How to Add Title to Excel Chart

How to Add or Change the Title to Excel Charts

Adding a title to your Excel chart is a simple yet essential task that enhances the readability and professionalism of your data presentation. This guide will walk you through adding titles in Excel, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user.

Types of Chart Titles

• Chart Titles: These titles appear above your chart and provide context for what the chart represents.
• Axis Titles: These titles describe each axis of the chart, making it easier for viewers to understand the data presented.

Keep in mind that pie charts and doughnut charts cannot display chart titles directly; however, you can use text boxes for a similar effect.

Methods to Add Titles to Excel Charts

There are two straightforward methods to add titles to your Excel charts:

1. Using a Pre-built Chart Layout with Titles
2. Manually Adding a Chart Title

1. Using a Pre-built Chart Layout

This method is the simplest and quickest way to include titles:

1. Click on your chart to activate it.
2. Navigate to the ‘Chart Design’ tab on the ribbon.
3. In the ‘Chart Layouts’ section, select a layout that includes titles.

This method lets you use already formatted charts, which can be especially handy when you’re short on time.

2. Manually Adding a Chart Title

If you need more flexibility or wish to customize your title, follow these steps:

1. Click on the chart to enable the Chart Tools.
2. If the ‘Chart Design’ tab does not appear, go to the ‘Insert’ tab and re-select the chart type.
3. Navigate to the ‘Layout’ tab under Chart Tools.
4. In the ‘Labels’ group, click on ‘Chart Title’ and select either ‘(Above Chart)’ or ‘(Centered Overlay Title)’.
5. A text box will pop up on the chart. Click inside to enter your title.
6. For line breaks, place your cursor and press Enter.
7. To format the text, select the title area, choose your desired formatting options from the mini toolbar.

Additionally, if you want to add a subtitle:

• Go to the ‘Chart Tools’, select the ‘Layout’ tab.
• In the ‘Insert’ group, click on ‘Text Box’ and draw your text box within the chart area.
• Adjust the position by dragging the text box.

Creating a title for your chart is straightforward once you familiarize yourself with these options. Properly labeled charts help clarify your message and make your data more accessible.

Industry-Specific Examples

• Financial Dashboards: Use clear titles to indicate fiscal year comparisons.
• Marketing Analytics: Label charts to represent campaign performance by month.
• Sales Reports: Add titles that describe product performance over time.

Additional Tips

• Always ensure your title is concise and directly relates to the data shown on the chart.
• Consider using project-specific terminology to enhance clarity for your audience.
• Regularly review your charts for relevance and clarity.

Tool to Help Implement This

By following these structured steps, you can ensure that your chart titles convey clarity and professionalism.

For additional resources, you might find our financial dashboard templates very useful to automate and present your data effectively.