# The best chart for part of a whole

> Fourteen charts, and when each one fits.

**Short answer.** For a few parts that add up to one total, use a donut. To see the split change over time, use stacked bars. With many parts or a hierarchy, use a treemap or a sunburst. To compare the split across groups, use a marimekko.

Updated Nov 2, 2026 · SaaS sample data

## 017 · Donut

One total, four parts: who brings October’s $184K.

October revenue by plan. October revenue, $184K: Enterprise $82K (45%), Business $54K (29%), Team $31K (17%), Starter $17K (9%).

| Plan | Revenue | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enterprise | $82K | 45% |
| Business | $54K | 29% |
| Team | $31K | 17% |
| Starter | $17K | 9% |

## 030 · Treemap

The same total with a second level: plan, then North America (NA) or the rest (INTL).

October revenue by plan and region. October revenue by plan, split into North America and the rest; North America brings $87K.

| Plan | NA | INTL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Enterprise | $41K | $41K |
| Business | $24K | $30K |
| Team | $15K | $16K |
| Starter | $7K | $10K |

## 003 · Stacked bars

The same four plans month by month, in $K, so the shift shows.

Revenue by plan, November to October. Monthly revenue by plan in $K, from $156K to $184K; Enterprise grows from 37% to 45%.

| Month | Enterprise | Business | Team | Starter |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nov | 58 | 48 | 30 | 20 |
| Dec | 60 | 48 | 30 | 20 |
| Jan | 62 | 49 | 30 | 19 |
| Feb | 64 | 49 | 30 | 19 |
| Mar | 66 | 50 | 31 | 19 |
| Apr | 68 | 50 | 31 | 18 |
| May | 70 | 51 | 31 | 18 |
| Jun | 72 | 52 | 31 | 18 |
| Jul | 74 | 52 | 31 | 18 |
| Aug | 77 | 53 | 31 | 17 |
| Sep | 80 | 53 | 31 | 17 |
| Oct | 82 | 54 | 31 | 17 |

**Same $184K.** The donut gives the split: Enterprise is 45%. The treemap adds the level inside: North America brings $87K. The stacked bars show how it got there: Enterprise grew from 37% to 45% in a year.

## If you ask

| Question | Use a |
| --- | --- |
| How big is each part of one total? | 017 · Donut |
| How does the split change month to month? | 003 · Stacked bars |
| Which parts matter, out of twenty or more? | 030 · Treemap |
| What sits inside each part? | 022 · Sunburst |
| How does the split differ between groups? | 047 · Marimekko |
| How much of a limit is used? | 020 · Progress ring |

## All fourteen

| Type | Use it when | Data shape |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [003 · Stacked bars](https://usechartory.com/charts/stacked-bars) | Parts change over time | Periods × 2–5 parts |
| [017 · Donut](https://usechartory.com/charts/donut) | Two to six parts | 2–6 parts of one total |
| [018 · Semi donut](https://usechartory.com/charts/semi-donut) | One part against the rest | One part and the rest |
| [019 · Polar area](https://usechartory.com/charts/polar-area) | Parts with a cycle | 4–12 parts in a cycle |
| [020 · Progress ring](https://usechartory.com/charts/progress-ring) | One share of a limit | One value and its limit |
| [022 · Sunburst](https://usechartory.com/charts/sunburst) | Parts inside parts | Two levels: parts in parts |
| [030 · Treemap](https://usechartory.com/charts/treemap) | Many parts at once | Many parts, up to two levels |
| [035 · Packed bubbles](https://usechartory.com/charts/packed-bubbles) | Many parts, rough sizes | Many parts, one value each |
| [047 · Marimekko](https://usechartory.com/charts/marimekko) | Splits across groups | Groups × parts, two totals |
| [068 · Icicle](https://usechartory.com/charts/icicle) | A deep hierarchy | Three or more levels |
| [069 · Venn](https://usechartory.com/charts/venn) | Overlaps between sets | Two or three sets and their overlaps |
| [074 · Flame graph](https://usechartory.com/charts/flame-graph) | Where time or cost goes | A call stack with durations |
| [081 · Context ruler](https://usechartory.com/charts/context-ruler) | A share of a budget | Parts of a fixed budget |
| [097 · Isotype](https://usechartory.com/charts/isotype) | Counts people can read | Counts in whole units |

## Common mistakes

- **Too many slices** Past six parts the small slices turn into slivers. Group them into Other, or use a treemap.
- **Parts that overlap** Survey answers where people pick more than one are not parts of a whole. Use bars, or a venn for the overlaps.
- **Donuts side by side** Angles are hard to compare across charts. To compare splits between groups, use stacked bars or a marimekko.

## Every part-of-a-whole chart, and the other 116 types.

In Figma and React, in four sizes, light and dark. Pay once, every update. [See the fourteen in Charts](https://usechartory.com/charts#part-of-a-whole)

## Questions

### Which one is the pie chart?

017. It draws the full circle, with each part and its value in a list beside it. For one part against the rest, use the semi donut (018).

### How many slices can a donut hold?

Up to six read well. Past that, group the small ones into Other, or switch to a treemap.

### Do the parts have to add up to 100%?

Yes. Every chart here shows one total. If people can pick more than one answer, use bars, or a venn for the overlaps.

### Do these charts come in every size?

Yes. All fourteen come in XS, S, M and L, each laid out again for its size, in light and dark.

## Other questions

- [Change over time](https://usechartory.com/questions/change-over-time)
- [Compare items](https://usechartory.com/questions/compare-items)
- [Distribution](https://usechartory.com/questions/distribution)
- [Flow between steps](https://usechartory.com/questions/flow-between-steps)
- [Relationship](https://usechartory.com/questions/relationship)
- [Schedule and status](https://usechartory.com/questions/schedule-and-status)
- [Space and place](https://usechartory.com/questions/space-and-place)

Not sure it is a part of a whole? Start from what the chart has to show. [Open the Chart Chooser](https://usechartory.com/chooser)