How to Add a Legend to an Excel Chart

1. Start Microsoft Excel 2007 and open a workbook you have already created from your files to which you want to add a legend.
2. Point and click on the chart so it is selected. You can tell the chart is selected because it will be surrounded by a light blue border.
3. Select the 'Layout' tab at the top of the Excel screen to display the 'Layout' ribbon. Locate the 'Labels' group in the 'Layout' ribbon.
4. Click the 'Legend' button in the 'Labels' group of the 'Layout' ribbon. The options for adding and displaying a legend to the chart will be displayed.
5. Choose 'Show Legend at Right,' 'Show Legend at Top,' 'Show Legend at Left' or 'Show Legend at Bottom' to place the legend in the specified location while shrinking the chart to make room for the legend. You can choose 'Overlay Legend at Right' or 'Overlay Legend at Left' to place the chart to the right or the left of the chart overlaying the chart so the chart does not shrink.
6. Watch as the legend is immediately placed inside the chart. You can move the chart manually at this time using the mouse to click and drag it to a new location.