Add caption on the side of a figure in LaTeX

Generally, in LaTeX you can place a caption on top or bottom of a figure. But we may need to place the caption on the side of the figure or table. In this case, you have to use an additional package called sidecap.

The sidecap package gives you access to place the caption on the side of a figure. But in this case, you have to create tables with the SCtable environment, and for figures use SCfigure environment other than figure or table environment.

Caption on the left side of a figure or table

To place the caption on the left side of a figure or table you have to use the leftcaption option with the sidecap package. Use this on the preamble.

\usepackage[leftcaption]{sidecap}

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[leftcaption]{sidecap}
\usepackage{graphicx} % For \includegraphics

\begin{document}

\begin{SCfigure}
  \centering
  \includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{example-image}
  \caption{Caption for this Figure}
\end{SCfigure}
\begin{SCtable}
  \centering
  \begin{tabular}{| c | c | c |}
    \hline
    \textbf{Heading-1} & \textbf{Heading-2} & \textbf{Heading-3} \\ 
    \hline
    A            & B             & C             \\ 
    \hline
    D             & E             & F            \\
    \hline
    G             & H             & I             \\
    \hline
  \end{tabular}
  \caption{Caption for this Table}
\end{SCtable}

\end{document}

Output:

Caption on the right side of a figure or table

In order to place the caption on the right side use this in the preamble of the document.

\usepackage[rightcaption]{sidecap}

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[rightcaption]{sidecap}
\usepackage{graphicx} % For \includegraphics

\begin{document}

\begin{SCfigure}
  \centering
  \includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{example-image}
  \caption{Caption for this Figure}
\end{SCfigure}
\begin{SCtable}
  \centering
  \begin{tabular}{| c | c | c |}
    \hline
    \textbf{Heading-1} & \textbf{Heading-2} & \textbf{Heading-3} \\ 
    \hline
    A            & B             & C             \\ 
    \hline
    D             & E             & F            \\
    \hline
    G             & H             & I             \\
    \hline
  \end{tabular}
  \caption{Caption for this Table}
\end{SCtable}

\end{document}

Output:

Set the vertical position of the caption

To set the vertical position of the caption you have these options to use:

For figures,

• \sidecaptionvpos{figure}{c} for center
• \sidecaptionvpos{figure}{b} for bottom
• \sidecaptionvpos{figure}{t} for top

For tables,

• \sidecaptionvpos{table}{c} for center
• \sidecaptionvpos{table}{c} for bottom
• \sidecaptionvpos{table}{c} for top

You can use these options as you need in the preamble of your document.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[rightcaption]{sidecap}
\sidecaptionvpos{figure}{c} % To center vertically (figure)
\sidecaptionvpos{table}{c} % To center vertically (table)
\usepackage{graphicx} % For \includegraphics

\begin{document}

\begin{SCfigure}
  \centering
  \includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{example-image}
  \caption{Caption for this Figure}
\end{SCfigure}
\begin{SCtable}
  \centering
  \begin{tabular}{| c | c | c |}
    \hline
    \textbf{Heading-1} & \textbf{Heading-2} & \textbf{Heading-3} \\ 
    \hline
    A            & B             & C             \\ 
    \hline
    D             & E             & F            \\
    \hline
    G             & H             & I             \\
    \hline
  \end{tabular}
  \caption{Caption for this Table}
\end{SCtable}
\end{document}

Output: