How to add labels to cards on Trello

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

To add labels to Trello cards, open the card and click the Labels button from the card menu. You can then select existing labels or create new custom labels with different colors and names.

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Prerequisites

A Trello account
Access to a Trello board
At least one card created on your board
Basic understanding of Trello navigation

Step-by-Step Instructions

Open your Trello card

Navigate to your Trello board and click on the card you want to add labels to. This will open the card in a detailed view with various options and menus available.

You can also hover over a card and press the spacebar to quickly open it.

Locate the Labels button

In the card details window, look for the Add to card section on the right side. Click on the Labels button, which is typically represented by a colorful tag icon.

The Labels button may show existing label colors if the card already has labels applied.

Choose from existing labels

A pop-up window will appear showing all available labels for your board. Click on any existing label to add it to your card. Selected labels will show a checkmark next to them.

You can add multiple labels to a single card by clicking on several different labels.

Create a new label if needed

If you need a new label, click Create a new label at the bottom of the labels menu. Choose a color from the available options and type a descriptive name in the text field.

Use clear, descriptive names for labels to make them more useful for organization and filtering.

Customize label colors and names

Click the pencil icon next to any existing label to edit its name or color. Choose from the available color options: green, yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, sky, lime, pink, or black.

Consistent color coding across your boards helps team members quickly understand label meanings.

Save your new label

After creating or editing a label, click Save to confirm your changes. The new label will be added to your board's label collection and applied to the current card.

Apply the label to your card

Once you've selected or created your labels, they will automatically appear on the card. Click anywhere outside the labels menu or press Esc to close the labels window.

Labels appear as colored bars on the card face, making them visible even when the card is closed.

Remove labels if needed

To remove a label from a card, open the Labels menu again and click on the labeled item to uncheck it. The label will be removed from the card but remain available for future use on other cards.

Removing a label from a card doesn't delete the label from your board - it just removes it from that specific card.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Labels button is not visible or clickable

Make sure you have editing permissions for the board. If you're a board member with limited access, contact the board admin to grant you editing rights.

Created labels are not saving properly

Check your internet connection and try refreshing the page. If the problem persists, try clearing your browser cache or switching to a different browser.

Labels are not showing up on the card face

Close and reopen the card, or refresh your browser. Sometimes there's a display delay. Also ensure you clicked Save when creating new labels.

Cannot create new labels or edit existing ones

Verify that you have admin or editing permissions on the board. Only board admins and members with appropriate permissions can create or modify labels.

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