Moving X-axis labels at the bottom of the chart below negative values in Excel

By default if you insert a bar chart or line chart, the x-axis labels are stuck at 0 position of the axis. This usual behaviour gets in the way especially if you have negative values in the data that are plotted against y-axis in which case x-axis labels will overlay the lines or bars. Have a look at the following! Classical case of a mess:

x-axis label 1

Hating it right? It sure is something to hate. But it is an easy fix if you know it. So how to fix it?

Simply right click on x-axis labels > click format axis. Formatting panel will open at the right. Scroll down to labels options > expand them if you have to and from label position drop down select Low.

x-axis label 2

Tada! Now as it is out of the way your chart can flex and update as the data changes without any visual disruption!

x-axis label 3

Checkout more Charting tutorials to make purposeful charts:

  1. Create Simple Dial Charts in Excel – How To
  2. Create Excel Charts with Bands or Threshold in the background – [How To]
  3. Custom Data Labels with Colors and Symbols in Excel Charts – [How To]
  4. Making Interactive Charts in Excel [How To]

3 COMMENTS

  1. Hi there,

    is there any way of making the axis tile for the positive values underneath, and below for the negative values?

  2. Hi there,

    is there any way of making the axis tile for the positive values underneath, and below for the negative values?

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