Looker Studio Tutorial #11 — How to Build and Style Pie Charts
I walk you through practical techniques for adding clear, useful pie charts to your Looker Studio dashboard and for aligning them into a clean layout. This guide covers layout choices, data setup, styling, and rules of thumb so your dashboards look professional and remain readable.
If you prefer a step-by-step visual walkthrough, here is the video tutorial:
Step 1: Choose and lock your page layout
Before adding charts, set a column grid and stick to it. I usually pick a three-column layout. Three columns give enough flexibility: bar charts get a wider span when needed, while pie charts and small KPIs fit easily into single columns.
To set layout visually, I create one or two rectangular guides that match the column widths, duplicate them and align by the header and date range. Then I distribute horizontally so spacing stays consistent across the page.
Why this matters: Aligning elements to a grid prevents a “jotty” look and makes the dashboard faster to scan. If elements are off-grid, the page looks cluttered and data becomes harder to read.
Step 2: Add a pie chart and pick the right metric
Add a new chart and switch it to a pie or donut type depending on your preference. For user-type breakdowns (new vs returning), a pie chart works well because there are only a couple of segments.
I default pie charts to active users or total users depending on the KPI I want to highlight. You can also provide optional metrics so viewers can toggle between active users and total users without adding more tiles.
Step 3: Create a friendly dimension with a calculated field
Raw GA4 labels like “not set” or cryptic internal names make charts hard to read. I use a calculated dimension for user type to replace raw values with clean labels such as New, Returning, and Unknown. Paste your calculated field into the pie chart dimension to get readable segment names.
Tip: keep the labeling consistent across charts. When user type appears elsewhere, reuse the same calculated field so the naming stays identical across the whole dashboard.
Step 4: Style, colors and donut vs pie
Styling choices matter, but they should be consistent and functional.
- Donut or pie: Use inner radius to switch between pie and donut. Donuts can create a cleaner center area for a KPI or label, but either is fine as long as you keep the shape consistent across the report.
- Color strategy: Use dimension-based colors. This lets you change a color palette in one place and have that update across all charts that use those dimension colors — a huge time saver for larger dashboards.
- Number of slices: Limit slices to three when possible and group the rest into an Others bucket. If you have many categories, switch to a bar chart or table instead.
Using a single gradient color sometimes looks nice, but it reduces the viewer’s ability to instantly differentiate segments. I prefer distinct colors tied to a dimension palette for clarity.
Step 5: Labels, legend and readability
Configure labels so values are meaningful and legible. In most cases:
- Show percentages for pie charts so readers immediately grasp share.
- Adjust label font size and contrast so small slices still read clearly.
- Place the legend where it balances the chart — commonly to the right or left of the pie. When the legend sits close to other tiles, it creates tidy columns and easier scanning.
I turn on the header for charts with optional metrics so the metric icon and toggles remain visible. Cross-filtering between tiles helps explore details when needed, but you do not always need drill-down on a simple new vs returning chart.
Step 6: When to avoid pie charts and alternatives
Pie charts work well for two to three categories. I never use them for long lists. If you have 6 to 10 categories, a bar chart or a simple table delivers far better readability and allows sorting.
Rule of thumb: If a reader cannot quickly compare slices, switch to a different visualization. Use bars for ranked comparisons and tables for exact numbers.
Step 7: Final checks and switching to view mode
Once the chart is placed and styled, switch to view mode and test the chart behavior. Toggle optional metrics such as active users and total users to ensure the values update correctly. Verify cross-filtering and default date ranges so the chart reacts as you expect in real use.
Small adjustments during this phase, like tightening column spacing or resizing the legend, make the dashboard look polished and more trustworthy to stakeholders.
Tools I Use
Windsor.ai — simple connector for GA4, Google Ads, Facebook Ads and more.
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Supermetrics — powerful connector for agencies and multi-channel reporting.
Compare the best connectors for Meta Ads here:
Top Facebook Ads Connectors for Looker Studio — How to Choose the Right One
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Looker Studio Tutorial #10 — How to Build and Style Bar Charts
How to Visualize Data Over Time in Looker Studio Reports
Summary
Pie charts work best when they’re simple, consistent, and used for two or three categories. Set a clean column grid, limit the number of slices, and use calculated fields so labels look friendly. Stick to dimension-based colors for consistency across your dashboard.
When the categories get too long, switch to a bar chart or table — your readers will thank you.