How to create a dial chart in Excel

In this gauge chart tutorial, you will learn everything about speedometers. And how will this go? This definitive guide will show you how to create a gauge chart using a few easy steps. But, first, we’d like to give you a comprehensive picture of the speedometer kind of template.

What is a Gauge Chart, and how to use it?

The gauge chart offers a spectacular visualization to present the sales performance of representatives. There are more tricky ways to create the chart; we will show you the designs built on the pie and doughnut charts.

The created gauge could be a useful instrument for other (not only marketing/sales) fields but also for visualizing the goal and actual values. For example, a minor modification can show the 0-100% range and display other arbitrary values on the speedometer graph. This detailed tutorial will show you how to create a gauge chart from scratch!

How to create a gauge chart using Excel?

To create a Gauge Chart, do the following steps:

1. Specify the value range and parts you want the speedometer chart to show! For example, select the range F6:G10 (Column F for Donut Chart – Zone Settings) and (Column G for Pie Chart – Ticker Settings). The Pie series has 3 data points, and the Donut chart series has 4 data points.

How to create a dial chart in Excel

2. Go to the Insert Tab on the ribbon, and in the Charts Group, click on to Create Custom Combo chart icon to create the default chart.

How to create a dial chart in Excel

3. Choose Doughnut as the chart type. For the Pie series, choose Pie as the chart type. Use a secondary axis for the pie series.

How to create a dial chart in Excel

4. Click on the OK button!

5. Clean up the combo chart: Remove the chart title and the legend.

6. Select the chart area and go to the Format tab on the ribbon. Then, select the Pie series using the drop-down list in the Current Selection group.

How to create a dial chart in Excel

7. On the Format tab, click Format Selection in the Current Selection groupand type 240 degrees into the Angle of the first slice textbox.

How to create a dial chart in Excel

8. Choose the Donut Chart Series and Repeat Step 7! If you want to change the Donut Chart Hole Size, change the default value to 70%

How to create a dial chart in Excel

9. Select the Pie Chart series! Use the Ctrl and the left/right arrows to select a single data point. Change the Shape Styles group’s Shape Fill of each point on the Format tab. Point 1 = No Fill, point 2 = black and point 3 = No Fill.

10. Select the Donut Chart series! Use the Ctrl and the left/right arrows to select the Shape Fill of each point. Point 1 = Red, point 2 = Yellow, point 3 = Green, point 4 = No fill.

How to create a dial chart in Excel

Tips for creating a gauge chart

An explanation for Pie Chart Series: How to change the actual value between 0 and 100? First, click on cell G9 and check the formula. Next, use the Spin Button to change the value in cell G7. The formula in cell G9 ensures that the three slices sum up to 150 points.

Donut Chart Series explains that you can freely change the Red, yellow and green zone values. Important rules: Red zone + Yellow Zone + Green Zone = 100!

How to create a dial chart in Excel

Download the gauge chart template!

Excel Speedometers – Love it or hate it?

I heard this question a lot of times. However, when we talked with Excel experts, even the opinions of the professionals were divided if it is lucky to use them for displaying key performance indicators.

When we are running in the wrong direction, there is no sense in increasing the speed. Of course, we agree with this remark, but sometimes it is worth spending much energy and time developing something new and unique.

This is our case, and we hope the speedometer will be a favored tool!

There are some gauge chart tutorials for them also. We want to introduce a gauge chart for beginners in this part. The following templates are all free. We’ll present them below and say a few words about their usage.

We have also used some graphics to see the almost endless possibilities of the speedometer dashboard templates.

Build Dashboards using Gauge Chart Add-in

If the goal is to display only a few key performance indicators, then that takes only a maximum of 5 minutes, but if you have to show all the hands of a company with the use of a 50-100 gauge chart widget, the work still won’t take more than 15-20 minutes.

Gauge chart add-in is a part of our data visualization add-in that can dramatically enhance Excel’s functionality.

The Gauge Chart add-in works together with Excel simply and without any trouble. Instead of long hours before, it is only a matter of minutes to create a business dashboard or report. In addition, we have made a unique Excel add-in that elevates the dashboard, causing a new level, especially for top management and business analysts.

Awesome Excel Gauge chart Tool – 3 easy steps!

  • Install the add-in
  • Use Gauge charts to create awesome automated dashboards
  • Enjoy your work!

Finally, just a few words about the Excel Add-in:

  • Easy Gauge Manager
  • Linked cell handling
  • Easy Format changer
  • Gauge Skin Changer

Why should we use Gauge Charts?

You can apply gauge/speedometer charts in many-many fields. However, correctly determining the critical performance indicators is a severe task. Therefore, KPI is a huge subject; soon, we’ll introduce an article about KPI Dashboards.

We don’t mind that this subject divides people’s assumptions! It makes this profession beautiful! What would happen if everyone used the same tools? It would create templates that are spitting images of each other.

We recommend you the following steps. First, you should consider what you would like to use this tool for?

If you have the resources and the key performance indicators are all right, then you can take the last step to choose the appropriate kind of gauge. Do not forget the Excel infographics; they can boost the overall picture. As always, the decision is yours! Thank you for being with us today!

Pros and Cons

And finally, let’s see where a little summary will help you choose the cases you should use this kind of chart and the instances when you should avoid it from afar!

Use gauge chart templates if:

  • you like data visualization and would like to create unique reports
  • you don’t get scared of applying a few settings
  • the goal is to use one or two key performance indicators

Not recommended to use a gauge chart if:

  • you have to display more than two values
  • you wish for something simpler
  • don’t even have enough time to read this article through
  • not interested in the topic of KPIs

Conclusion

Thank you for being with us, and if you are interested in custom charts, join our YouTube channel; we share stunning chart ideas!

Free Gauge Chart Templates

We’ve divided this Gauge chart tutorial into some valuable articles:

  • Free Widgets – Circle, Quarter, and semi-circle style gauges
  • Product Metrics Dashboard using Gauge Chart

Training materials:

  • Project Management Templates in Excel
  • Sales Tracking Templates
  • Cycle Plot

Does Excel have a gauge chart?

Creating Gauge Chart with Multiple Ranges. Step 1 − Select the values data and create a Doughnut chart. Step 2 − Double click on the half portion of the Doughnut chart (shown in yellow color in the above chart). Step 3 − Right click and under the Fill category, select No Fill.