How to Create Dynamic Chart Titles in Excel

Do you suffer from Forgot-to-change-chart-titles syndrome? I do.

Worry not. Today’s prescription includes an article and a video on how to create dynamic chart titles in excel.

Linking a Cell Value to the Chart Title

Suppose you have the data as shown below and you have created a chart using it.

If you want to change the chart title, you need to manually change it by typing the text in the box. Since the chart title is static, you would have to change it again and again whenever your data is refreshed/updated.

Here is how you can make it dynamic (i.e., make it refer to a cell in the workbook):

• Click on the Chart Title box
• Go to Formula bar and type =
• Select the cell that you want to show as the chart title
• Hit Enter

This technique could be wonderfully helpful if you get the data in a fixed format, and you update charts by simply copy pasting the new data. It would ensure that your Chart Titles get updated automatically.

Creating Dynamic Chart Titles in Excel by Combining Cell Link and Text

Continuing with the above example, suppose I want to add some additional text to the chart title (let’s say I want to add (YoY) to the title). To do this, I will have to create a formula and get the result in a separate cell. Then I can link that cell to the Chart Title.

Here is how you can do this:

• In a new cell, type the following formula

  =A1&" (YoY)"

• Click on the chart title box
• Go to Formula bar and type =
• Select the cell where you have the new chart title
• Hit Enter

This simple trick can save you a lot of time, and it ensures you don’t have to worry about the Forgot-to-change-chart-titles syndrome.

You May Also Like the Following Excel Tutorials:

• Dynamic Charting – Highlight Data Point with a click of a button.
• Dynamic Pareto Chart in Excel.
• Spice up Chart Data Labels – Show Positive/Negative Trend Arrows.
• Create Dynamic Target Line in Excel Bar Charts.
• How to Create a Dynamic Chart Range in Excel.