tab. Next, check the Shape Styles group. Finally, change the Shape Fill of each point. This example uses fill for Point 2 and no fill for Point 1 and Point 3. Autosve CD) KE] Or O- = gouge chet offsadse + ee Formues Review Data View RC re ee (DOSE EAA recatertensye ALLS S05 Current Selection Inset Sheps Shape st Wordéct Stes Chart 2 > Fe || =SERIES(Sheets $59, sheett!9€53:$555,2 c D E F & 4 1 ac . Format Data Point ‘Series Options ic Chart Title ) Gradient Fl ) Bicture or teture Fl 12 Pater fi 8 ) Automatic 4 1 ary colors by sce a (Wary colors by 1. moon pie » anmiee 10. Use the same method as Step 9. Select the Dougnut Chart series and Shape Fill of each point. Use red color for Point 1, yellow for Point 2, and green for point 3. Finally, use no fill for Point 4.utosave EL D> So > qugectanor. » 9 bice2isebeaebonenmsrocctcom 6) Bi ome insert Page Layout Formulas Review Data View AC Developer ChartDesign Format Mee See Eee vr God: A] | ae | acesee oe Enationstcdsye ALLE S| a Fe- A eae i a ve tapes snape aes 15 wea ses chert : Fz || Stnis(sheetis052, sneetiiS053:S036.3) rie wi jijis ge ° Format Data Pc ee Line = Seite Ticker GoM festa Peter etic Patent i. ‘Automatic i 2 Yay colon bystce = Color " te ania An explanation for Chart Series Let us see how the change the actual value between 0 and 100. First, edit the value in cell ES. Then, the formula in cell E7 ensures that the red, yellow, and green slices sum up to 150 points. Modify the upper and lower limits. Only one thing: Red zone + Yellow Zone + Green Zone must be equal to 100.4 1 4 K L M E F Pie Tickersetup 7 Value 1 Ticker 74 Restvalue Advantages of Gauge Charts Let's see why it is so popular! Here we'll see a short list containing the advantages of the chart. Gauge Chart provides actionable insights more easily and understandably, and it's a perfect decision to: * Measure the work completed vs. total work ratio * Create an alert when KPls reach a threshold value * Create sales vs. target comparison © Check the current rating of a product © Track project status Disadvantages of Gauge Charts There are many advantages, although there are some disadvantages also. * Its space consumption is more than that of a regular chart * Only the maximum two values can be displayed on it Extended usability: Multi-zones and Dual Gauge Chart In the figures below, we show two unusual solutions. First, we created more zones on the left side chart than the usually used three. Why is this good for us? We can even display ten zones and think about a customer satisfaction survey (for example, 1 — not satisfied, 10 —very satisfied). Not bad. If someone knows a better realization for this task, feel free to write to us.There is a dual gauge chart on the right side. With its help, it's easy to show the variance. We wanted to dispel misconceptions that the gauge chart cannot display plan vs. actual type indicators. This is a function not widely used, although it is visually effective. There is a demanding user class that can’t stand reports based on column or bar charts, ©@ # JO oad rll Gauge Dual Gauge Tafic Light Radial Ring Bullet ScoreMetr Variance Scecal Vari Waterfall Mako. Soler TeeMap Frequency Chat Chart Widget arChart Chart Charts~ Charts Chars» Charts~ Chart Chart Funnel Chart Distnbution Ch o reel Nao . & 50 Plan vs. Actual Alternatives of gauge charts But there are situations when it's best to use other solutions. For example, we can show the trend with line charts. The bar chart is great for comparisons, and the bullet chart can be helpful if your goal is to create a target vs. actual comparison. We have already written a long tutorial about Excel heat maps. Its characteristic represents the relations of complex data sets where colors display values. Create attention-grabbing visualizations At Excelkid.com, we believe that the gauge chart is the best tool for revolutionary data visualization in Excel. We can examine one value (radial gauge chart) or differences (dualgauge chart); its use is evident. Moreover, if we create a multi-zone chart, we can count on it even with complex problems. What can we say about that little group of people who reject its use first glance? To them, we recommend walking with open eyes in Excel charts and BI. After a bit of experience with them, they will realize it is hard to be without them. Ad ional resources: * Chart Templates - The Ultimate Guide * All about speedometers Category: il Visualization Istvan Vozar Istvan is the co-founder of Visual Analytics Ltd. 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