How to Add a Legend in QGIS Print Layout

How to Add a Legend in QGIS

Updated on:

June 8, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to insert and customize a map legend in QGIS Print Layout.

Quick summary

Adding a legend in QGIS requires using the Print Layout tool to create a print-ready map with a customizable legend element. Once added, users can remove unwanted layers, rename items, and adjust the legend's appearance directly from the properties panel.

Steps

Click 'Project' in the top menu, then select 'New Print Layout'.
Enter a file name, then click 'OK'.
In the new window's left panel, click 'Add Map'.
Drag a box on the page to place your map in the layout.
Click 'Add Legend' in the left panel.
Drag a box within the layout to place the legend box; the properties panel will appear on the right.
In the legend properties, remove unwanted layers, rename items, change appearance, or remove layer group items.
Once done, save your work.

📌 Why this matters

QGIS is a free, open-source GIS platform used by cartographers, data analysts, and urban planners to create professional-grade maps. Adding a legend to a QGIS Print Layout is essential for making maps readable and publication-ready, as it lets viewers understand what each layer or symbol represents. The Print Layout's dedicated legend tool gives users full control over which layers appear, how items are labeled, and how the legend is styled — all without leaving the application. Mastering this feature enables teams to produce clear, standards-compliant map outputs for reports, presentations, and spatial datasets.

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