How to create a chart combining columns and lines in excel

Because many questions have been asked about how to create a combination of columns and lines in Excel, TipsMake today will guide you how to create a combination of columns and lines in excel. Take a specific illustration with a graph that tracks both revenue and expense at the same time for 12 months.

An example of a chart containing column and line data combined in excel

First, TipsMake has an example, you have an excel statistics table of revenue and expenses from January 2015 to December 2015, for example. Here if you draw charts and graphs in excel, the X-axis can be from January to December, while the vertical Y axis will be the revenue or expense column. But here if you want to show all revenue and expenses, you have to split them into two vertical axes Y. Or more advanced, you might want the revenue to be represented by columns, and the costs shown by This is a convenient way to track, meaning you want to apply a chart to combine columns and lines in Excel. Specifically as in the following picture:

How to create a chart combining columns and lines in excel Picture 1

Draw a combination of columns and lines in Excel

It looks difficult but it is really easy, just follow the following steps:

1. Draw a chart containing basic data before combining columns and lines in excel

- Step 1: Scan to select the data area to insert the chart. As in the example above we will scan the whole month + revenue + expenses.

- Step 2: Draw a chart in excel by going to the insert tab and then choosing the type of column chart you like.

- Step 3: An excel column chart will appear as shown in the image below. You can see that the two columns of the horizontal axis x and the vertical axis y, the vertical axis y is the revenue part, not the column showing the cost figures. And there is no graphing section combining columns and lines in Excel at all. Now if you want to display the second row in an excel chart or draw a chart that combines columns and lines in excel, follow the sections below.

How to create a chart combining columns and lines in excel Picture 2

2. To display the second vertical axis in excel, follow these steps

- Step 1: Following the steps in part 1, you continue: Go to the Format tab, in the Current Selection - Plot Area section, select the name of the data range you want to make the second vertical axis in excel. In this case it would be "Cost" Series

- Step 2: After selecting the data area you want to make the second vertical axis in the Excel combination of columns and lines, go to Format Selection.

- Step 3: In Dialog "Format Data Series" select "Secondary Axis" in "Plot Series On" then click Close to finish. As you can see now the column chart just now has a second vertical axis on the right showing the cost value. So you have succeeded. Now to turn this column chart into a combination of columns and lines in Excel, you need to follow up on the next section.

3. How to create a chart combining columns and lines in Excel

- Step 1: Following the steps in parts 1 and 2, go back to the Format section and continue to select the "Cost" Series.

- Step 2: Now you want to draw the cost part into a line combined with the sales column in excel, you continue to the Design - Change Chart Type

- Step 3: In the Chart Types section, there will be many different templates for you to choose. Now, to combine columns and lines in Excel, select this cost part as lines. You can choose any type of Line chart you want.