How to Build a Sunburst Chart in PowerPoint With Custom Color Levels

Sunburst charts display hierarchical data in concentric rings, where each ring represents a level in the hierarchy. PowerPoint does not include a native sunburst chart type, so you must use an alternative method to create one. This article explains how to build a sunburst chart in PowerPoint using the doughnut chart and SmartArt tools, then apply custom colors to each level. You will learn the exact steps to structure your data, insert the chart, and format colors for each hierarchical ring.

Why PowerPoint Does Not Have a Native Sunburst Chart

PowerPoint’s chart engine is inherited from Excel and supports standard chart types such as pie, bar, line, and doughnut. Sunburst charts were introduced in Excel 2016 for Office 365, but PowerPoint never received a native sunburst chart option. When you insert a chart in PowerPoint, you are limited to the chart types available in the Insert Chart dialog box. Sunburst is not listed there.

To work around this limitation, you can build a sunburst chart by stacking multiple doughnut charts on top of each other. Each doughnut chart represents one level of the hierarchy. The outer ring shows the top-level categories, the next inner ring shows subcategories, and the innermost ring shows the most granular data. By adjusting each doughnut’s hole size and positioning them precisely, you create the visual illusion of a single sunburst chart.

This method gives you full control over color assignment for each data point, which is not possible with a single chart type. You can assign any RGB or theme color to each segment, making it easy to create custom color levels that match your brand or presentation theme.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, prepare your hierarchical data in a table. You need at least two levels of hierarchy. For example, a dataset about sales regions might have Region (level 1), Country (level 2), and City (level 3). Create separate tables for each level, with the values that determine the segment size. Ensure your data is numeric and positive because doughnut charts cannot display negative or zero values as visible segments.

Steps to Create the Sunburst Chart With Custom Colors

1. Insert the outer doughnut chart for the top hierarchy level
   Go to Insert > Chart and select Doughnut from the list. Click OK. A default doughnut chart and an Excel data sheet appear. Replace the sample data with your top-level categories and their values. For a three-level hierarchy, this is level 1. Close the Excel sheet after editing.
2. Remove the chart title and legend
   Click the chart title and press Delete. Click the legend and press Delete. You will add labels manually later. A clean chart area makes alignment easier.
3. Set the doughnut hole size to zero for the outer ring
   Right-click the doughnut chart and select Format Data Series. In the Format Data Series pane, set Doughnut Hole Size to 0%. This turns the ring into a full circle with no center hole, which will be the outermost ring of your sunburst chart.
4. Copy the chart and paste it for the next level
   Select the outer ring chart and press Ctrl+C. Click a blank area of the slide and press Ctrl+V. You now have two identical doughnut charts. The pasted chart will become the second ring (level 2).
5. Edit the data for the second ring
   Click the pasted chart. Go to Chart Design > Edit Data. Replace the data with your level 2 categories and their values. Each segment in this ring must correspond to a subcategory of the parent ring. Close the Excel sheet.
6. Adjust the doughnut hole size for the second ring
   Right-click the second chart and select Format Data Series. Set Doughnut Hole Size to a value that leaves a visible ring. For a three-level chart, try 40%. The hole size determines the width of the ring. Larger hole sizes produce thinner rings.
7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 for each additional level
   For the third level, paste another copy, edit the data, and set the doughnut hole size to 65% or higher. Each inner ring must have a larger hole size than the ring outside it. The innermost ring should have a hole size close to 80% so it appears as a small circle.
8. Align all rings to the exact center
   Select all charts by holding Ctrl and clicking each chart. Go to Shape Format > Align > Align Center. Then go to Shape Format > Align > Align Middle. The charts now overlap perfectly at the center. If the rings appear misaligned, use the arrow keys to nudge them pixel by pixel.
9. Apply custom colors to each data point
   Click a segment in the outermost ring to select it. Right-click and choose Format Data Point. In the Fill section, select Solid Fill and choose a color. Repeat for every segment in every ring. For a professional look, use a monochromatic palette where outer rings use darker shades and inner rings use lighter shades of the same hue.
10. Add data labels to each ring
    Select a ring, go to Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Data Labels > More Data Label Options. In the Format Data Labels pane, check Category Name and uncheck Value. Position labels outside end for the outer ring and inside end for inner rings. Adjust font size for readability.

Using SmartArt as an Alternative for Non-Numeric Hierarchies

If your data does not have numeric values and you only need to show the hierarchical structure without proportional segment sizes, use SmartArt instead. Go to Insert > SmartArt > Cycle > Radial Cycle. This creates a sunburst-like diagram with concentric circles. You can assign custom colors to each shape using Shape Fill. However, SmartArt does not represent numeric proportions, so use it only for conceptual diagrams.

Common Mistakes When Building a Sunburst Chart in PowerPoint

The rings do not align at the center

If the rings appear offset, you likely did not align them using Align Center and Align Middle. Additionally, ensure all charts have the same width and height. Select each chart and check the dimensions in Shape Format > Size. Manually set the same width and height for all rings before aligning them.

Colors look inconsistent across rings

When you apply colors manually, it is easy to pick similar but non-matching shades. Use the Eyedropper tool in Shape Fill to sample a color from an existing segment. Alternatively, define a color palette in advance using RGB values and apply them consistently.

The innermost ring is too thick or too thin

The doughnut hole size controls ring thickness. For a three-level chart, typical hole sizes are 0%, 40%, and 70%. Adjust these values incrementally by 5% until the visual balance looks right. Test the chart in Slide Show view to verify readability.

Data labels overlap and become unreadable

Overlapping labels occur when segments are small. Reduce font size to 8 pt or smaller for inner rings. You can also rotate labels or place them outside the chart area using the Outside End position. If segments are too small, consider grouping several small subcategories into an “Other” category to simplify the chart.

Doughnut Chart Method vs SmartArt for Sunburst Charts

Item	Doughnut Chart Method	SmartArt Radial Cycle
Data required	Numeric values for proportion sizing	No numeric values needed
Custom color levels	Per data point, full RGB control	Per shape, limited to theme colors
Alignment effort	Manual alignment of multiple charts	Automatic layout, no alignment needed
Hierarchy levels	Unlimited, but more work per level	Limited to 3 levels in Radial Cycle
Best use case	Data-driven presentations showing proportions	Conceptual diagrams without numeric values

Now you can build a sunburst chart in PowerPoint with custom color levels using stacked doughnut charts. Start by preparing your hierarchical data, then follow the alignment and formatting steps to create a clean, proportional visualization. For a faster alternative without numeric data, try the SmartArt Radial Cycle option. To refine the chart further, experiment with transparency settings in Format Data Point to create subtle overlay effects between rings.