Get Access to World’s largest Template Library & Tools

How to Change the Legend in Microsoft Excel


Microsoft Excel makes it easy to modify chart legends, allowing you to present your data more effectively. Whether you’re refining a project for work or enhancing a report for school, mastering the customization of legends is crucial for clear and impactful data presentation.

How to Change the Legend in Microsoft Excel

 

Customizing the legend in Microsoft Excel charts is a straightforward way to improve the readability and appearance of your data visualizations. Follow these steps to adjust the legend and make your charts stand out.

  • Step 1. Select Your Chart

    Begin by clicking on the chart you wish to modify. This action will activate the Chart Tools in the Excel ribbon, giving you access to design and formatting options.

  • Step 2. Access the Chart Elements Button

    step 2 access the chart elements button

    Look for the Chart Elements button (a green plus sign) near the top right corner of the selected chart. Clicking this button will reveal a list of chart elements that can be added, removed, or modified.

  • Step 3. Find the Legend Options

    step 3 find the legend options

    In the Chart Elements menu, hover over or click on the “Legend” option. This will either expand the legend options directly or show a small arrow. If an arrow appears, click it to view further customization options.

  • Step 4. Customize Legend Position and Style

    step 4 customize legend position and style

    From the Legend options, you can choose to change the position of the legend within the chart by selecting from predefined locations such as “Top,” “Bottom,” “Right,” “Left,” or “Custom.” For more detailed customization, right-click on the legend and select “Format Legend.” This opens a pane where you can adjust the fill, border, and text options to match your desired style.

  • Step 5. Apply and Review Changes

    After making adjustments, click anywhere outside the Format Legend pane or on the Excel sheet to apply the changes. Review your chart to ensure the legend is positioned and styled as desired, making any necessary adjustments for optimal presentation.

You may also find valuable insights in the following articles offering tips for Microsoft Excel:

note iconNote

Unlock Your Productivity with Over 100,000 Microsoft Excel Templates! Exclusively Available at Template.net – Download Now and Transform Your Data Handling Experience!

FAQs

How do I move the legend to a different position in my Excel chart?

Click the Chart Elements button, select “Legend,” and choose from the available positions such as Top, Bottom, Right, or Left.

Can I remove the legend from an Excel chart completely?

Yes, click the Chart Elements button and uncheck the “Legend” option to remove it from the chart.

Is it possible to change the font size of the legend in Excel?

Right-click the legend, select “Format Legend,” and then adjust the font size under the Text Options tab.

How can I change the color of the text in the chart legend?

In the Format Legend pane, under Text Options, select Text Fill, and choose a new color for your legend text.

Can I edit the text of the legend entries in Excel?

To edit legend text, you must change the text of the data series or data points in the source data or the chart itself, not directly within the legend.

More in Excel

How to Calculate Columns in Microsoft ExcelHow to Change a Formula to a Value in Microsoft Excel
How to Flip Rows and Columns in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make a Box in Microsoft Excel
How to Use NPV in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make a List of Numbers in Microsoft Excel
How to Make a Sensitivity Table in Microsoft ExcelHow to Keep 0 in Front of a Number in Microsoft Excel
How to Do an Absolute Reference in Microsoft ExcelHow to Put a Drop Down in Microsoft Excel
How to Change a Negative Number to Positive in ExcelHow to Combine Tables in Microsoft Excel
How to Highlight Blank Cells in Microsoft ExcelHow to Save a Macro in Microsoft Excel
How to Sort by Month in Microsoft ExcelHow to Do a Percentage Increase in Microsoft Excel
How to Apply Filter in Microsoft ExcelHow to Delete Multiple Sheets in Microsoft Excel
How to Create a Slicer in Microsoft ExcelHow to Turn Microsoft Excel Data Into a Graph
How to Move a Page Break in Microsoft ExcelHow to Clear Table Format in Microsoft Excel
How to Extract the Year From a Date in Microsoft ExcelHow to Do a Bar Graph in Microsoft Excel
How to Change Theme in Microsoft ExcelHow to Calculate Cells in Microsoft Excel
How to Label X and Y Axis on Microsoft ExcelHow to Change Print Area in Microsoft Excel
How to Add 2 Cells in Microsoft ExcelHow to Write Vertically in Microsoft Excel
How to Display All Formulas in Microsoft ExcelHow to Change the Chart Style in Microsoft Excel
How to Enter Bullet Points in Microsoft ExcelHow to Change a Microsoft Excel File from Read Only
How to Show the Ribbon in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make a Clustered Column Chart in Excel
How to See Duplicates in Microsoft ExcelHow to Trim in Microsoft Excel
How to Do a Scatter Plot in Microsoft ExcelHow to Switch Cells in Microsoft Excel
How to Calculate Workdays in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make a Macro in Microsoft Excel
How to Create a Sensitivity Table in Microsoft ExcelHow to Calculate a Percentage in Microsoft Excel
How to Freeze 2 Rows in Microsoft ExcelHow to Import a File Into Microsoft Excel
How to Email a Microsoft Excel SheetHow to Create Labels in Word From Microsoft Excel
How to Auto-Adjust Row Height in Microsoft ExcelHow to Combine Tabs in Microsoft Excel
How to Wrap Text in a Microsoft Excel CellHow to Autofill the Date in Microsoft Excel
How to Fix a Circular Reference in Microsoft ExcelHow to Add a Label to an Axis in Microsoft Excel
How to Select a Row in Microsoft ExcelHow to Lock Cells in Microsoft Excel for Scrolling
How to Get Microsoft Excel to Round UpHow to Start a New Paragraph in Microsoft Excel
How to Insert Check Boxes in Microsoft ExcelHow to Change Horizontal Axis Values in Microsoft Excel
How to Enable the Developer Tab in Microsoft ExcelHow to Copy a Row in Microsoft Excel
How to Delete Extra Pages in Microsoft ExcelHow to Change a CSV File to Microsoft Excel
How to Share and Edit Microsoft Excel FilesHow to Find a P-Value in Microsoft Excel
How to Compare Two Microsoft Excel Sheets for DuplicatesHow to Delete a Chart in Microsoft Excel
How to Put Dates in Order on Microsoft ExcelHow to Freeze Both Rows and Columns in Microsoft Excel
How to Recover a Corrupted Microsoft Excel FileHow to Save a Microsoft Excel File as a CSV
How to Unprotect a Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetHow to Add Rows in Microsoft Excel Using a Shortcut
How to Do a Count in Microsoft ExcelHow to Find the Sum of a Column in Microsoft Excel
How to Make a Note in Microsoft ExcelHow to Find the Slope on a Microsoft Excel Graph
How to Remove #DIV/0 in Microsoft ExcelHow to Insert Symbols in Microsoft Excel
How to Budget With Microsoft ExcelHow to Reorder Rows in Microsoft Excel
How to Calculate the Total in Microsoft ExcelHow to Search a Microsoft Excel Document
How to Autofit Cells in Microsoft ExcelHow to Get the Total in Microsoft Excel
How to Get Rid of Dashed Lines in ExcelHow to Find the P-Value in Microsoft Excel
How to Sort by Alphabetical Order in Microsoft ExcelHow to Make Sequential Numbers in Microsoft Excel
How to Add Boxes in Microsoft ExcelHow to Graph Using Microsoft Excel
How to Change the Default Font in Microsoft ExcelHow to Add Today's Date in Microsoft Excel
How to Move Rows Up in Microsoft ExcelHow to Delete a Tab in Microsoft Excel
How to Freeze the First Two Rows in Microsoft ExcelHow to Separate Words in Excel Using a Formula
How to Rename a Microsoft Excel FileHow to Budget on Microsoft Excel
bottom banner