Moving A Chart’S Legend In Excel

by Jacky Chou
Updated on

##Key Takeaways:
– Moving a chart’s legend in Excel can enhance the visual presentation of data, making it easier for viewers to interpret the information.
– To move the legend within the chart, select the chart, find the legend, and click and drag it to a desired location.
– To move the legend to a different location, such as the right side of the chart or above the chart, use the chart tools and select the desired location option. Moving the legend to a separate worksheet is also an option.

Frustrated with the placement of your Excel chart legend? You can easily move it to make your chart more readable and impactful. Take control of your data visualization and make your charts stand out with this simple tip.

Moving the chart’s legend in Excel

To quickly move the chart’s legend in Excel, try these two solutions:

  1. Firstly, move the legend within the chart.
  2. Secondly, move the legend to a different spot.

Easy!

Moving the chart

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Yuval Woodhock

Steps to move the legend within the chart

Moving the Legend within a Chart in Excel is essential to enhance the readability of data. One can move the legend, which is located right below or beside the chart, within the chart to make it more organized and easy to understand.

  1. Select the chart on which you want to move the legend.
  2. Click on ‘Chart Elements’ (+) icon that appears on the upper-right corner of the chart.
  3. From the drop-down list, uncheck ‘Legend’. Now, again click on ‘Chart Elements’ and checkmark ‘Legend’ from it. The legend automatically moves inside the chart.

It’s important to note that a legend will be moved only if placed outside of a chart area. If it’s located inside (attached or built-in), then it cannot be moved.

A Pro Tip while moving legends in charts would be to ensure they don’t obstruct any essential data and leave enough white space between them for clearer comprehension.

Selecting the perfect chart is like finding a needle in a haystack, but with Excel, at least you don’t have to deal with the hay.

Selecting the chart

To begin modifying your chart in Excel, first click on the chart itself. This will select the entire chart and make its formatting options visible.

Select The ChartClick on the chart to enable formatting options
Select The ChartClick on the chart to enable formatting options

It’s important to note that simply clicking on one part of the chart, such as a data point or axis, won’t allow you to modify its overall structure.

Now that you’ve selected your chart, you can move on to making specific changes like repositioning its legend or adjusting data labels.

Pro Tip: Before making edits to your chart, always make sure you’ve saved a copy of the original version so that you can easily undo changes if needed in the future.

Legend has it that finding the legend in Excel is harder than finding a needle in a haystack, but fear not, we’ve got you covered in this next step.

Finding the legend

Located within the chart’s layout, the element that explains the meaning of colors and data points on a chart is commonly referred to as ‘locating chart’s legend’. Typically, this dynamic component is found on the right-hand side of a chart.

To move the legend, click on it until it becomes surrounded by small squares (known as handles). Next, drag and place it to your desired location within the chart. Once you finalize its position, release the mouse button and find your new legend in its new abode.

Another way you can accomplish this action is by right-clicking on the legend and selecting “Move Legend.” Here, you can also customize and modify items such as font size, color or shape.

Pro Tip: Before moving your legend around, consider its purpose in relation to your chart. Changing its location could affect readability or obscure vital data points.

Legend says that clicking and dragging can create chaos in life, but in Excel, it just moves the legend.

Clicking and dragging the legend

To move the legend within the chart, it can be done simply by clicking and dragging it.

Here is a 4-step guide on how to click and drag the legend within the chart:

  1. Select the legend by clicking on it.
  2. Move the cursor over it until you see a four-headed arrow.
  3. Click and hold down the left mouse button while moving the cursor where you want to move your legend.
  4. Release your mouse button to place your legend in its new location.

It’s essential to note that, by default, Excel places legends on top of the chart. Still, users can choose different locations through various formatting options available.

For better visualization, try putting the legend’s position next to one of the graph chart axes or below an edge of the chart area. It also helps increase readability when minimizing empty spaces between data points and labels.

Moving the legend within a chart not only improves readability but also balances out white space allocation. It can help make information more readable for people with visual disabilities.

By following these simple steps, users will be able to relocate their Excel charts according to their preferences, which ultimately optimizes their work productivity.

Legend has it, moving the legend within the chart is like playing a game of musical chairs – but without the chairs or the music.

Moving the legend to a different location

Changing the location of a chart’s legend can increase its readability and usability. Here’s how you can modify the legend’s position to enhance the visual appearance and clarity of charts in Excel.

  1. Select the chart that has the legend you want to move.
  2. Click on the Legend button in the Chart Layouts group under Chart Tools.
  3. Select More Legend Options at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
  4. Go to Legend Options, and select the desired placement for your chart legend from within nine orientations available under Legend Position.
  5. Click OK to update your chart with new legend placement.

As per users’ requirements or customization, moving legends is an advanced formatting technique in Excel, ensuring extraordinary presentation styles helps create attractive visuals.

In earlier versions of Excel, before Office365, most often with Windows OS updates, Microsoft had not been consistent about chart features. In rare cases “Moving Legends” would cause corruption or disrupt data integrity while modifying their position adversely impacted design quality.

Despite these occasional issues, moving a chart’s legend remains an essential part of modifying its layout as per user requirements.

Legend has it that moving the legend to the right side of the chart will give your Excel skills a legendary boost.

Moving the legend to the right side of the chart

Moving the chart’s legend to the right side of the chart area can enhance readability and reduce viewer confusion. This task is a common requirement when you need to include abundant text in your charts, and there’s no space for such texts at the bottom or top of the graph.

Here is a 5-step guide on how to move the legend to the right side of your chart:

  1. Open your Excel worksheet and select the chart that you want to modify.
  2. Right-click anywhere on the chart’s legend.
  3. Select “Format Legend” option from the drop-down menu.
  4. On Format Legend tab, click on “Legend Position” drop-down list. Select “Right” position option from available options.
  5. Click OK to save changes. Your chart’s legend is now moved to the right side of the chart!

It is important to note that this method works for all types of Excel charts, including line charts, column charts, bar charts, as well as pie charts.

Pro Tip: Always ensure that your chart data and its accompanying legends are aligned smoothly for clear comprehension. Why keep the legend down below when it can rise to the occasion above the chart?

Moving the legend above the chart

To relocate the legend of your excel chart above its existing position, follow the steps below:

  1. Click on the legend to select it.
  2. On the ‘Layout’ tab, click on ‘Move Legend’ and select ‘Top’ from the dropdown menu.
  3. Your legend will now appear at the top of your excel chart.
  4. If required, use the ‘Format Legend’ option to further customize its appearance.

Additionally, you can also change the layout or format of your chart by selecting various options under the ‘Chart Tools’ section. Remember that every step taken impacts your final output; hence it is vital to plan appropriately before applying any changes.

Why keep your legend and your data on the same page when you can give them some space and move the legend to a different place?

Moving the legend to a separate worksheet

To move the chart’s legend to a separate worksheet, follow the below steps:

  1. Right-click on the chart’s legend and select ‘Format Legend.’
  2. In the Format Legend pane, select the ‘Legend Options’ tab.
  3. Check the box next to ‘Show Legend at bottom’ if it is not already selected.
  4. From the dropdown menu under ‘Legend Position,’ select ‘Left.’
  5. Finally, click on ‘Move with Chart Sheet’ and select a new sheet for your legend.

Additional details to keep in mind while moving a chart’s legend include checking that all elements of the chart are visible and legible once they are separated onto different sheets.

Pro Tip: By moving your chart’s legend to a separate worksheet, you can achieve a cleaner and more organized appearance for your data analysis presentations or reports.

Move over, legend – we’re taking this chart in a new direction.

Five Facts About Moving a Chart’s Legend in Excel:

  • ✅ The legend in an Excel chart is a box that explains the colors and symbols used to represent the data series. (Source: Excel Easy)
  • ✅ To move the legend in Excel, click on it and drag it to the desired location on the chart. (Source: Excel Campus)
  • ✅ The legend can be formatted to customize its appearance, such as changing the font, background, or border. (Source: Microsoft Support)
  • ✅ In Excel, you can choose to hide or show the legend by clicking on the “Chart Elements” button and selecting the “Legend” option. (Source: BetterCloud)
  • ✅ Moving or modifying the legend in Excel can help improve the readability and clarity of your chart. (Source: Vertex42)

FAQs about Moving A Chart’S Legend In Excel

What is Moving a Chart’s Legend in Excel?

Moving a Chart’s Legend in Excel refers to the process of changing the position of the legend on a chart. This can be done for a number of reasons, including improving the appearance of the chart or making it easier to read.

How do I move a chart’s legend in Excel?

To move a chart’s legend in Excel, you must first select the chart. Once the chart is selected, you can click on the legend to select it. You can then drag the legend to the desired location on the chart.

What are some tips for moving a chart’s legend in Excel?

Some tips for moving a chart’s legend in Excel include ensuring that the legend is not covering any important data on the chart, making sure that the legend is clearly visible, and selecting a location for the legend that is easy to read and understand.

Can I change the font size and color of a chart’s legend in Excel?

Yes, you can change the font size and color of a chart’s legend in Excel. To do this, select the legend and then go to the formatting options in the Excel ribbon. From there, you can change the font size and color to your liking.

What are some common mistakes people make when moving a chart’s legend in Excel?

Some common mistakes people make when moving a chart’s legend in Excel include placing the legend in an area that blocks important data, making the legend too small or hard to read, and placing the legend too close to other elements of the chart.

Is it possible to hide a chart’s legend in Excel?

Yes, it is possible to hide a chart’s legend in Excel. To do this, select the chart and go to the formatting options in the Excel ribbon. From there, you can choose to hide the legend entirely or make it transparent, so it doesn’t detract from the appearance of the chart.

Auther name

Jacky Chou is an electrical engineer turned marketer. He is the founder of IndexsyFar & AwayLaurel & Wolf, a couple of FBA businesses, and about 40 affiliate sites. He is a proud native of Vancouver, BC, who has been featured on Entrepreneur.comForbesOberlo, and GoDaddy.