Chart & Visualization Issues

How to Remove the Border from an Excel Scatter Plot

John Wilson Oct 14, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to remove the outer border line from a scatter plot chart.

How to Remove the Border from an Excel Scatter Plot

Product: Microsoft Excel 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a scatter plot for a clean presentation where the chart border controls are not readily visible on the standard Home tab.
Observed behavior: The standard border controls do not appear on the Home tab, requiring the user to locate the specific Chart Area outline settings elsewhere in the interface.

Before you start

Ensure you have clicked directly on your scatter plot chart, as the necessary formatting tools will only appear on the ribbon when the chart is actively selected.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove the Scatter Plot Border via the Format Tab

Use the specialized Format tab that appears when a chart is selected to target the Chart Area and remove its outline.

Because chart-specific formatting tools are contextual in Microsoft 365, standard border tools on the Home tab will not affect the chart outline. You must use the Shape Styles group specifically designed for chart elements.

Select the Scatter Plot

Click anywhere inside your scatter plot chart to activate the Chart Tools on the Excel ribbon.

Open the Format Tab

Navigate to the 'Format' tab that has now appeared at the top of your Excel window.

Select Chart Area

On the far left of the Format ribbon, click the 'Current Selection' drop-down menu and choose 'Chart Area'.

Remove the Outline

Go to the 'Shape Styles' group, click on 'Shape Outline', and select 'No Outline' from the drop-down menu.

Remove the Scatter Plot Border via the Format Tab

Quick Tip: You can use this exact same method to remove borders from any other chart type in Excel, such as bar charts, pie charts, or line graphs.

Edit Charts Easily

Format Scatter Plots Effortlessly in WPS Office

WPS Spreadsheet provides a highly intuitive interface for creating and formatting scatter plots. You can quickly remove chart borders, adjust data markers, and customize your visuals without digging through complex menus.

1. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the file containing your scatter plot.
2. Select the Chart Area: Click directly on the chart's outer edge to select the entire Chart Area.
3. Use the Context Menu: Right-click the chart and select 'Format Chart Area' from the context menu.
4. Remove the Line: In the formatting pane that appears on the right side of the screen, navigate to the 'Border' section and select 'No Line'.

100% format compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) files and charts.Streamlined chart formatting tools that are easy to locate and use.Free, lightweight, and fast alternative to heavy spreadsheet software.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I use the standard border button on the Home tab to remove the chart border?

The border button on the Home tab is strictly designed for formatting spreadsheet cells. To modify floating objects like charts or shapes, you must use the Shape Outline tools located in the contextual Format tab.

How do I remove the border around the plot area instead of the whole chart?

Click inside the chart specifically on the Plot Area (the inner box containing the actual data points), go to the Format tab, confirm 'Plot Area' is selected in the Current Selection drop-down, and set the Shape Outline to 'No Outline'.

Will removing the chart border affect how my scatter plot prints?

Removing the border is a visual formatting change that translates directly to the printed page. The chart will print exactly as it appears on your screen, without the surrounding box, while your data points and trendlines remain completely unaffected.

Excel & Data Problems