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To add text to a chart that is separate from the text in chart titles (titles in charts: Descriptive text that is automatically aligned to an axis or centered at the top of a chart.) or labels, you can insert a text box on the chart. You can then enter the text that you want or link the text box to data in a worksheet cell. When that text box is linked to a worksheet cell, any changes that you make to the data in that cell will appear automatically in the text box on the chart.

After you create a text box in a chart, you can move, resize, or remove it as needed.

• Insert a text box on a chart

• Link a text box to a worksheet cell

• Move or resize a text box

• Remove a text box

Insert a text box on a chart

1. Click the chart to which you want to add a text box.

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

2. On the Layout tab, in the Insert group, click Text Box .

   

3. In the chart, click where you want to start a corner of the text box, and then drag until the text box is the size that you want.
4. In the text box, type the text that you want.

   The text will wrap in the text box. To start a new line in the text box, press ENTER.

5. When you finish typing, press ESC to cancel editing mode, or click anywhere outside of the text box.

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Link a text box to a worksheet cell

1. Click the chart to which you want to add a text box.

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

2. On the Layout tab, in the Insert group, click Text Box .

   

3. In the formula bar (formula bar: A bar at the top of the Excel window that you use to enter or edit values or formulas in cells or charts. Displays the constant value or formula stored in the active cell.), type an equal sign (=).
4. In the worksheet, select the cell that contains the data that you want to display in the text box on the chart.

    Tip   You can also type the reference to the worksheet cell. Include the sheet name, followed by an exclamation point, for example, Sheet1!F2

5. Press ENTER.

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Move or resize a text box

1. On the chart, click the text box that you want to move or resize.
2. Do one of the following:
   • To move the text box, position the cursor on the border of the text box so that it changes to a four-headed arrow, and then drag the text box to the location that you want.
   • To resize the text box, click any sizing handle, and then drag until the text box is the size that you want.

      Tip   For precise sizing measurements, on the Format tab, in the Size group, type the size that you want in the Shape Height and Shape Width boxes.

   • To rotate the text box, click the rotation handle (rotation handle: Round arrow that appears at the top of a selected shape that you can use to rotate the shape.), and then drag the text box to the degree of rotation that you want.

      Tip   For precise rotation, on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then click the rotation option that you want.

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Remove a text box

On the chart, click the border of the text box that you want to delete, and then press DELETE.

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