When you insert a chart into a worksheet, Excel places it roughly in the center of the Excel window, close to the source data. However, to enhance readability—especially since many readers scan from left to right—you may want to align the chart to the left side of the worksheet.
In this tutorial, I will show you several ways to align a chart to the left of the worksheet.
Method #1: Use Drag and Drop
You can drag the chart and drop it to the desired left side of the worksheet using the steps below:
- Click the chart to select it. When the chart is selected it will have a border with handles (small circles) at the corners and sides.
- Place the mouse cursor over the chart’s border. The cursor changes to a black four-headed arrow.
- Click and hold down the left mouse button while the cursor is over the chart’s border.
- With the left mouse button still held down, drag the chart to the desired location on the left side of the worksheet and release the mouse button to drop it there.
Note: If you want to move the chart to the left in a straight line, press and hold down the Shift key as you drag.
Also read: Move a Chart to a New Sheet in Excel
Method #2: Use the Left Arrow Key
You can use the left arrow key on the keyboard to move a chart to the left of the worksheet using the step below:
- Click the chart to select it. When the chart is selected it will have a border with handles (small circles) at the corners and sides.
- Press and hold down the left arrow key and notice the chart moving to the left.
- Release the left key when the chart is in the desired location on the left of the worksheet.
Also read: How to Resize Charts in Excel
Method #3: Use Cut and Paste
You can use cut and paste to move a chart to the left of the worksheet using the steps below:
- Right-click the chart and select the ‘Cut’ option on the shortcut menu.
Alternatively, select the chart by clicking just below the top border and press CTRL + X.
- Select a cell in the area on the left of the worksheet where you want to paste the chart.
- Press CTRL + V to paste the chart.
Also read: How to Add a Trendline in Excel Charts?
Method #4: Hide Columns on the Left of the Chart
You can move a chart to the left of the worksheet by hiding the columns on the left of the chart.
Suppose you have the chart below and want to move it to the left of the worksheet by hiding columns.
You can do it using the steps below:
- Place the mouse cursor on the letter header of column A, press and hold down the left mouse button, and drag across the column headers to column D.
Alternatively, click the header of column A, press and hold down the Shift key, and click the header of column D.
- Right-click the selection and select the ‘Hide’ option on the shortcut menu.
The above step hides the columns A-D and moves the chart to the left of the worksheet. Notice that the chart becomes blank because its source data have become invisible.
- Right-click the blank chart and select the ‘Select Data’ option.
- Click the ‘Hidden and Empty Cells’ button on the Select Data Source dialog box.
- On the ‘Hidden and Empty Cell Settings’ dialog box, select the ‘Show data in hidden rows and columns’ option and click OK.
- Click OK on the Select Data Source dialog box.
The above step makes the data visible on the chart to the left of the worksheet, as shown below.
I have shown you ways to left-align a chart in Excel. I hope you found the tutorial helpful.
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