To edit the legend in Excel, click the chart, then select Chart Design > Select Data. Under Legend Entries (Series), choose an entry and select Edit to rename it, or use the up and down arrows to change the order. To move or hide the whole legend, select the Chart Elements (+) button next to the chart and use the Legend options.
Applies to: Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016 on Windows, and Excel for Mac. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 9, 2026.
Excel builds legend names from the header cells above (or beside) your data. The quickest way to change a name is often just to change that cell.
Show, hide or move the legend
- Click anywhere in the chart.
- Select the Chart Elements button (the + sign at the top right of the chart).
- Tick or clear Legend to show or hide it.
- Point to Legend, select the arrow, and choose Right, Top, Left or Bottom.
You can also drag the legend anywhere inside the chart area.
Rename a legend entry
Change the header cell
Click the cell that holds the series name, such as the column heading “Sales 2025,” and type a new name. The legend updates immediately.
Rename it without changing your data
- Click the chart and select Chart Design > Select Data. You can also right-click the chart and choose Select Data.
- Under Legend Entries (Series), select the entry and select Edit.
- In Series name, type the new name in quotation marks, such as
="Online sales", or click a different cell to use its text. - Select OK twice.
Change the order of legend entries
- Open Chart Design > Select Data.
- Select an entry under Legend Entries (Series).
- Use the Move Up and Move Down arrows.
- Select OK.
This also changes the order of the bars or lines in the chart. In stacked charts, the legend order can appear reversed compared with the stack.
Remove one entry from the legend
Click the legend once to select it, then click the single entry you want to remove so only it is selected, and press Delete. The data still appears in the chart; only its legend label is removed. To get it back, press Ctrl + Z or hide and show the legend again.
To remove the data series itself, select it in Select Data and select Remove.
Format the legend
- Font: select the legend and use the font, size and color buttons on the Home tab.
- Fill and border: double-click the legend to open Format Legend, then use the fill and line options.
- Overlap: in Format Legend, clear Show the legend without overlapping the chart to let the plot area use more space.
- Quick styles: Chart Design > Quick Layout applies preset legend positions along with titles and labels.
Legends in pie charts
A pie chart’s legend lists the categories, not series. To rename them, change the label cells, or use Select Data and select Edit under Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels. Many people replace the legend with category names on each slice; see how to make a pie chart in Excel with percentages.
If the legend shows the wrong thing
- It says “Series1,” “Series2”: your data has no header row, or the headers weren’t included in the chart range. Add names with Select Data, or include the header row and recreate the chart.
- The legend lists months instead of products: Excel plotted rows and columns the other way round. Select Chart Design > Switch Row/Column.
- A deleted entry came back: changing the data or chart type can restore legend entries. Delete it again.
- You need a legend title: Excel legends don’t have a title option. Insert a text box above the legend with Insert > Text Box.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add custom text to the legend?
Each entry shows a series name, so the custom text has to be the series name. Use Select Data > Edit to type any text you like.
Can I add a new series to a chart?
Yes. In Select Data, select Add, then choose the series name and values. See how to add multiple data sets to a graph in Excel.
Is it the same on a Mac?
Yes. Use Chart Design > Select Data; the dialog looks a little different but has the same options.
How do I undo all my legend changes?
Press Ctrl + Z to undo recent edits. For a full reset, delete the legend and add it back from Chart Elements, then rename entries again. For other chart changes, see how to edit a graph in Excel.
Related: How to Explode a Slice of a Pie Chart in Excel.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.