Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Moving a Chart's Legend.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 14, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Excel provides a wide range of charts you can use to graphically represent the data in your worksheet. The provided charts are just a start, however, as you can modify the base charts quite a bit. For instance, you can add a legend to your chart, as described in other issues of ExcelTips. Once your legend is placed, your options are still not complete. You can move the legend to any position within your chart.
To move a chart's legend, simply click on it once to select it. (You will know it is selected when eight handles appear around the perimeter of the legend.) Then use the mouse to click within the legend and drag the legend to the desired position on the chart. When you release the mouse button, the legend stays were you dropped it.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2442) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Moving a Chart's Legend.
Professional Development Guidance! Four world-class developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. The authors show how to consistently make the right design decisions and make the most of Excel's powerful features. Check out Professional Excel Development today!
Creating a graphic chart based on your worksheet data is easy. Excel provides the Chart Wizard to guide you through your ...
Discover MoreWhen you create a chart, Excel often includes a legend with the chart. You can format several attributes of the legend's ...
Discover MoreFiguring out how to get the data points in an X-Y scatter plot labeled can be confusing; Excel certainly doesn't make it ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Comments