Creating multiple y axis graph in excel 2007

by Yuval Ararat on 16/09/2008

Ok this was annoying to figure out so here you go.
I was trying to create 2 axis graph, or chart, in Excel since the relationship of the data was not very good. one was in the tens and the other was in the thousands.
First create a graph using your data and select the type you like. in our case it was a 2 line graph.

then right click on the smaller graph, the blue one in our case, and select the “Format Data Series…”

Then we get a popup window for the series options with the ability to change the series axis.

We select the Secondary axis option and close the window using the Close button.
The graph will update and set for 2 Y axis display.

P.S. the process can be repeated for more lines and more Y axis.

Tagged as: Graph, Line chart, Microsoft Office Excel, Multiple Axis, Y axis

{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }

← Previous Comments

Mark B July 15, 2011 at 6:37 am: Awesome, thanks! Saved me tons of time!
Web Reviewer July 28, 2011 at 12:59 pm: For Multiple Y Axes in Excel, try Multy_Y or EZplot at http://www.OfficeExpander.com

There is a demo version for you to try.

Cheers
KS August 6, 2011 at 2:23 am: Thanks a lot! So simple, yet I wasted far too much time on this!
Rita August 18, 2011 at 6:05 am: Thank you. As noted in a previous comment, this saved me a lot of time and was much easier to do than in Excel 2003.
Paul September 2, 2011 at 12:48 am: But more than 2 y axis is not possible with excel 2007, If you know how to have more than two y axis in excel pl let me know
Raghav September 7, 2011 at 5:45 pm: Great help Man!!! Simplified the entire process. Thumbs up!!!
Madison September 12, 2011 at 7:43 am: this seriously just saved my life i was trying to figure this out for a good hour and the project is due tomorrow i LOVE you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill September 13, 2011 at 2:42 am: So, what do you do if the Plot Series On section is grayed out? I am trying to re-use a chart someone else created, and I am assuming I need to specify something in the series in order to pick the primary or secondary axis.
Bill September 13, 2011 at 2:44 am: Never mind, figured it out… The other series was not grayed out, so I was able to plot it on a different axis…. A joy to figure out, nonetheless.
Kmac September 16, 2011 at 6:03 am: Thanks – saved me time as well. Was getting a bit frustrated.
niroshaa September 22, 2011 at 4:56 am: Awesome. Thanks a bunch
Hanmant October 9, 2011 at 6:40 pm: Good Information. Many thank and saved lot of time.
Rob October 12, 2011 at 10:51 am: Thanks! This was easy to follow and saved me time.
Steve October 18, 2011 at 8:50 am: Thank you, this was awesomely helpful and saved a lot of mucking around!
Web Reviewer October 26, 2011 at 8:33 pm: Paul, you can plot more than 2y axes in Excel using Multy_Y or EZplot for Excel at http://www.OfficeExpander.com

There is a demo version for you to try.

Cheers.
Ryan bell October 28, 2011 at 3:08 am: dude!! this saved me so much time i love u bra!! this was so wicked !! imma go know but man i love u !!
Tom Earl November 4, 2011 at 6:13 am: how do I make Multiple categorys (Axis Labels) in a line chart
what I have is multiple programs that I want to trend but in the lable axis categorys only let me list one form of data
aa November 21, 2011 at 3:38 pm: Terrific! I love when a quick google search turns up exactly what I need.
Naz December 8, 2011 at 4:46 am: Bill, how did you get it to not be ‘greyed out’ any longer?!?!?!?! Mine is greyed out?!?!
Yuval Ararat December 8, 2011 at 11:43 am: Naz, it seems he used the other series. he didn’t get it un-greyed.
Pankaj January 2, 2012 at 9:58 pm: Very good information. Thank you so much.
Joe January 12, 2012 at 11:18 am: Thanks! Saved my day at work….
emil... January 25, 2012 at 7:48 pm: thanks man you are the best …. !!! you save me for my project !!!