How to Remove Data Labels from an Excel Chart [Step-by-Step] | WPS Office Blog (2024)

Data labels serve as a useful tool for organizing and improving the visual communication of your data. Nonetheless, there are occasions when these labels can create visual clutter and may not always offer major advantages. Thus, making the choice to eliminate them can contribute to a more polished presentation. This article aims to guide you through how you can remove data labels from a chart, enabling you to enhance the effectiveness of your data representation.

What is a Data Label?

Data labels act as signposts that clarify the significance of accompanying data. They can encompass numeric values or descriptive text, adjusting in real time as input values change. To swiftly identify a data series within a chart, incorporating data labels onto the data points proves helpful. By default, these labels are linked to the associated values on the worksheet, ensuring they automatically update whenever changes are made to these underlying values.

How to Remove Data Table Labels in Excel Chart

Data labels are useful for showing the exact values of the data points in a chart. However, sometimes they can clutter the chart and make it hard to see the overall trend or pattern. In such cases, you may want to remove the data labels from the chart and only display them when needed. This section will show you how can you remove data labels from a chart in Excel.

Let's examine the Pie chart provided. Observe that the data labels are currently visible. To eliminate these labels, follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Select the pie chart by clicking on any part of it with your mouse cursor.

Step 2: Click on the “+” icon at the top right corner of the chart. This will open a menu with different Chart Elements.

Step 3: Uncheck the box next to Data Labels in the Charts Elements menu. This will remove the data labels from the chart.

By following this method, you can easily remove the data labels from your pie chart and work on your data more efficiently.

How to Rename Data Table Labels in Excel Chart

Have you ever wanted to rename the labels on your chart in Excel? It's easier than you might think! Here's how you can rename Data Labels in an Excel Chart:

Step 1: To change what a data label says, you need to click on the Data Label three times. The first time, you will select all the data labels for the same type of data. The second time, you will select only the one you want to change. The third time, you will be able to edit the text inside the data label.

Step 2: Once you're in editing mode, you can type anything you want, or use a formula to show a different value.

Step 3: Users can also change the position of the Data Label by simply dragging the Data Label using the cursor.

Step 4: A Line Break can also be inserted by placing the cursor where the Line Break is needed and then pressing “Enter” on your keyboard.

Formatting the Text:

To style the text label, do this:

Step 1: Double-click on the Data Label and select the text you want to format.

Step 2: Right-click inside the text box and choose "Font".

Step 3: In the Font dialog box, you can change the font, style, size, and even the spacing between characters. Alternatively, the text in the Data Label can also be customized using the Formatting buttons in the Ribbon > Home Tab > Font Group.

That's it! You've successfully customized the data labels on your Excel chart. This simple process lets you customize your chart's labels and make them look just the way you want.

How to Change the Looks of Data Table Labels in Excel Chart

Want to make your chart's labels look better? It's simple! Just follow these steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the label you want to change and select “Format Data Label”.

Step 2: Click on "Label Options" and choose what you want to show in your labels.

That's it! Now you know how to change data labels in your Excel chart. It's an easy way to give your chart a better and more customized look.

Best Office Suite - WPS Office

WPS Office truly stands out as the ultimate office suite available. It covers a wide range of functions: from effortlessly converting documents into various formats to creating templates, crafting impressive presentations, and managing all sorts of data. All that and you won't need to spend a dime to kickstart your journey towards enhanced productivity. Its strong compatibility with Microsoft Office and the seamless integration of AI make tasks surprisingly smoother and more efficient than you could have ever imagined.

FAQs

Q1. How do you move data labels in a chart?

If you want to change where the labels are in your chart, you can do it easily. Here's how:

Option 1: Drag Them

Just click on a label and drag it where you want it to be.

Option 2: Use Chart Elements

Step 1: Click on any label to select all of them..

Step 2: On the top right corner of the Chart, find the “+” icon. This will open the Charts Step 3: Elements.

Step 4: Look for the "Data Labels" option and click the arrow.

Step 5: Choose where you want the labels to be.

Q2. How do you hide 0 in data labels?

There are different ways to hide 0 in data labels, depending on the type of chart and the format of the data. Here are some possible methods:

• For a pie chart, you can use a custom format code for the data labels. Select a data label, right-click and select Format Data Labels. Choose Number, then Custom, and enter 0;;; in the format code box.

• For a bar chart or a column chart, you can also use a custom format code for the data labels. Select a data label, right-click and select Format Data Labels. Choose Number, then Custom, and enter 0%;-0%; or 0%;-0%; “” in the format code box.

Q3. How do I remove overlapping data labels in Excel?

To remove overlapping data labels in Excel, you can use these methods:

• Swap Axis Labels Position: If negative and positive numbers cause label overlap, swap the X-axis labels below the bars. Right-click the X-axis, choose Format Axis, go to Axis Options, select Low in Specify Interval Unit, and the axis will move to the bottom, resolving the overlap.

• Adjust Space Between Bars: If labels overlap in a chart, adjust the space between bars. Right-click the chart, select Format Data Series, choose Series Options, set Series Overlap to -100% and Gap Width as needed to prevent overlap.

• Change Data Labels Alignment: Another way is to modify data labels' alignment. Right-click a label, select Format Data Labels, go to Size & Properties, choose Rotate All Text 270° under Alignment to avoid overlap.

Simplifying Data Label Management for Clearer Charts

This article has equipped you with practical insights on how you can remove data labels from a chart. This streamlines the clutter on your spreadsheets or Excel files, leading to a more organized look. For this task, the WPS Spreadsheet stands out as an excellent option due to its user-friendly nature. Download WPS Office to enhance your data presentation.