Change the placement of titles in a chart

To avoid spacing problems caused by lengthy chart or axis titles in a chart, you can change the way that titles are positioned. You can drag the titles to the location that you want, or you can select a specific position for the titles.

Important: To successfully complete this procedure, you must have an existing chart. For more information about how to create a chart, see Create a chart.

Windows MacOs

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• Which Office version are you using?
• Office 2013 - Office 2016
• Office 2007 - Office 2010

Drag a title to the location that you want

1. In the chart, click the title that you want to move to another location.

2. To move the title, position the pointer on the border of the title box so that it changes to a four-headed arrow , and then drag the title box to the location that you want.

Use predefined settings to reposition a title

1. On a chart, click the chart title or axis title that you want to reposition.

   This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.

3. In the Format Chart Title pane, click the Layout and Properties tab .

4. Expand Alignment, and then do one of the following:

   • To align text, in the Vertical alignment box, click the option that you want.

     Note: Changes to vertical alignment will not change the position of the title on the page and will only have an effect if your title contains more than one line.

   • To change the direction of the text, in the Text direction box, click the option that you want.

   • To rotate text, in the Custom angle box, enter the degree of angle that you want.

Tip: To quickly align or rotate selected titles on a chart, you can also click the text alignment and orientation buttons in the Paragraph group on the Home tab. However, changes to text alignment will not change the position of the title on the page and will only have an effect if your title contains more than one line.

Drag a title to the location that you want

1. In the chart, click the title that you want to move to another location.

2. To move the title, position the pointer on the border of the title box so that it changes to a four-headed arrow , and then drag the title box to the location that you want.

Use predefined settings to reposition a title

1. On a chart, click the chart title or axis title that you want to reposition.

   This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.

3. In the Format Chart Title dialog box, click the Alignment category.

4. Under Text Layout, do one of the following:

   • To align text, in the Vertical alignment box, click the option that you want.

     Note: Changes to vertical alignment will not change the position of the title on the page and will only have an effect if your title contains more than one line.

   • To change the direction of the text, in the Text direction box, click the option that you want.

   • To rotate text, in the Custom angle box, enter the degree of angle that you want.

Tip: To quickly align or rotate selected titles on a chart, you can also click the text alignment and orientation buttons in the Paragraph group on the Home tab. However, changes to text alignment will not change the position of the title on the page and will only have an effect if your title contains more than one line.

See how to reposition or move a title in a chart in Office 2016 for Mac.

Drag a title to the location that you want

1. In the chart, click the title that you want to move to another location.

2. To move the title, position the pointer on the border of the title box so that it changes to a four-headed arrow , and then drag the title box to the location that you want.

Use predefined settings to reposition a title

1. On a chart, click the chart title or axis title that you want to reposition.

   This displays the Chart Design and Format tabs on the ribbon.

2. On the Format tab, click Format Pane.

   The Format Chart Title dialog box displays.

3. In the Format Chart Title dialog box, under Title options, click the Size & Properties icon.

4. Under Alignment, do one of the following:

   • To align text, in the Vertical alignment box, click the option that you want.

     Note: Changes to vertical alignment will not change the position of the title on the page and will only have an effect if your title contains more than one line.

   • To change the direction of the text, in the Text direction box, click the option that you want.

   • To rotate text, in the Custom angle box, enter the degree of angle that you want.

See Also

Add or remove titles in a chart