Add a Secondary Axis in Google Sheets

Do you want to compare sales and profit data in one combined chart, or do you need to see website traffic data on two separate axes? It is appropriate to add a second axis to the graph of to make the graph easier to understand.

So how do you insert a Google Sheets chart with two Y-axes?

1. Add a combo chart.
2. Double-click the chart and open Customize > Series in the chart editor.
3. In the Series Selector, select the label to use as a separate Y-axis.
4. Select “Right Axis” from the “Axis” drop-down menu.

Join us as we show you how to add a right vertical axis to your Google Sheets.

Inserting a Secondary Axis in Google Sheets

Ready to get your hands dirty? By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to create a Google Sheets combo chart with a secondary axis as shown below.

Step 1: Organize Your Data

Organize your data into neat tables with clearly defined labels. This allows Google Sheets to accurately detect labels and fields, making the chart creation process much easier. You can format the data in the same format as the following example:

we also need to visualize what data is represented by the columns and lines (as shown above). Doing so eliminates confusion when adding a second y-axis to your chart.

Can Google Sheets chart multiple ranges of data? Yes! Method is as follows

Step 2: Insert a Chart

Once you have your data in place, you can insert your chart. Combo charts in Google Sheets are a great choice when working with multi-series datasets. For those unfamiliar, a combo chart is simply a line chart and a column chart “combined” into one.

1. Highlights data with used column headers.

1. Select “Insert” from the menu bar and click “Chart.”

1. Alternatively, click the “Insert Chart” icon on the toolbar.

1. In the Chart Editor panel, open the dropdown list under Chart Type.”

1. Select “Combo Chart” in the “Line” section.

You can use any kind of chart for your data, depending on your visualization needs and preferences. However, it is more common to use the second axis of a Google Sheets Combo Chart than to use other types of charts.

Step 3: Create the Secondary Axis in Google Sheets

To add a right Y axis, you need to open the Chart Editor panel and edit the Series option. There are many ways to access the settings above, but the most efficient way to add a second dimension to your Google Sheets is:

1. Right-click on the chart and select “Series.”
2. Select the label to use as the secondary axis from the options provided. (In this example we used ‘Units Sold”).

1. The “Chart Editor” panel will appear on the side.
2. Select “Right Axis” in the “Axis” drop-down menu.”

1. A second Y axis should be inserted as shown below.

Step 4: Customize Your Chart

Besides adding another vertical axis to the chart, you should consider customizing the chart so that it is clearly labeled and understandable. In particular, you can customize bold labels and change their colors.

1. Right-click the graph and select Axis > Vertical Axis.”

1. In the Chart Editor side panel, click the Bold icon (capital B) under Label Format.”

1. Open the Text Color selector. Customize the labels by choosing column colors.

1. Right-click the graph again and select Axis > Right Vertical Axis.”

1. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the second axis.
2. The graph looks like this:

Google Sheets Combo Chart: Easy Guide + How To Video

Final Thoughts

Adding a second axis to your Google Sheets can make your charts easier to understand, especially when displaying multiple series on a single chart. If you need to insert one, simply follow the steps above and a second vertical axis will be created in no time.

Want to set up your spreadsheet right away? Check out our premium templates now and use code ‘SSP’ to get 50% off.”