Format Data Labels in Excel- Instructions

Format Data Labels in Excel: Overview

            You can format data labels in Excel if you choose to add data labels to a chart. To format data labels in Excel, choose the set of data labels to format. To do this, click the “Format” tab within the “Chart Tools” contextual tab in the Ribbon. Then select the data labels to format from the “Chart Elements” drop-down in the “Current Selection” button group. Then click the “Format Selection” button that appears below the drop-down menu in the same area.

            Alternatively, you can right-click the desired set of data labels to format within the chart. Then select the “Format Data Labels…” command from the pop-up menu that appears to format data labels in Excel. Using either method then displays the “Format Data Labels” task pane at the right side of the screen.

Format Data Labels in Excel- Instructions: A picture of the “Format Data Labels” task pane in Excel.

            This task pane is where you format data labels in Excel. In the “Label Options” category, which is shown by default, you set the values and positioning of the data labels. You can also choose other formatting categories to display within the task pane. To do this, click the options to set, like the “Label Options” or “Text Options” choice. Then click the desired category icon to edit. The formatting options for the category then appear in collapsible and expandable lists at the bottom of the task pane.

            Click the titles of each category list to expand and collapse the options within that category. Set any options you want within the task pane to immediately apply them to the chart. Then click the “X” in the upper-right corner of the task pane to close it.

Format Data Labels in Excel: Instructions

1. To format data labels in Excel, choose the set of data labels to format.
2. One way to do this is to click the “Format” tab within the “Chart Tools” contextual tab in the Ribbon.
3. Then select the data labels to format from the “Current Selection” button group.
4. Then click the “Format Selection” button that appears below the drop-down menu in the same area.
5. Alternatively, right-click the desired set of data labels to format within the actual chart.
6. Then select the “Format Data Labels…” command from the pop-up menu that appears to format data labels in Excel.
7. Using either method then displays the “Format Data Labels” task pane at the right side of the screen.
8. Set the values and positioning of the data labels in the “Label Options” category, which is shown by default.
9. To choose other formatting categories to show in the task pane, click the desired options to set.
10. Then click the desired category icon to edit.
11. The formatting options for the category appear in collapsible and expandable lists at the bottom of the task pane.
12. Click the titles of each category list to expand and collapse the display of the options in that category.
13. To immediately apply changes to the chart, set any options you want within the task pane.
14. Then click the “X” in the upper-right corner of the task pane to close it.

Format Data Labels in Excel: Video Lesson

            The following video lesson, titled “Formatting Data Labels,” shows you how to format data labels in Excel. This video lesson is from our complete Excel tutorial, titled “Mastering Excel Made Easy v.2019 and 365.”