How to add a secondary axis in Excel

A secondary axis in excel is a marker on the right edge of the chart that measures a different value on the chart. A secondary axis is required when you have to compare two distinct types of series on the same charts, mostly whole values and percentages. Without any delay, let's start with practical use.

Example: Create a chart and add secondary axis in excel

Here, I have a sales record of an XYZ company, in an excel sheet. Column A contains the name of months, Column B contains sales done in the adjacent month, and Column C contains the growth in comparison to last year's month.

Now, I am required to visualize this record on Excel 2016. To do so I follow these steps:

• Select the entire data (A1:C13). Go to insert tab --> Charts --> Clustered Column Chart. Click on it.

You have your chart. But something is not right? You can see that sales record on the chart but where is the growth bar. We can see the legend tagged below it is nowhere on the graph.

Actually, it is right there. But percentage values are so small (less than 1) in comparison to the sales that the columns of growth can't be seen. In this scenario, we need a separate axis that measures values on a percentage scale. To do so, we will add a secondary axis in excel 2016.

How to add a secondary axis in excel

Follow these steps for adding a secondary axis in excel.

• • Right-click on the chart.

• • Click on the change chart type option.
  • A window will open to choose chart types. Click on the combo chart type. It is at the bottom of the list.

• •  You can see some new options available. In the bottom, you can see the list of series used in the chart.
  • By default, there's only one axis. Here you can choose the series that you want to show on the secondary axis. I want growth to be shown on the secondary axis as a line. So, I check the checkbox of it and walla, we have our chart ready.

By default, the secondary axis is a line. But you can choose from the list chart types to use as a secondary axis. You can also create this chart by simply clicking the option available on the top of the chart.

Directly create a chart with a secondary axis in Excel

If you already know that you are going to need a secondary axis to visualize the data, you can use these steps to create a chart with a secondary axis in Excel.

1. Select the data.
2. Go to insert.
3. Click on the recommended chart. In excel 2016, by default, Excel will suggest you use a chart with a secondary axis. Click on it, and it is done.
4. In earlier Excel versions, click on all charts. Combo --> Click on second Clustered column - line on the secondary axis. 

And it is done. You have your chart ready with the secondary axis. It is a more elegant way to visualize the distinct type of series on the same excel chart. Rather than having two charts for two different types of values, now we have one chart that shows both of the series. We can compare them easily.

So yeah guys, this how you can add and use the secondary axis in excel. I hope I was explanatory enough to make this easier to grasp. If you have any doubts or queries regarding charting in excel or any other topic related to excel and VBA, comment in the comments section below.

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