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

{ 76 comments… read them below or add one }

sk December 12, 2008 at 4:07 am

Thank you so so much…saved me so many hours of looking around and exploring options. :)

Sanford Silverburg December 16, 2008 at 2:55 am

I need to create a y-axis with two sets of values, from the x-axis from 0 with intervals of .5 to 20 with intervals thereafter of 10. Need help.

Tess December 31, 2008 at 2:10 am

You’re wonderful! I tried figuring this out using the Excel help and the options they listed were not even visible. Your way took mere seconds!

THANK YOU!

Anonymous January 27, 2009 at 5:42 pm

thanks alot.. have been trying to find out since 3 days…s

Mr.Chemic January 31, 2009 at 8:48 am

Super! Very good work. This method is very important for me. Now I am trying to draw secondary axis in MS Excel 2003. For Excel 2007 is very easy! Thank you again!

TF February 3, 2009 at 5:51 pm

This is so easy!! Thanks, you saved me so much time and heartache

Anonymous February 4, 2009 at 12:23 am

Thankyou Dear, It saved my exploring the solution on net

Anonymous February 27, 2009 at 11:16 pm

Thank you so much! I struggle to find things in 2007 and was tearing my hair out over this.

Jaimie March 10, 2009 at 7:10 am

I have another question regarding this — Can I have the first axis Y data be in bars and the second axis data be in lines?

Thanks

Jaimie March 10, 2009 at 7:11 am

I have another question regarding this….Can I have the first axis Y data be in bars and the second axis Y data be in lines?

Thanks

yuval March 10, 2009 at 1:13 pm

Yes.
In the second photo you will find the “Change Series Chart Type…” (3rd option from the top after you right click the series). Click on it and it will let you change the series to any chart type that you want.
But not all of the Chart Types work correctly so be careful in the type you select and validate that nothing was omitted from the results.
Cheers!

Anonymous March 23, 2009 at 11:32 pm

Thanks alot, this saved me alot of time and stress

John doe May 19, 2009 at 1:46 pm

THANK YOU SO MUCH! you saved me so much time

Siddo May 20, 2009 at 3:57 am

Thanks for taking the time to share!

Lacuzygirl June 2, 2009 at 8:37 am

Thanks so much you’re a life saver with this one! it actually helped me get my project report off the ground.

Emily July 18, 2009 at 1:08 am

Thanks Yuval. Super easy, and your instructions were so much more easy and straight forward than the other sites I browsed to figure this out.

yuval July 20, 2009 at 5:05 pm

Happy i could help :-)

Dape July 25, 2009 at 10:36 am

Can another x axis con the top be created? I simply can’t get it right… Thank you!

yuval July 28, 2009 at 10:19 am

AFAIK there is no way.

Jingle August 11, 2009 at 8:16 pm

COOL… thanks… it helps… lesson learned!!

sonja August 28, 2009 at 12:04 am

Thank you for posting this!!!!

Eleni September 22, 2009 at 7:56 pm

Thx!But I don’t think that the procedure can be continued for more than 2 axis..for example I haven’t find a way to make 3 or 4-y axis..If you have any idea please let me know!!

John September 30, 2009 at 6:14 am

Thanks! Helped a lot!

Lilly October 20, 2009 at 9:39 am

well this helped me if i was ever to do this on excel but it doesn’t explain or show me how to do this on paper. You reallly helped a lot. thanks!! No

dennis October 27, 2009 at 2:21 pm

this info really helped me so much … i will refer this to my friends

barry November 25, 2009 at 8:46 pm

how to do 3 y axis , 1 on left two on right

yuval November 27, 2009 at 9:43 am

Dont know. have never been able to go beyond the 2 and i think you cannot since there is not way to have 2 scales on the same axis.
Sorry.

fadi April 25, 2010 at 8:48 am

thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
you saved somone’s life buddy :)

yuval April 25, 2010 at 6:13 pm

Love you too mate!

Tina June 14, 2010 at 11:25 pm

Thank u so much!!!! Excelent explanation!!
I ve been looking for this answer for so long!

jienhau July 2, 2010 at 5:54 pm

thank you for your information. it helps me a lot!

hadman August 4, 2010 at 8:57 pm

Thank you very much short and sweet.

Saad August 13, 2010 at 5:56 am

Thanks

Gunjan August 16, 2010 at 3:59 pm

Thanks,
With screen shot it helps a lot

sweetgrapes August 26, 2010 at 12:45 pm

Hi yuval: how can i do this using bar graph? i tried but it doesnt work. Thank you.

dom brassey October 19, 2010 at 12:16 pm

In Outlook 2007 I think you cannot do this with any of the 3D graphs. The “Plot Series On: Secondary Axis” option simply does not appear after you select “Format Data Series.” Works fine in 2D.

smak October 21, 2010 at 8:14 am

thanx a lot for saving my time. God bless you

Gersh November 13, 2010 at 5:14 am

I am trying to do this from a pivot table and not having any luck… assistance would be awesome please

yuval November 14, 2010 at 5:34 pm

I never tried using a pivot table to achieve a graph so am not sure about the problems nature.
Is there a way you can share your sheet so I can see the problem?

Todor Tashev December 8, 2010 at 7:45 pm

You are genius! What I would do without you!?! Thank you SO much!

grapher December 22, 2010 at 12:20 pm

Yes, you can create 3 (or more) Y axes in Excel using
Multy_Y or EZplot. Try the demo version at
http://www.OfficeExpander.com

Dixie Rect February 2, 2011 at 4:27 am

This helped me so much! Thank you <333

sebastian shah February 17, 2011 at 6:16 am

Hi,
I’m trying to create a secondary axis on a chart that has been mad from a pivot table, nut when I go to select “secondary axis” in the series option, the radial is not selectable. Please let me know what I need to do? I am using Excel 2010
Thanks,
Sebastian

kimawi86 March 15, 2011 at 11:05 pm

Thanx, thanx, thanx .. this is really useful .. I was looking for free OriginLab software in the internet to create multi-axes graphs for my project .. but now no need for that software

Karen March 18, 2011 at 3:43 am

Do you know a way to associate a data series with a different axis without having to select the data series, e.g. its line or bar, etc.? The problem I run into is that sometimes the data series is not showing due to the scale of the primary axis, and the way I can get to it is to first change the primary axis scale, select the data series I need to change, then using Format Data Series. Then I have to go back and reset the Primary Axis scale. Seems like there should be a way to associate a data series with an axis from the data rather than just from its representation on the chart.

Thanks.

Carlos April 18, 2011 at 8:58 pm

Thank you Yuval, this was very helpful

yuval April 19, 2011 at 12:42 am

your welcome Carlos.

Dyan April 29, 2011 at 11:21 pm

You are a force for good in the universe!

Amol Aute May 26, 2011 at 5:13 pm

Thanks due to ur comment on third axis i could manage to do my presentation and it really helped me

siddharth vats June 9, 2011 at 6:08 pm

thanks dude god bless ..

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