How to make a gauge chart
- Enter a label and the current value. Set Min and Max (they default to 0 and 100).
- Optionally enter a target to draw a marker on the arc.
- Add more rows for a row of gauges, which is useful for KPI dashboards.
- In Customize, choose the band style and where each band ends, the arc span, and whether to show a needle.
- Download the gauge.
Data format
| Column | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Label | Text | Optional |
| Value | Number | Required |
| Min | Number | Optional |
| Max | Number | Optional |
| Target (optional) | Number | Optional |
Up to 12 rows. Each row is one gauge. Min defaults to 0 and Max to 100 when left blank. Add more rows to show several gauges side by side. Colored bands are set in Chart options as percentages of the range.
Customization options
- Color bands: red/amber/green, reversed (lower is better), or a single fill color.
- Band boundaries as a percentage of the range.
- Arc span of 180°, 240° or 270°, with adjustable thickness.
- Needle, target marker, min/max labels and % of range.
Downloading and exporting
- PNG: best for slides, documents and the web. It supports transparent backgrounds, and you can choose standard, 2×, 4× or slide-sized (1920 × 1080) output.
- JPEG: a smaller file with a solid background.
- SVG: a true vector file. It stays sharp at any size and can be edited in Illustrator, Inkscape or Figma.
- PDF: vector PDF sized to the chart, A4 or US Letter. If your labels use characters outside the standard PDF fonts (for example Chinese, Arabic or emoji), the PDF uses a high-resolution image instead and tells you.
- CSV and .json: your data, or the whole chart with its settings, to re-open later.
When to use a gauge chart
- A single KPI against a known range or target: satisfaction score, uptime or budget used.
- Executive dashboards where status at a glance matters more than detail.
When to choose a different chart
- Comparing many values. Gauges take a lot of space for one number, so use a bar graph.
- Showing trends. A gauge shows only one moment; add a line graph for history.
- There is no meaningful range or target. Just show the number.
Common mistakes to avoid
Arbitrary bands
Red/amber/green bands imply judgement. Base them on real thresholds, such as SLA targets.
Values outside the range
If the value is above the maximum, the needle stops at the end but the number shown is exact, and you get a warning. Consider widening the range.
Too many gauges
A wall of gauges is hard to scan. Two to four gauges is plenty; use bars for more.
Practical examples
Customer satisfaction
Score 78 on a 0–100 scale with a target of 85, showing it is in the green band but below target.
Server uptime
99.2% on a range of 95–100 with bands at 50% and 80% of the range.
Budget usage
68% of annual budget spent, with reversed bands where higher means riskier.
How the needle and bands are placed
The needle angle is (value − min) ÷ (max − min) of the arc span. A value of 78 on a 0–100 half-circle sits at 78% of 180°, which is 140° from the left end. Band boundaries are percentages of the same range, so a band ending at 80% on a 0–100 scale ends at the value 80, and on a 50–150 scale it ends at 130.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a speedometer chart?
Yes. A gauge with a needle is a speedometer chart. Choose a 240° or 270° arc for a classic dial look.
Can I show several gauges?
Yes. Each row is a gauge, arranged in a grid automatically, up to 12.
How do I make lower values good?
Set Color bands to Green / amber / red (lower is better).
Can the minimum be negative?
Yes, as long as Max is greater than Min.
How do I show a percentage?
Use a 0–100 range with a “%” suffix, or turn on “Show % of range”.
Your data stays private
Charts are drawn by your browser. Your data isn’t uploaded to our servers; it is kept only in this browser’s storage, for autosave and saved charts, until you clear it. See our privacy policy.