How do I add and edit a legend in Excel?

On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data. In the Select Data Source dialog box, in the Legend Entries (Series) box, select the legend entry that you want to change. Click Edit . Tip: To add a new legend entry, click Add, or to remove a legend entry, click Remove.

How do I add text to a legend in Excel chart?

Edit legend texts Click the chart. Click Chart Filters. next to the chart, and click Select Data. Select an entry in the Legend Entries (Series) list, and click Edit. In the Series Name field, type a new legend entry. Tip: You can also select a cell from which the text is retrieved. Click the Identify Cell icon. ... Click OK.

Where is the chart legend in Excel?

Show a chart legend Select a chart and then select the plus sign to the top right. Point to Legend and select the arrow next to it.

How to format a legend in Excel?

Right-click the legend, and then click Format Legend . In the Format Legend task pane, pick the options that you want.

How do I add a legend?

Select the "Chart Elements" button: This button is the top one and looks like a plus sign. Click the box next to "Legend": This auto-generates a legend based on all the data in your chart.

How do you select and delete the legend in Excel?

Here are the steps to do it in Excel: Click on the chart to select it. Click on the legend to select it. Click on the legend entry that you want to delete. Press the Delete key on your keyboard. Feb 18, 2024

What is a chart legend?

For most charts, legends show the names and colors of each series of data . The legend text is taken from the chart's data range.

How to add legend in Excel chart mac?

Click the chart, then in the Format sidebar, click the Chart tab. In the Chart Options section, select the Legend checkbox.

Where do you put the legend on a graph?

Since geospatial charts can vary drastically in appearance, the legend can be placed on either side of the chart, top- or bottom-aligned , whatever best accommodates the content. To demonstrate the legend's background opacity, we chose to place the legend at the top left in the chart below.

How do I edit a series name in Excel?

Right-click the chart with the data series you want to rename, and click Select Data. In the Select Data Source dialog box, under Legend Entries (Series), select the data series, and click Edit. In the Series name box, type the name you want to use.

How to Format a figure legend?

The format of a legend often includes a title in a declarative form summarizing the result or content of the figure, followed by details about the figure elements . For instance, it explains what various colors, symbols, or abbreviations used in the figure represent.

How do I add back a deleted legend in an Excel chart?

After legend entries have been deleted, the only way to restore them is to remove and recreate the legend that contained them by setting the HasLegend property for the chart to False and then back to True .

How do I add a drop-down list in Excel?

Select the cell in the worksheet where you want the drop-down list. Go to the Data tab on the Ribbon, then select Data Validation. On the Settings tab, in the Allow box, select List . If it's OK for people to leave the cell empty, check the Ignore blank box.

Add and format a chart legend (2024)

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Click the chart to which you want to add a legend, click the Chart Elements button , and then click Legend.
To change the location of the legend, click the arrow next to Legend and then click the location that you want.

Tips:

By default, a legend does not overlap the chart. If you have space constraints, you may be able to reduce the size of the chart by clicking More Options and then clearing the Show the legend without overlapping the chart check box.
To remove a legend, right-click it, and then click Delete.

Once you add the chart legend, there are many things that you can do to change how it looks.

Change font or font size

Right-click the legend, and then click Font.
On the Font tab, make the changes that you want to the font or font size.
See Also
Scale a worksheet - Microsoft Support

Change legend border or background

Right-click the legend, and then click Format Legend.
In the Format Legend task pane, pick the options that you want.

Tip:You can really make your legend stand out by adding an effect. Click Effects and then pick the effect that you want. A wide variety of effects is available, including shadows, glows, and soft edges. (Just be careful not to go overboard: you probably don't want to clutter the presentation of your data.)

A legend can make your chart easier to read because it positions the labels for the data series outside the plot area of the chart. You can change the position of the legend and customize its colors and fonts. You can also edit the text in the legend and change the order of the entries in the legend.

On the View menu, click Print Layout.
Click the chart, and then click the Chart Design tab.
Click Add Chart Element > Legend.
To change the position of the legend, choose Right, Top, Left, or Bottom. To change the format of the legend, click More Legend Options, and then make the format changes that you want.

Depending on the chart type, some options may not be available.