Select a graph using the Selection tool.
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Add graph labels and data sets
Last updated on
Oct 27, 2025
Learn how to add and format labels and data sets in Adobe Illustrator graphs.
Before you begin
Make sure you've created a graph using the Column Graph tool.
You can add labels to identify your data sets and categories. You can also include multiple rows or columns to compare data in your graph.
Select Object > Graph > Data.
To label data sets, enter labels in the first row of the Graph Data window. These appear in the graph’s legend. To skip the legend, leave the first-row blank.
Category labels appear along the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the graph type. Radar graphs use each category label to create a separate axis. To label categories, enter labels in the left column. These often represent time-based units like days, months, or years.
To treat numbers as labels, enclose them in straight quotes. For example, "2013".
To add line breaks within a label, use the vertical bar (|). For example, Total|Sales|2023 appears as:
Total
Sales
2023
Note
Pie graphs support only one data series, a single row or column of values.
Scatter graphs require paired X and Y values, so labels may behave differently.
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