How to Add Data Labels in Excel: 2 Handy Methods

Method 1 – Inserting Chart Elements Command to Add Data Labels in Excel

Step 1:

• Select your entire data set to create a chart or graph.
• The cell range is B4:D10 in our example.

Step 2:

• Create a 2D clustered column chart.
• Go to the Insert tab of the ribbon.
• Choose the Insert Column or Bar Chart command from the Chart group.
  
• Select the Clustered Column command.

Step 3:

• After selecting, you will be able to create the chart.
• Name the chart “Height vs. Weight” for example.
• You will notice that there are no data labels in the chart.

Step 4:

• Add the data labels to our chart.
• Click on the chart and you will see three icons right beside the chart.
• Of the three icons, the first one is the Chart Elements command.
• Click on that command, and you will see more commands regarding the chart.
• Mark the Data Labels command, which was previously unmarked.

• After marking the command, you will see all the data labels above the columns accordingly.

Step 5:

• Add the data labels in another way, then select any column of the same variable and then right-click on it.
• Rght-click on the column that represents Height.
• Select the Add Data Labels command.

• See the data labels for the columns that represent Height.

Step 6:

• Repeat the same process from Step 5 by selecting any column that represents the person’s weight.
• See the data labels after repeating the process.

Method 2 – Applying VBA to Add Data Labels in Excel

Step 1:

• Use the following data set for our procedure.

Step 2:

• Create a 2D clustered column chart by using the above data set.
• Repeat Step 1 to Step 2 from the previous method to get our chart.
• Name the chart “Height vs. Weight.”

Step 3:

• Choose the Visual Basic command from the Code in the Developer tab of the ribbon.

Step 4:

• A new tab will open after choosing this command.
• From the new tab, select Module from the Insert tab.

Step 5:

• Into the Module paste the following VBA Code, which will add data labels after running the program.

Sub Add_Data_Labels()
Dim ch As ChartObject
Set ch = ActiveSheet.ChartObjects("Chart 1")
ch.Chart.SetElement (msoElementDataLabelOutSideEnd)
End Sub

• Save the program in the module and press the play button to run the code.

Step 6:

• Add data labels to the chart with the help of VBA.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the free Excel workbook from here and practice on your own.

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