How to Add a Secondary Axis (X & Y) in Excel and Google Sheets

Have you ever wondered how to add a secondary axis in Excel and Google Sheets? In this article, we will show you exactly how to do that and why it can be a powerful tool for visualizing your data.

Why Add a Secondary Axis (X & Y) in Excel

Adding a secondary axis can be incredibly useful in several situations. For example, when plotting multiple data ranges that vary significantly, or when trying to represent two distinct types of charts (typically a bar chart and a line chart).

Take a look at the example below. Here, you can see both a primary and a secondary axis. They include different ranges on both axes. The primary axis displays the total income range, while the secondary axis shows the percentage of net profits. By using this technique, you can visually represent two distinct series in a single chart.

How to Add a Secondary Axis (X & Y) in Excel

Let’s start with the basic chart. In this case, we have added two series: income and net profits. Since income is in dollars and net profits are in percentages, the net profits barely appear on the chart. In this case, the chart would be more informative if the percentages were displayed on the secondary axis, which is located on the right.

Changing the Chart Type

Right-click on the chart and select “Change Chart Type.”

Adding a Secondary Axis

1. Click on “Combo.”
2. Click on the second option that says “Clustered Column – Line on Secondary Axis.”
3. Select the chart type for each series and choose the series to be displayed on the secondary axis. Click OK.

Final Chart with a Secondary Axis

You can now see that the final chart displays income on the primary axis (left) and net profits on the secondary axis (right). This visualizes the data in a more understandable way.

How to Add a Secondary Axis in Google Sheets

Basic Chart

You can see that when creating the chart in Google Sheets, it appears in the same way as in Excel.

Adding a Secondary Axis

1. Double-click on the chart.
2. Click on “Customize.”
3. Click on “Series.”

4. In the “Series” section, where it says “Apply to all series,” select the series you want to place on the secondary axis. In this case, we will choose “Net Profits.”
5. Scroll down to the “Axis” section and select “Right Axis.”

Final Chart with a Secondary Axis

Now, the final chart displays income on the primary axis (left) and net profits on the secondary axis (right).

For more tips and techniques on Google Sheets, you can visit Crawlan.com.

Now that you know how to add a secondary axis in Excel and Google Sheets, go ahead and impress your friends and colleagues with your data visualization skills!