How to Create a Progress Doughnut Chart in Excel (That Changes Colour)

Step-by-step

A progress doughnut shows how close a single number is to its goal, which makes it ideal for targets on a dashboard. You’ll build a simple version first, then one whose colour changes as progress rises.

Part 1: the basic progress doughnut

1. Set up two cells

Put the progress so far in B2 (for example 75%). In B3, work out what’s left to reach 100%. A plain =100%-B2 goes negative if progress passes 100%, so use:

=MAX(100%,B2)-B2

It returns zero once the goal is beaten, so the chart still draws correctly.

2. Insert the doughnut

Select B2:B3 and go to Insert > Pie > Doughnut. Delete the legend. Click the progress segment twice and give it a green Shape Fill, then fill the remainder light grey.

3. Add a live label in the middle

Select the chart first, then go to Insert > Shapes > Text Box and draw it in the centre. In the formula bar type =B2 and press Enter. The label now follows the cell. Style it to match the bar. Because it was drawn inside the chart, it moves with it.

4. Make the ring thicker

Right-click the ring, choose Format Data Series and set the Doughnut Hole Size to about 60%.

Part 2: a doughnut that changes colour

5. Split progress into levels

The trick is to give each colour its own series and show the value only in the series that matches. With the actual value in B18 and level limits of 50% and 75%, use three cells:

=IF(B18<=50%,B18,"")

=IF(AND(B18>50%,B18<=75%),B18,"")

=IF(B18>75%,B18,"")

Only one of the three ever shows a number; the others stay blank. Below them, add the remainder with =MAX(100%,B18)-B18.

6. Chart all four cells

Insert a doughnut from the first level cell, then drag the blue range handle down so the chart includes all three levels and the remainder. Blank cells simply don’t show.

7. Colour each level

Set the actual value to something in level 1 (say 45%) and colour that segment orange. Change it to 70% and colour the level 2 segment blue. Change it to 90% and colour level 3 green. Fill the remainder light grey. Now the bar turns orange, blue or green on its own as the number changes.

8. Add the labels and finish

Delete the legend and title. Insert a text box linked to the first level cell, format it, then press Ctrl+D to duplicate it and link the copies to the second and third level cells, in matching colours. Only the active level shows a value. Set the hole size to 60%, and add a 3-D effect from Format > Shape Effects if you like. Duplicate the whole chart to track several goals on a dashboard.

Go further

My Excel Charts, Infographics & Data Visualisation course teaches 20+ advanced charts like this from a blank sheet.