Tableau is one of the most popular data visualization tools used by professionals worldwide. It helps convert raw data into meaningful insights through charts, graphs, and dashboards.
One of the most commonly used visualizations in Tableau is the pie chart. A pie chart is very useful for showing proportions or percentages of data in a simple, easy-to-understand way.
Many beginners struggle to display percentages in a Tableau pie chart. By default, Tableau may show numbers instead of percentages, which can make the chart less clear for users.
Recently, I created a Pie chart using Tableau to show sales by product category for a monthly review. The pie chart displayed slices in different colors, each representing a subcategory’s sales.
To show the share of Sales for each sub-category in the overall sales, I decided to display Sales percentages instead of sales figures. For this, I need to change the text label format and update the calculation.
In this article, we will learn, step by step, how to display percentages in a Tableau pie chart. We will also cover real-world use cases, common mistakes, and tips to improve your dashboard.
What is a Pie Chart in Tableau?
A pie chart is a circular chart that is divided into slices. Each slice represents a portion of the total value. Pie charts are mainly used to show percentage distribution.
For example:
- Sales by region
- Profit by category
- Customer distribution
Pie charts are useful when:
- You want to compare parts of a whole
- You have limited categories (3–6 is best)
However, pie charts should not be overused because too many slices can make them confusing.
Why Display Percentage in Pie Chart?
In a Tableau Pie chart, percentages show the proportion of a specific category relative to the total across all categories. Instead of showing numbers like sales, percentages show each slice as a share of the total, making it easy to understand relative sizes.
Displaying percentages is very important because:
- It makes data easy to understand
- Users can quickly see proportions
- It improves dashboard readability
- Helps in decision-making
For example, if total sales are $100,000 and the Furniture category accounts for $38,000, its percentage share would be 38%. Seeing 38% instead of 38,000 shows that Furniture accounts for more than one-third of total sales.
Display Percentage in Tableau Pie Chart
To display the percentage of a measure, such as sales and profit, we will first create a Pie chart using Tableau’s Superstore dataset.
Connect the dataset with Tableau and follow the steps below:
Create the Pie Chart
If you have not already created the Tableau Pie chart, do so first by following the steps below.
In this pie chart, I will show the share percentage of product categories in overall sales. For this, we need to add the dimension (category) to the color card in the Marks section.
After adding the dimension, change the Mark type to Pie Chart.
To distribute the data across the pie chart slices, we need to select a measure, such as sales or profit. In this example, we are displaying the sales share of the category, so we add Sales to the Angle card in the Marks.
In this pie chart, we can see the share of sales of a specific category out ot total sales.
Display Percentages on a Pie Chart
As of now, the sales shares of the category are displayed in numbers. To display them as percentages, click Sales on the Angle card, then select Quick Table Calculation > Percent of Total.
Now, as we hover over the pie chart, the slices will show the sales share as a percentage.
To display the percentage on the pie chart slices as labels, drag the Sales(angle) to the Label card in the Marks section.
To exclude decimals from the sales percentage, right-click the Sales label in the Marks section and select Format.
In the Default section, click on the Numbers dropdown and select Percentage. In the decimal places, set the number to 0 to remove decimals.
This will display the Pie chart percentages without decimal values.
At last, you can also adjust the alignment of the text label on the pie chart. To do this, click on the Label card in the Marks section, and then select the text position from the Alignment menu. Here, we can also change the label color from the Font.
The final output will be as shown in the image below, where we can see the product category’s sales share as a percentage of overall sales.
This way, we can show percentages in the Tableau pie chart by formatting the measure labels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How do I show a percentage in Tableau?
Use Quick Table Calculation → Percent of Total
Q2: Why is my percentage not showing?
You may not have applied the calculation properly
Q3: Can I show both value and percentage?
Yes, using label customization
Conclusion
In this Tableau tutorial, we have learned how to display percentages in a Tableau pie chart instead of numbers. We first understood what a pie chart shows as a percentage and why it’s useful for comparing categories.
Displaying percentages in a Tableau pie chart is a simple but powerful technique to improve data visualization.
It helps users understand data quickly and makes dashboards more effective. By following the steps explained in this guide, you can easily create professional pie charts in Tableau.
Make sure to follow best practices and avoid common mistakes. Also, try to use pie charts only when necessary and keep them clean and simple.
You may also like to read:
- Candlestick Chart in Tableau
- Trellis Chart in Tableau
- Barbell Chart in Tableau
- Pie Chart With Multiple Measures in Tableau
I am Bijay Kumar, the founder of SalesforceFAQs.com. Having over 10 years of experience working in salesforce technologies for clients across the world (Canada, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, etc.). I am a certified salesforce administrator and expert with experience in developing salesforce applications and projects. My goal is to make it easy for people to learn and use salesforce technologies by providing simple and easy-to-understand solutions. Check out the complete profile on About us.
