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You’ll agree when we say displaying data hierarchically makes it incredibly easy for audiences to interpret key insights in a data story.
Why?
Our brains can instantly recognize high-to-low or low-to-high order of information.
So visualizing data using charts that display hierarchical insights can help you persuade your target audience (or readers).
This is where a Sunburst Chart in Excel comes in.
A Sunburst Diagram is an easy-to-interpret and amazingly insightful visualization. You should give it a try in your data stories before the year elapses.
We understand Excel is the go-to data visualization tool, especially among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). But, the application comes with a pretty basic Sunburst Chart. You need extra effort and time to customize the chart to align with your requirements.
Worry not.
There’s a Sunburst Chart generator that comes with a super-friendly user interface (UI) to guarantee you access to hierarchical insights.
This blog will walk you through how to get started with Sunburst Diagram in Excel in your data stories. You’ll also discover how to leverage a Sunburst Chart maker to get the most out of your data.
Keep reading if you intend to take your Excel spreadsheet game to the expert level by using a third-party add-in.
Before we delve into the how-to guide, let define Sunburst Diagram for your data stories. In the coming section, you’ll also learn the appropriate and proven situations to apply this chart.
So let’s get down to business.
Definition: A sunburst chart is a circular graph used to visualize hierarchical data. It shows data in a series of concentric rings, with each ring representing a level in the hierarchy. The center of the chart represents the top level, and the segments radiate outward to show deeper levels.
Sunburst charts are great for showing part-to-whole relationships. They help you see how different segments contribute to the whole. Each segment’s size is proportional to its value, making it easy to compare sections at different levels.
These charts are particularly useful when dealing with multi-level data. They provide a clear visual representation that helps you quickly understand complex structures. By following the rings from the center outwards, you can trace the hierarchy and see how data is organized.
To get started, open your Excel.
Congratulations if you’ve installed the Sunburst graph maker (ChartExpo) in your Excel.
Once it is installed you will see a list of charts provided by ChartExpo.
You have two options you can find a Sunburst Chart in Excel in ChartExpo.
Let’s imagine you run multiple mobile phones shops across the country. You want to know the phone brands and their respective models that contribute hugely to your sales revenue.
Which chart would you go for?
If your answer is Sunburst Chart in Excel, you guessed right. Let’s assume the data below represents your business situation.
| Store | Brands | Models | Sales |
| Store | Samsung | Galaxy Z Flip3 | 639 |
| Store | Samsung | Galaxy S21 Ultra | 899 |
| Store | Samsung | Galaxy S20 | 887 |
| Store | Samsung | Galaxy Z-Fold | 625 |
| Store | Xiaomi | Black Shark | 690 |
| Store | Xiaomi | Civil | 560 |
| Store | Xiaomi | Redmi Note 10 | 967 |
| Store | Apple | iPhone 12 | 558 |
| Store | Apple | iPhone 13 Pro Max | 468 |
| Store | Motorola | Pure | 459 |
| Store | Motorola | Edge | 473 |
| Store | Motorola | Stylus | 941 |
| Store | Motorola | Razr | 736 |
| Store | OnePlus | 9 RT | 499 |
| Store | OnePlus | Nord 2 | 401 |
| Store | OnePlus | Nord CE | 664 |
| Store | OnePlus | 9 Pro | 619 |
Sunburst charts offer several benefits. These advantages make them a valuable tool for data visualization.
Clear Hierarchical Representation
Sunburst charts excel at showing hierarchical data. They provide a clear visual representation of how data is organized across different levels.
This makes it easy to understand complex structures. By following the rings from the center outward, viewers can see how data breaks down into subcategories. This hierarchical view is one of the key strengths of sunburst charts.
Easy Comparison
The size of each segment in a sunburst chart reflects its value. This makes it easy to compare different segments within the same level.
Viewers can quickly see which segments are larger or smaller. This visual comparison helps identify trends and patterns in the data. The ability to easily compare segments is a major advantage of sunburst charts.
Engaging Visuals
Sunburst charts are visually engaging. Their circular design and colorful segments draw the viewer’s attention.
This makes them more appealing than traditional bar or line charts. Engaging visuals help capture and retain the viewer’s interest. Sunburst charts are an effective way to present data in a visually appealing format.
Sunburst charts are versatile tools. They have many applications across different fields. Here are a few examples to get you started.
Business Analysis
In business, sunburst charts can help analyze market segments, sales data, or organizational structures. They provide a clear visual of how different parts of a business contribute to the whole.
For example, a company might use a sunburst chart to break down sales by region and product line. This helps identify strong and weak areas. Managers can then make informed decisions based on this visual data.
Academic Research
Researchers use sunburst charts to present complex data in a digestible format. These charts can show hierarchical relationships in fields like biology, linguistics, or sociology.
A researcher might use a sunburst chart to display the taxonomy of a group of organisms. This helps others understand the relationships between species. The visual format makes it easier to communicate findings to a broader audience.
Personal Projects
Sunburst charts aren’t limited to professional use. They can also be handy for personal projects, like organizing a family tree or planning a project.
For instance, you might create a sunburst chart to visualize your family’s genealogy. Each ring could represent a generation, with segments for each family member. This makes it easier to see relationships and track your ancestry.
Sunburst charts have several key components. Understanding these will help you create and interpret the chart effectively.
Central Node
The central node is the core of the chart. It represents the top-level category. From this node, all other segments radiate outwards. The central node is usually the largest and most important segment.
The size of the central node is not always significant. It’s more about its position as the starting point for the hierarchy. Think of it as the trunk of a tree, from which all branches (segments) grow.
Rings
Rings represent different levels of the hierarchy. Each ring is a layer, and each segment within the ring is a part of that layer. The closer the ring is to the center, the higher its level in the hierarchy.
Rings help you visualize how data is nested. By following the rings, you can see how top-level categories break down into subcategories, and so on. This makes it easier to understand the structure of your data.
Segments
Segments are the individual pieces within each ring. They show the actual data points. Each segment’s size reflects its value relative to the other segments at the same level.
Segments allow you to compare data within the same level. Larger segments indicate higher values, while smaller segments show lower values. This visual comparison is one of the strengths of sunburst charts.
Using sunburst charts effectively requires some best practices. These tips will help you make the most of this powerful visualization tool.
Keep It Simple
Simplicity is key. Avoid cluttering your chart with too much data. Stick to the most important information to keep your chart clear and easy to understand.
Complex charts can be overwhelming and hard to read. Focus on the main points you want to convey. A simple, clean chart is more effective at communicating your message.
Use Clear Labels
Clear labels are crucial for readability. Ensure that all segments are properly labeled with names and values. This helps viewers quickly grasp the information.
Avoid using overly technical terms or jargon in your labels. Simple, straightforward language makes your chart accessible to a wider audience. Clear labels ensure that your message is easily understood.
Choose Appropriate Colors
Color choices can enhance or detract from your chart. Use colors that are easy on the eyes and help differentiate segments. Avoid using too many colors, which can be confusing.
Consistent color schemes help viewers follow the data. Use contrasting colors for adjacent segments to make them stand out. Thoughtful color choices make your chart more visually appealing and easier to interpret.
ChartExpo is one of the best tools that over 30,000 professionals worldwide use to create Sunburst graphs and other insightful and easy-to-understand visualizations. It comes as an add-in you can easily install in your Excel to get the most from your data.
Labeling is one of the proven ways to make your data stories more compelling and easy to understand.
ChartExpo comes with easy-to-spot pencil-like icons to grant you unlimited freedom to label your Sunburst charts based on your needs.
This tool is loaded with 50-plus advanced charts in its library, such as:
The Sunburst Chart is ideal for displaying hierarchical insights into your data.
Each hierarchy level in the chart is represented by one ring or circle, with the innermost circle as the highest point of the hierarchy. A Sunburst Diagram (without hierarchical levels) shares remarkable similarities with a Donut Chart.
The go-to data visualization tool for many businesses is Excel because it’s easy to use and familiar to many.
However, it produces basic Sunburst Charts that require more time to customize and edit. Supercharge your Excel with add-ons, such as ChartExpo, to access charts that are amazingly easy to read.
Hierarchically displaying data is one of the easiest ways of extracting reliable insights.
What’s the best chart for the job other than the Sunburst Chart in Excel?
Well, a Sunburst Chart is such a visualization that designs experts use to determine the hierarchy of crucial data points.
So what Sunburst Diagram maker do we recommend?
We recommend you install third-party apps, such as ChartExpo in Excel, to access advanced charts. ChartExpo is an add-in you can easily download and install in your Excel spreadsheet.
ChartExpo’s extensive library has the Sunburst Graph, plus over 50 more charts. Besides, you don’t need programming or coding skills to visualize your data using the Sunburst Visualization generator.
Sign up for a 7-day free trial today to access Sunburst Charts that are amazingly easy to interpret and visually appealing to your target audience.
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