How to Add a Border to a Chart in Excel

If you are looking for a way to make your Excel charts more visually appealing and easier to read, adding a border is a quick and easy solution. Borders can help separate the chart from the surrounding cells or data and make it stand out on the page. In this blog post, we will walk you through how to add a border to a chart in Excel, step by step. Our instructions will be clear and concise, making it easy for you to achieve the desired result. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced Excel user, you will find this guide useful and practical.

Step 1: Open Your Excel Workbook and Select Your Chart

In order to add a border to your chart, you first need to select the chart that you want to modify. Open your Excel workbook and navigate to the tab that contains the chart. Click on the chart to select it, and make sure that you have clicked on the chart itself, not the surrounding cells or data.

Step 2: Go to the ‘Format Chart Area’ Dialog Box

With your chart selected, go to the ‘Format Chart Area’ dialog box. There are a couple of ways to do this:

• Right-click on the chart and select ‘Format Chart Area’ from the dropdown menu
• Go to the ‘Chart Tools’ tab in the ribbon and click on the ‘Format’ dropdown menu. Then, select ‘Format Chart Area’.

Step 3: Select the ‘Border Color’ and ‘Border Styles’ You Want

Once you have opened the ‘Format Chart Area’ dialog box, go to the ‘Border’ tab. Here, you can select the border color and border styles that you want. You can choose from a variety of options, including solid lines, dashed lines, and dotted lines. You can also choose the thickness of the border.

Step 4: Preview Your Chart with the Border

After you have selected the border color and styles, you can preview your chart with the new border. Make sure that you are satisfied with your choices before you click ‘OK’ to finalize the change.

Tips and Tricks

• If you want to remove the border from your chart, simply go back to the ‘Format Chart Area’ dialog box and select ‘No Line’ under the ‘Border’ tab.
• If you have multiple charts in your workbook and you want to apply the same border to all of them, you can use the ‘Format Painter’ tool. Simply format one chart with the border that you want, then click on the ‘Format Painter’ tool and apply the format to your other charts.
• Keep in mind that adding a border to your chart is just one way to improve its appearance. You can also experiment with different chart styles, colors, and fonts to make your data more visually appealing.

Why Add a Border to Your Excel Chart?

Adding a border to your Excel chart isn’t just about making it look better. Borders can also serve a functional purpose by helping to separate the chart from the surrounding data and make it easier to read. If you have a lot of data on your worksheet, a border can help draw attention to the chart and make it stand out on the page. Borders can also be useful if you need to print your chart, as they can help prevent it from getting lost on a crowded page.

Other Ways to Format Your Excel Chart

If you are looking to improve the appearance of your Excel chart, there are a variety of other formatting options to consider. Here are a few ideas:

• Chart Styles: Excel offers a variety of built-in chart styles that you can apply to your chart to change its color scheme, font, and other visual elements. To access these styles, go to the ‘Chart Tools’ tab in the ribbon and click on the ‘Change Chart Type’ dropdown menu.
• Data Labels: If you want to make it easier to read your chart, you can add data labels to display the values for each data point. To add data labels, select your chart and then go to the ‘Chart Tools’ tab in the ribbon. Click on the ‘Data Labels’ dropdown menu and select the type of labels you want to add.
• Chart Title: Adding a descriptive title to your chart can help viewers understand what the chart is showing. To add a title, select your chart and then go to the ‘Chart Tools’ tab in the ribbon. Click on the ‘Chart Title’ dropdown menu and select ‘Above Chart’ or ‘Centered Overlay Title’.

Adding a border to your chart in Excel is a simple but effective way to improve its appearance and readability. With our step-by-step instructions, you can add a border in just a few clicks. But don’t stop there! Experiment with other formatting options to make your chart visually appealing and informative.

FAQs about Adding Borders to Excel Charts

Here are some frequently asked questions about adding borders to Excel charts:

Can I add a border to just part of my chart?

Yes! If you want to add a border to just part of your chart, you can use the ‘Format Chart Element’ dialog box instead of the ‘Format Chart Area’ dialog box. This will allow you to select the specific chart element (such as the chart title or legend) that you want to add a border to.

Can I change the border color and style after I’ve added it?

Yes! To change the border color or style after you’ve added it, simply select your chart and then open the ‘Format Chart Area’ dialog box. From there, you can adjust the border color and style as desired.

Will adding a border change the size of my chart?

Adding a border to your chart may make it slightly larger, but the difference should be minimal. If you are concerned about the size of your chart, you can adjust the size of the chart area in the ‘Format Chart Area’ dialog box.

Can I add a border to a chart that is embedded in a worksheet?

Yes! To add a border to a chart that is embedded in a worksheet, simply select the chart and then follow the steps outlined in this blog post. The process is the same whether your chart is on its own sheet or embedded in a worksheet.

Can I add a border to a chart in other Office programs besides Excel?

Yes! The process for adding a border to a chart in other Office programs (such as Word or PowerPoint) is very similar to the process in Excel. Simply select the chart and then use the ‘Format Chart Area’ or ‘Format Chart Element’ dialog box to apply the border.