Microsoft Excel offers many customization options to help present data in the best possible style. One of the many customization options on Excel is adding the secondary axis to your charts. In this short guide, we have listed the steps for adding a secondary axis in Excel without any hassle easily!
How to add a secondary axis in Excel!
Here’s how to add the secondary axis in Excel: create data > go to the “Insert” tab > choose chart type > format data series > format chart > save.
Here are the detailed steps:
- Open Excel and create or open the worksheet where you want to add the secondary axis.
- Enter your data in different columns. The primary axis data should be in the left column, and the secondary axis data should be in the right column. Ensure both data sets are related and have the same number of rows.
- Select both data sets by clicking and dragging the mouse over the cells. You can also hold the control key while selecting non-adjacent cells.
- With the selected data, click the “Insert” tab in the ribbon at the top left side of the screen.
- In the “Charts” menu, click on the desired chart type that best represents your data. You can choose a column, line, or scatter chart. Select the chart type that suits your needs.
- Once you’ve inserted the chart, it will appear on the worksheet. Click on the chart to select it.
- Right-click on any data series within the chart and choose “Format Data Series” from the context menu. This will open the Format Data Series pane on the right side of the screen.
- In the Format Data Series pane, navigate to the “Series Options” tab. You will see a checkbox labeled “Secondary Axis.” Click this box to add a secondary axis to the selected data series.
- Customize the secondary axis by right-clicking it and choosing “Format Axis” from the menu. This will help you to modify the axis scale, labels, and other formatting options to suit your needs.
- Format the chart as desired by changing the chart title, axes labels, colors, and other visual elements. You can do this by selecting the appropriate options from the Chart Tools tabs in the Excel ribbon.
- Save your Excel sheet to preserve your changes.
FAQs
How to add secondary axis on excel?
- To access Chart Tools, select a chart.
- Choose Design > Modify Chart Type.
- Combo > Cluster Column – Line on Secondary Axis should be selected.
- The data series you want to display should have Secondary Axis selected.
- Go to the drop-down menu and select Line.
- Choose OK.
Why can’t I add a secondary axis in Excel?
In the Chart Tools tab, pick Format. Choose Format Selection on the left of the screen. Select Secondary Axis in the proper panel. Customize the second axis by converting the text alignment or direction or the number format.
Conclusion
In Excel, the secondary axis is used when you have two sets of data with different scales or units of measurement. By adding secondary axis excel, you can visually compare and analyze two data series with different ranges or magnitudes.
For instance, you have a sales chart with revenue and units sold. Revenue may be measured in dollars, while units sold may be measured in thousands. In this case, plotting both series on the same primary axis may make it difficult to interpret the chart accurately. Adding a secondary axis would help you to scale and display the two data series appropriately, making it easier to understand their relationship.
Using a secondary axis allows you to easily display multiple data series in a single chart, enhancing your data’s visual representation.
