Adding data labels to Microsoft Excel charts is a great way to add extra information to your data. You can add text, images, or both. Here are some tips on how to add data labels to your Excel charts:
- Choose the right chart type When you want to add data labels to an Excel chart, you first need to choose the right chart type. There are three types of Excel charts: line charts, bar charts, and pie charts. Line and bar charts are the most common types of Excel charts.
- Add data points To add data points to your chart, you first need to select the appropriate data range in your spreadsheet. Then, use the Data Range tool on the ribbon (or press F5) to create a new range of values for your chart. The Data Range tool lets you select any number of data points within a specific range. You can also use this tool when you want to group related values together in a single range.
- Add text or images If you want to add text or images as part of your data label, you first needto choose which type of text or image you want to use for your label. Text labels can be used as simple statements or as more complex graphics that help show information about your data. Images can be used as illustrations or as part of graphs and plots in your spreadsheet workbook. When adding text labels, make sure that the font size is large enough so that all the words are legible onscreen (use smaller fonts if necessary). When adding images labels, make sure that they have a high resolution so that they look good on screen (use lower resolution if necessary).
When you create an Excel chart that contains a ton of data, it can be difficult to decipher it all at a glance. One helpful way to point out information is using data labels for a series of data points. We’ll show you how to use data labels here.
You can choose which series or points to use data labels for and select their positions. For example, data labels can become part of the bars on a column chart or displayed as callouts on a pie chart.
Add Data Labels to an Excel Chart
A great example of a chart that can benefit from data labels is a pie chart. Although you can use a legend for the pieces of the pie, you can save space and create an attractive chart using data labels. We’ll use a pie chart for our example.
RELATED: How to Make a Pie Chart in Microsoft Excel
Select your pie chart and go to the Chart Design tab that displays. Open the Add Chart Element drop-down menu in the Chart Layouts section of the ribbon.
Move your cursor to Data Labels and choose a position in the pop-out menu. For a pie chart, you’ll see options like center, inside end, outside end, best fit, and data callout. The available positions may differ depending on the chart type you use.
If you’re using Excel on Windows, you have an additional way to include data labels on your chart. Select the chart and then click the Chart Elements button (+) in the top right or left corner.
Check the box for Data Labels and use the arrow to the right to pick their positions from the pop-out menu.
Once you see your data labels on the chart, you can experiment with different positions to get the look you want.
Adjust the Data Label Details
After you add your data labels, you can choose which details to include, such as a category name, a value or percentage, or data from specific cells.
RELATED: How to Use Cell Values for Excel Chart Labels
Select the chart and return to the Add Chart Element drop-down menu on the Chart Design tab. Move your cursor to Data Labels and pick “More Data Label Options.”
When the Format Data Labels sidebar opens, confirm that you’re on the Label Options tab. You can then expand the Label Options section beneath and mark the details you want to display.
You can also include leader lines, add a legend key, and pick a separator type.
Customize the Data Labels
Along with the details you want to include in your data labels, you can change their appearance in the Format Data Labels sidebar.
At the top of the sidebar, use the different tabs to make your changes. Keep in mind the options vary depending on the data label type. For instance, you can change the fill color and adjust the transparency for data callouts. Other customization options include:
Fill & Line: Add a fill color or border and change the transparency. Effects: Create a shadow, glow, or 3-D effect. Size & Properties: Adjust the width and height, change the vertical alignment or text direction, and wrap the text.
Once you add your data labels, you may be able to adjust other parts of your chart. For example, you may want to remove the legend or reposition the chart title.
If you want to remove the data labels later, simply return to Chart Design > Add Chart Elements and choose “None” for Data Labels.
With data labels, you can give your chart viewers a quick and easy way to read parts of your chart at a glance. For more help with charts in Excel, check out how to create a chart template or how to rename a data series.
