How to Create a Legend in Excel Without a Chart: 3 Methods

Method 1 – Inserting Dummy Values to Create a Legend Without a Chart in Excel

Add a helper column adjacent to the dataset. Copy the immediate cell values and paste them into the helper column cells, as shown in the image below.

Dummy Value

Insert a Line Chart > Display the Chart Elements (by clicking on the Plus Icon). You see, the Legend option is unticked, and the Chart displays no Legend.

Legend

Click on the Chart, expand the Data Source range up to the dummy cells. You see, straight lines are added to the pre-existing lines, as depicted in the picture below.

Method 2 – Custom Formatting Dummy Values as Legend Names

Place the cursor on the dummy value cells (here H4 and H5) and press CTRL+1 or right-click. The Format Cells or the Context Menu appears. In the case of the Context Menu, click Format Cells among the options. In the Format Cells window, select the Number section > Custom as Category > Type “Actual” (2^nd time “Projected”) under Type > Click OK.

The final depiction of the dataset will be similar to the image below.

Method 3 – Inserting a Chart with Direct Legends in Excel

As the inserted Chart has expanded the Data Source (expanded in the first step), Excel automatically creates the Legend identifying the Lines without using the Chart’s option.

If you want to cross-check the situation, just click on the Chart > click on the Plus Icon that appears in the Side Menu > you will see the unticked Legend option. That verifies the insertion of the Legend without using a Chart in Excel. The Data Labels option is used to create a Legend within the Chart. Tick the Data Labels option from the Chart Elements.