Adding Text Boxes to Charts

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 27, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

1

When you create a chart from your Excel data, you may want to add text boxes to the chart for any number of purposes (copyright statement, explanation, notes, etc.). There are two quick ways you can add a text box.

The first method is to use the Drawing toolbar. Simply make sure it is displayed, then click the Text Box tool. The mouse pointer changes to crosshairs, and you can click and drag to outline the text box you want created.

The second way to create a text box is to use the Formula bar. Make sure you select any part of your chart except a title or data label. Click in the Formula bar and start typing what you want to appear in the text box. When you press Enter, the text you typed is placed in a text box in the center of the chart. You can then move and resize the text box, as desired.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3000) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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What is 4 + 1?

2019-02-28 05:32:40

Steve James

Interestingly, the second option only seems to work on "traditional" charts in Excel 2016. The formula bar is not selectable in newer chart types such as the Histogram statistical chart

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