How to☝️ Create a Pie Chart from a Single Column

Building a one-column pie chart that accurately accounts for multiple occurrences of the same value in a data set is a pretty challenging task for newbies.

Excel Pie Chart from a Single Column Template – Free Download

But not if you’re armed with the technique you’re about to learn about today. Stick around to find out how to build this one-column pie chart in less than 60 seconds – even if your list contains thousands of items.

How to create a pie chart from a single column in Excel

Sample Data

In order to show you the ropes, we’re going to use the following list of female baby names where some of them are repeated multiple times:

List of female names

Let’s delve right in.

Step 1. Set up a Pivot Table

The first step is to create a simple pivot table based on our column of data:

  1. Highlight the entire column with your data (A1:A14).
  2. Switch to the Insert tab.
  3. Click “PivotTable.
Create a pivot table

In the “Create PivotTable” dialog box, build your pivot table by following these simple steps:

  1. For “Select a table or range,” highlight the entire column (A1:A14).
  2. Select “Existing Worksheet” and pick any empty cell near your column (C1).
  3. Click “OK.
Map out the pivot table

In the PivotTable Fields task pane that appears, do the following to map out the structure of your pie chart:

  1. Drag “Name” to “Rows.”
  2. Drag “Name” to “Values.
shift the columns around

Having rearranged the values, your pivot table should look like this:

pivot table based on one column

Step 2. Create a Pie Chart from the Pivot Table

With everything we need in place, it’s time to create a pie chart Excel using the pivot table you just built.

  1. Select any cell in your pivot table (C1:D12).
  2. Navigate to the Insert tab.
  3. Hit the “Insert Pie or Doughnut Chart” button.
  4. Under “2-D Pie,” click “Pie.
Create a pie chart

Once you do that, Excel will automatically plot a pie graph using your pivot table.

one-column pie chart free template

Step 3. Clean up Your Pie Chart

Before calling it a day, let’s remove the field buttons related to our pivot table to make the graph look like a regular pie chart.

  1. Right-click on any of the field buttons – either “Count of Names” or “Names.
  2. Select “Hide All Field Buttons on Chart.
Hide all buttons on chart

Rewrite the default chart title, and you’re good to go!

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Daniel Smith
Daniel Smith
Daniel Smith is automation consultant with a passion for technology, data, AI, and machine learning.