Published on November 3, 2023 by Jake Sheridan
Welcome to this tutorial where you will learn how to add a second y-axis in Google Sheets. Discover how to represent your data on two distinct scales using a chart.
Understanding the Y-Axis in Google Sheets
In the Cartesian plane, the y-axis is the vertical axis. It starts at a negative value and goes up to a positive value. The y-axis also serves as a starting point, or point 0, to determine how far horizontally a point extends on a chart. In experiments, the dependent variable is represented on the y-axis, also known as the “effect” of the independent variable, which is represented on the x-axis.
A second y-axis can display your data on two distinct scales at the same time if you have two data sets and want to use a chart.
Adding a Second Y-Axis in a Chart
Before we begin, we’ll need a data set to create the chart.
Step 1
Make sure your data set is displayed neatly and orderly. This will help us create the chart easily.
Step 2
Select the entire data range, choose “Insert” from the menu, and then “Chart.”
Step 3
By default, Google Sheets will use the selected data range to generate a pie chart. Simply change the chart type to a combo chart in the Chart Editor.
Step 4
Now, you can customize the chart according to your preferences. We will change the chart title to “Sales” to better represent the chart. To make the chart title stand out, we’ll make it bold, black, and centered.
Step 5
To add a second y-axis, go to the Chart Editor, select “Series,” then “Units Sold,” and choose “Right Axis” in the Axes box.
Step 6
Once you have finished editing and customizing the chart, it will look something like this.
Conclusion
There you have it! Feel free to make a copy of the example spreadsheet below to see how it works. The most important thing is to have fun while doing this.
Example Spreadsheet: Make a copy of the example spreadsheet
In this tutorial, I have explained how to create categories in Google Sheets. Want more? Check out all the tutorials on Google Sheets.
