Combining different chart types in Excel 2013

 Dec 04, 2015

Have you ever had two different types of data that you wanted to show in one chart? In Excel 2013 it is much easier to create combo charts.

Let’s look at the four steps required to do this.

Combining different chart types and adding a secondary axis

  1. Select the data you would like to use for your chart.
  2. Go to the Insert tab and click Recommended Charts.
  3. Click the All Charts tab and select the Combo category.

  4. At the top of the dialog you will see a couple out of the box combo charts to get you started and Clustered Column – Line is the default. This combo chart will split the series 50/50 between a clustered column and a line chart. You can then use the table below the chart to change each series to a particular chart type and move series to the secondary axis.

    Given that units sold and total transactions have different scales we need to move one of them to a secondary axis so we can clearly see the values for both.

  5. Check the Secondary Axis box for the Total Transactions and click OK.

Combo Chat in Excel

As you can see it now takes four steps to create a simple combination chart.

For more information, take a look at New Horizons' Excel Training Courses.

How do your Excel skills stack up?   

Test Now  

About the Author:

Auret Swanepoel  

As a recent addition to the New Horizons team, Auret is a highly skilled and qualified IT Technical trainer. He has been a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) since 2008 and has since then, also become a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and a Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional (MCITP). With his international experience as a trainer in South Africa, Auret is able to adapt his teaching style to different audiences in the classroom and ensure that students are learning in a positive and collaborative environment.

Read full bio
top