Add total labels to a stacked column chart

Prepare a Total column

Start with a regular stacked column chart whose values are all nonnegative. Put =SUM(B2:C2) in D2 and fill it down.

Do not leave Total as another stacked column. That would double the bar height.

Create the combination chart

1. Select A1:C4 and insert a Stacked Column chart.
2. Use Chart Design → Select Data to add a series with D1 as its name and D2:D4 as its values.
3. Open Change Chart Type → Combo. Keep both product series as Stacked Column and set Total to Line.
4. Keep Total on the primary axis. Do not enable Secondary Axis for this example.

Leave only the labels

1. Select the Total line and add data labels. Set their position to Above.
2. In Format Data Series, set the line to No line and the marker to None.
3. Select just the Total legend entry and remove that entry, not the series.
4. Check that the displayed totals are 200, 250, and 260. Increase the value-axis maximum if labels are clipped.

Keep the labels linked to cells so that changing the source values changes the totals too. If you add new months, expand every series and the total formulas together.

100% stacks and negative values

A 100% stacked chart uses proportions. Do not put the raw total line on its percentage axis. Where supported, use Values From Cells on the top series, select D2:D4, and uncheck its ordinary Value label. A zero top series can require manual positioning.

With mixed positive and negative values, the net sum does not sit at the top of the positive stack. Label positive and negative subtotals separately or show net totals in a companion table.

Download the example

UTF-8 CSV data. Import with Data → From Text/CSV. Set identifier columns to Text when leading zeros matter. Charts and formulas are added using the steps in this guide.