How to Create a 3D Pie Chart in Tableau

Pie charts get a polarized reaction in the world of data visualization. Mention a 3D pie chart, and you might get even stronger opinions. While it’s true they aren’t always the best choice for precise data comparison, sometimes a 3D pie chart is exactly what's needed for a presentation, dashboard, or a specific client request. This guide will walk you through exactly how to create a visually appealing 3D pie chart in Tableau, turning a seemingly complex task into a few manageable steps.

A Quick Disclaimer: Why Bother with a 3D Pie Chart?

Before we jump into the "how," let's briefly touch on the "why" and "why not." Data purists often advise against 3D pie charts for a few very valid reasons. The 3D effect can distort perception, making slices in the foreground appear larger than those in the background, even if their data values are smaller. This perspective skew can make it difficult for viewers to accurately compare the proportions of each segment.

Edward Tufte, a pioneer in data visualization, famously criticized them for containing "low data density" and for prioritizing flashy graphics (what he calls "chartjunk") over clear communication. In most analytical scenarios, a simple bar chart is far more effective for comparing values because our brains are much better at judging length than they are at judging angles and area.

So, why learn how to make one?

• Aesthetics and Branding: Sometimes, the goal is to create a visually engaging report that matches a specific brand style. A well-executed 3D chart can look polished and professional in an infographic or a C-suite presentation.

• Client or Stakeholder Requests: The reality is, you'll sometimes be asked to create one. Being able to deliver on that request confidently is a valuable skill that shows your versatility with the tool.

• Learning Tableau's Capabilities: The process of building a 3D pie chart is a fantastic exercise in understanding some of Tableau’s more powerful features, like dual-axis charts and calculated fields. It’s a trick that teaches you fundamental concepts you can apply elsewhere.

Think of it as another tool in your visualization toolkit - one you'll use thoughtfully and sparingly.

Understanding the Trick: How We "Fake" 3D in Tableau

Tableau does not have a one-click option to create 3D charts. So, how do we do it? The technique involves a bit of creative ingenuity using one of Tableau's most flexible features: the dual-axis chart. We aren't actually creating a true three-dimensional object. Instead, we are creating a clever 2D illusion that looks 3D.

Here’s the core logic:

1. We will create two separate pie charts on the same worksheet.

2. One pie chart will be our "top layer." This is the colorful, segmented chart that displays our actual data.

3. The second pie chart will serve as the 3D "base" or "extrusion." It will be slightly larger, a solid color (like dark gray), and positioned just behind the top layer a little offset so that its edge gives an appearance of depth.

4. We will then use a dual-axis to overlay these two charts, creating the final 3D effect.

By understanding this concept, the following steps will make much more sense.

Step 1: Get Your Data Ready

For a pie chart, you need at least two things: a categorical dimension to define the slices and a numerical measure to determine the size of those slices.

Let's use the Sample - Superstore dataset that comes with Tableau. We will visualize Sales broken down by Category.

• Dimension: Category (which contains Furniture, Office Supplies, and Technology)

• Measure: Sales (the total sales amount for each category)

No special data prep is needed for this simple example, so let's start building.

Step 2: Build the First Pie Chart (The 3D "Base")

This "base" is what will give our chart its depth. Think of it as the shadow or the side of the pie.

1. Create a starting point. Open a new sheet in Tableau. On the Marks card, change the dropdown menu from 'Automatic' to 'Pie'. You won't see much happen yet, and that's okay.

2. Add your dimension and measure. Drag the Category dimension to Color on the Marks card. Drag the Sales measure to Angle on the Marks card. You should now see a basic, 2D pie chart.

3. Create a 'dummy' axis. A dual-axis chart requires an axis to work with. Since we are just centering a pie, we don't need a real axis based on our data. We can create a fake one. In the top menu, go to Analysis > Create Calculated Field. Name it something like "Placeholder" or "Zero Axis" and in the formula box, simply type the number 0. This field gives us a constant value to place on a shelf.

4. Duplicate the Axis. Drag your new Placeholder calculated field to the Rows shelf. Then, press the Control key (or Command on Mac) and drag the 'MIN(Placeholder)' pill next to itself on the Rows shelf. This should duplicate it, and you'll see two identical pie charts, one above the other.

5. Configure the 'Base' Chart. We now have two Marks cards available, one for each of our placeholder pills. Select the second (bottom) 'MIN(Placeholder)' card. This is where we will format our 3D base.

   • First, remove Category and SUM(Sales) from this Marks card. The pie should turn into a solid gray circle.

   • Click on Color and choose a dark gray or black.

   • Click on Size and drag the slider slightly to the right to make this circle a little bigger than the colored one above it. This tiny difference in size is key to creating the illusion of depth.

Step 3: A Little Magic with a Dual-Axis Chart

Now it's time to layer our two charts into one, making that 3D magic happen.

1. Create the dual-axis chart. On the Rows shelf, right-click the second 'MIN(Placeholder)' pill and select Dual Axis from the dropdown menu. Your two pie charts will now be overlaid on top of each other.

2. Fine Tune Final Pie Size and Alignment. With the bottom chart placeholder pill (our gray chart), use the arrow keys next to the placeholder pills on the shelf to adjust the gray solid circle until it peeks below the colored chart, creating a shadow effect for depth. Adjust both chart holders for personal aesthetic preference.

3. You may see one central object now, instead of distinctly positioned items. Edit the second placeholder pill to fine-tune the settings. In general, your new gray color part may be slightly under the bright color section. This gives a more professional and aesthetic look.

With the core structure in place, the last step is all about making it look clean and presentable.

Step 4: Putting on the Finishing Touches

This final phase of formatting separates a good visualization from a great one.

• Clean up the worksheet. We don't need the axes or grid lines. Right-click on any axis and uncheck 'Show Header'. Format the sheet to remove any zero lines or grid lines for a cleaner canvas.

• Add Labels. Clarity sells ideas and information much quicker. Select the Marks card for the top, colored pie chart.

  • Drag Category onto the Label mark.

  • Drag Sales onto the Label mark.

  • Drag Sales onto the Label mark again. Right-click this second SUM(Sales) pill, hover over Quick Table Calculation, and select Percent of Total.

• Edit formatting label text style. Organize the label content with clear spacing for easy readability.

After these touches, your design should look beautiful and ready.

Alternatives and Best Practices

Having learned this technique, it's also important to remember when not to use it. If the primary goal of your dashboard is quick, accurate, and unambiguous comparison between categories, a 3D pie chart is rarely the best choice. This is especially true if you have more than five or six slices, as the chart becomes cluttered and perception issues are magnified.

In those cases, stick to the basics. A simple horizontal bar chart is almost always better for comparing values across different categories. It’s clean, intuitive, and leaves no room for misinterpretation.

That way, it’s a lot clearer for anyone who receives this visual representation to understand the differences in sales performance, offering clear insights for action.

But when the time comes your stakeholders absolutely insist on such a presentation style, now you know how to build something that really shines.

Final Thoughts

Building a 3D pie chart in Tableau is an excellent showcase of how you can think outside the box to push the tool's limits. By layering two separate pie charts, a colored pie for your data and a slightly bigger solid-color pie for depth using a dual axes setup, and adding final touches, you create a stunning visual fit for a specific presentation slide, infographic, or dashboard summary.

While mastering creative visual tricks in tools like Tableau is rewarding, it can be time-consuming, while that valuable time could be used on analytical thoughts to find meaningful insights within the data. For many key tasks, especially when building real-time marketing and sales dashboards, efficiency is crucial. Graphed can help by removing repetitive reporting cycle tasks and streamlining dashboard creation, giving you more time to focus on analysis and decision-making.