Excel Line Column Chart 2 Axes

If you use two different chart types in a single chart, it's called a combination chart, like the line-column chart shown below. This example is on 2 axes, and the steps are shown below

Author: Debra Dalgleish

What Is a Combination Chart?

In Microsoft Excel, you can select data on a worksheet, and insert a chart based on that data. You select a specific chart type, such as a column chart, and all of the series are created with that chart type.

For some charts, you might prefer to see one or more of the series in a different chart type, such as a line chart. If you use two different chart types in a single chart, it's called a combination chart (or combo chart), like the line-column chart shown below.

Watch the Video

To see the steps for creating a line-column chart, please watch this short video. There are step-by-step written instructions below this video.

Set Up the Source Data

First, set up your data for the chart, on an Excel worksheet. In the example shown below, the product name, number of cases sold, and sales amount are in adjacent columns.

At the bottom of the list, the total amount is calculated, using the SUM function. The total can be included in the chart, or left out.

There is a worksheet heading in cell B2 - Product Sales.

Create a Column Chart

First, we'll create a column chart from all of the data, and later we'll change one series in the Excel graph to a line chart.

To create a column chart:

• Select any cell in the data range.
• On the Excel Ribbon, click Insert tab, then click Column Chart
• In the 2-D Column section, click the first chart type -- 2D Clustered Column chart

This creates a chart that is embedded on the active worksheet, with both the series shown as columns.

• Product names are shown in the axis labels on the horizontal axis
• Amounts are shown on the vertical axis
• Cases are in the blue column, and also shown as a legend entry
• Amounts, the second series, are in the red column, and also shown as a legend entry

However, because the Cases numbers are much smaller than the Amounts, it's hard to see the Cases series.

Change Series Chart Type

To make the Cases series stand out, we'll change it to a line series, and later we'll plot that line graph on a separate axis.

In this example, the Cases series is difficult to see, so you can use the Ribbon commands to select it.

To select a specific series:

1. On the worksheet, click on the chart to select it.
2. On the Ribbon, click the Layout tab, under Chart Tools
3. At the left end of the Ribbon, in the Current Selection group, click the drop down arrow
4. Click Series "Cases" to select that series.

   

To change a series chart type:

1. In the chart, right-click on one of the selected Cases columns.
2. In the shortcut menu that appears, click Change Series Chart Type
3. In the Change Chart Type dialog box, click on the Line category
4. Next, click on the first Line chart type

   

5. Click OK to apply the change, and to close the Change Chart Type window.

The Cases series changes to a Line chart type, but it is still hard to see, because the numbers are so small.

Next, we'll change its axis.

Create a Secondary Axis

In the steps below, we'll plot the Cases on a secondary axis, so the line is easier to see.

1. On the worksheet, click on the chart to select it.
2. On the Ribbon, click the Layout tab, under Chart Tools
3. At the left end of the Ribbon, in the Current Selection group, click the drop down arrow
4. Click Series "Cases" to select that series.
5. In the Current Selection group, click Format Selection

   

6. In the Format Data Series window, click the Series Options category, then click Secondary Axis.

   

7. Click OK to close the window.

Now the Cases series is easier to see, because it is a solid line on the secondary axis, which goes from 0 to 250, instead of the Primary axis, which goes from 0 to 18,000..

Format the Axes

Thanks to Michael Gizzi for this tip

After you add a secondary axis, you can use titles or colours to identify which axis is used by each series. In this example, there are only two series, so the series colour can be used for its axis.

The Amount is on the primary axis, at the left, so you can colour its labels red:

1. Click on the primary axis, to select it
2. On the Excel Ribbon, click the Home tab
3. Click the drop down arrow for Font Color, and click on a red that matches the series colour.

The Cases are on the secondary axis, at the right, so follow the same steps, to colour its labels blue.

In the completed chart, shown below, you can see the coloured labels on each axis. This makes it easier to spot which axis a series is plotted on.

Get the Sample File

Click here to get a zipped sample file for this tutorial. The Excel file is in xlsx format, and does not contain any macros.

Related Links

Cluster Stack Chart Utility

Pie Charts

Panel Chart

Waterfall Chart

Show Data From Hidden Rows in Excel Chart

In-Cell Charts