Excel: Adding axis labels - how to do it

Axis labels are essential if you want to create a professional chart. In the axis labels, you specify which values can be found on the x-axis and the y-axis. Such labels exist only for charts with axes, like graphs.

Add axis labels in Excel

In Excel, you can create charts yourself. A professional labeling is essential for this. This is the only way that other readers can understand your diagrams. Even if a chart is only for your own records, you should label the charts. That way, you won't get confused later when you look at the diagram again. For charts with axes, you should label the axes in particular. This is where you enter what the horizontal and vertical axes represent and in which unit they were measured.

How to label your chart with axis titles

1. Open the chart in Excel.
2. Select the chart.
3. In the ribbon, find the "Chart" option.
4. Select "Axis Title" and then first select "Horizontal Primary Axis Title".
5. Decide how you want the axis title to be displayed: Rotated, Vertical or Horizontal.
6. Enter the title.
7. Proceed in the same way with the horizontal title.