Chart & Visualization Issues

How to Fix Incorrect Month Order in an Excel Sunburst Chart

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to correct the sequence of months displayed in an Excel Sunburst chart.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Visualizing hierarchical time-based data across a full year using a Sunburst chart.
Observed behavior: The Sunburst chart renders the months out of chronological order due to inconsistent formatting or incorrect sorting in the underlying dataset.

Before you start

Verify that your dataset does not contain blank rows in the hierarchy and ensure that all date or month values are formatted uniformly before generating the chart.

Solution 1Recommended

Sort the Source Hierarchy Chronologically

Sunburst charts rely directly on the structure of your source data. Sorting the dataset correctly is the most effective way to resolve ordering issues.

Excel does not automatically reorder slices inside a Sunburst chart. If your months appear out of order or alphabetically instead of chronologically, you must apply a custom sort to the underlying table.

Select your data range

Highlight the entire data table that feeds your Sunburst chart, making sure to include the month and activity columns.

Open the Sort dialog

Navigate to the 'Data' tab on the Excel ribbon and click the 'Sort' button to open the custom sort window.

Apply a Custom List sort

Choose your month column in the 'Sort by' dropdown. Under the 'Order' dropdown, select 'Custom List...' and pick the chronological month list (e.g., Jan, Feb, Mar) to enforce proper ordering.

Update the chart

Click 'OK' to apply the sort. The Sunburst chart will automatically refresh to display the months in the correct sequential order.

Data Consistency: Filling out missing data points and maintaining a strict hierarchy (Year > Month > Activity) ensures your Sunburst chart renders smoothly.

Solution 2

Standardize Date Formats Using Power Query

If the source dataset is complex or pulled from external sources, Power Query can standardize date types so the chart interprets them sequentially rather than alphabetically.

Visualize Data Easily

Create Beautiful Sunburst Charts with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet offers powerful, intuitive charting tools to seamlessly visualize complex hierarchical data like yearly and monthly distributions. It easily handles data sorting and chart formatting without the typical spreadsheet frustrations.

1. Prepare your data: Open your dataset in WPS Spreadsheet and ensure your hierarchy is clearly defined in adjacent columns (e.g., Year, Month, Values).
2. Sort the values: Highlight your data, navigate to the 'Data' tab, and select 'Custom Sort' to ensure your months follow a chronological order.
3. Insert the chart: Go to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon, click on 'Chart', and select the 'Sunburst' chart type.
4. Customize appearance: Use the chart tools menu that appears to adjust labels, colors, and layout directly on the canvas.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file formats.Intuitive custom sorting features to effortlessly fix date and month sequences.Built-in chart styling and quick generation for advanced charts like Sunburst and Treemap.Free, lightweight, and user-friendly interface for effortless data visualization.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Sunburst chart display months alphabetically instead of chronologically?

This happens when the spreadsheet interprets your month entries as standard text strings rather than date values. To fix this, you must sort the column using a Custom List (Jan, Feb, Mar, etc.) in the Data Sort menu.

Can I manually drag and drop to rearrange slices in a Sunburst chart?

No, Excel does not allow manual rearrangement of chart slices. The layout and order of slices in a Sunburst chart strictly mirror the order of the source data. You must reorganize the rows in your spreadsheet to change the chart's appearance.

Do I need a complete dataset for an Excel Sunburst chart to work?

Yes, Sunburst charts require complete and consistently structured hierarchical data. Missing parent nodes, blank cells, or inconsistent categorization can cause the chart to render incorrectly or break the visual rings.

Excel & Data Problems