Format Data Labels in Excel- Instructions

Format Data Labels in Excel: Video Lesson

            This video lesson, titled “Excel for Microsoft 365 Tutorial: How to Format Data Labels in a Chart in Excel,” shows you how to format data labels in Excel. This video lesson is from our complete Excel tutorial, titled Mastering Excel Made Easy™.

Overview

            To format data labels in Excel if you added them to a chart, choose the set of data labels to format from the “Chart Elements” drop-down in the “Current Selection” button group on the “Format” contextual tab in the Ribbon. Then click the “Format Selection” button below the drop-down menu in the same button group. Alternatively, right-click the set of data labels to format in the chart. Then select the “Format Data Labels…” command from the pop-up menu that appears.

            Using either method then shows the “Format Data Labels” task pane at the right side of the screen. In the “Label Options” category, which appears at the top of the pane and is selected by default, click the “Fill & Line,” “Effects,” “Size & Properties,” or “Label Options” subcategory settings icon below the category to set its related options for the selected data labels. To choose another major formatting category to show in the task pane, click the desired category to set, like “Label Options” or “Text Options,” click the desired subcategory settings icon below it, and then change any subcategory options below that.

            The formatting options for the selected subcategory appear in collapsible and expandable lists at the bottom of the task pane. To expand and collapse the individual subcategory options, click the option titles. Then set any individual options, as desired, in the task pane to immediately apply those changes. When finished, click the “X” button 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 from the “Chart Elements” drop-down in the “Current Selection” button group on the “Format” contextual tab in the Ribbon.
2. Then click the “Format Selection” button below the drop-down menu in the same button group.
3. Alternatively, right-click the set of data labels to format in the chart.
4. Then select the “Format Data Labels…” command from the pop-up menu that appears.
5. Using either method then shows the “Format Data Labels” task pane at the right side of the screen.
6. In the “Label Options” category, which appears at the top of the pane and is selected by default, click the “Fill & Line,” “Effects,” “Size & Properties,” or “Label Options” subcategory settings icon below the category to set its related options for the selected data labels.
7. To choose another major formatting category to show in the task pane, click the desired category to set, like “Label Options” or “Text Options,” click the desired subcategory settings icon below it, and then change any subcategory options below that.
8. The formatting options for the selected subcategory appear in collapsible and expandable lists at the bottom of the task pane.
9. To expand and collapse the individual subcategory options, click the option titles.
10. Then set any individual options, as desired, in the task pane to immediately apply those changes.