how to add axis titles in excel

Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to place labels on the vertical and horizontal axes of a graph in Microsoft Excel. You can do this on both Windows and Mac.

Steps Download Article

1
Open your Excel document. Double-click an Excel document that contains a graph.
- If you haven't yet created the document, open Excel and click Blank workbook, then create your graph before continuing.
2

Select the graph. Click your graph to select it.
3

Click + . It's to the right of the top-right corner of the graph. This will open a drop-down menu.
4
Click the Axis Titles checkbox. It's near the top of the drop-down menu. Doing so checks the Axis Titles box and places text boxes next to the vertical axis and below the horizontal axis.
- If there is already a check in the Axis Titles box, uncheck and then re-check the box to force the axes' text boxes to appear.
5

Select an "Axis Title" box. Click either of the "Axis Title" boxes to place your mouse cursor in it.
6
Enter a title for the axis. Select the "Axis Title" text, type in a new label for the axis, and then click the graph. This will save your title.
- You can repeat this process for the other axis title.

Add New Question

Question

How do I put words of axes labels on two or three lines?

You need to use macros for this. Go to Settings and add the Developer tab. Then enable the file as macro-enabled. This will allow you to right-click onto edit mode; from here you can add words on any amount of lines you need.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

The steps for labeling axes in this article can also apply to charts you create in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Edit the labels of your axes at any time by clicking directly on the labels. A cursor will appear, and you'll have the ability to enter the desired text.

If you switch your chart type to a type that does not support axis labels such as a pie chart, your axis labels will disappear. However, your axis labels will reappear if you switch back to the original chart type.

About This Article

Article SummaryX

1. Open an Excel document.
2. Click the graph.
3. Click +
4. Click Axis Titles
5. Click an "Axis Title" text box.
6. Type in the label you'd like the axis to have.

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 348,622 times.

Is this article up to date?