Show or hide a chart legend or data table

You can hide or show the legend of a chart.

You can also show a data table for a line chart, area chart, column chart, or bar chart. A data table displays the values that are presented in the chart in a grid at the bottom of the chart. A data table can also include the legend keys.

Newer VersionsOffice 2010



Show a chart legend

1. Select a chart and then select the plus sign to the top right.

2. Point to Legend and select the arrow next to it.

3. Choose where you want the legend to appear in your chart.

Hide a chart legend

1. Select a legend to hide.

2. Press Delete.

Show or hide a data table

1. Select a chart and then select the plus sign to the top right.

2. To show a data table, point to Data Table and select the arrow next to it, and then select a display option.

3. To hide the data table, uncheck the Data Table option.

Show or hide a legend

1. Click the chart in which you want to show or hide a legend.

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

2. On the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Legend.

   

3. Do one of the following:

   • To hide the legend, click None.

     Tip: To quickly remove a legend or a legend entry from a chart, you can select it, and then press DELETE. You can also right-click the legend or a legend entry, and then click Delete.

   • To display a legend, click the display option that you want.

     Note: When you click one of the display options, the legend moves, and the plot area automatically adjusts to accommodate it. If you move and size the legend by using the mouse, the plot area does not automatically adjust.

   • For additional options, click More Legend Options, and then select the display option that you want.

     Tip: By default, a legend does not overlap the chart. If you have space constraints, you may be able to reduce the size of the chart by clearing the Show the legend without overlapping the chart check box.

Show or hide a data table

1. Click the chart of a line chart, area chart, column chart, or bar chart in which you want to show or hide a data table.

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

2. On the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Data Table.

   

3. Do one of the following:

   • To display a data table, click Show Data Table or Show Data Table with Legend Keys.

   • To hide the data table, click None.

     Tip: To quickly remove a data table from a chart, you can select it, and then press DELETE. You can also right-click the data table, and then click Delete.

   • For additional options, click More Data Table Options, and then select the display option that you want.

     Tip: If you already display a legend in the chart, you can clear the Show legend keys check box.

Note: In bar charts and charts that display a date axis, the data table is not attached to the horizontal axis of the chart — it is placed below the axis and aligned to the chart.

Need more help?

You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community, get support in the Answers community, or suggest a new feature or improvement on Excel User Voice.