When the values in a chart vary widely from data series to data series, or when you have mixed types of data (for example, price and volume), you can plot one or more data series on a secondary vertical (value) axis. The scale of the secondary vertical axis reflects the values for the associated data series.

After you add a secondary vertical axis to a chart, you can also add a secondary horizontal (category) axis, which may be useful in an xy (scatter) chart or bubble chart.

To help distinguish the data that is plotted along the secondary axis, you can change the chart type for just one data series. For example, you could change one data series to a line chart.What do you want to do?

Add a secondary vertical axis

  1. In a chart, click the data series that you want to plot along a secondary vertical axis, or do the following to select the data series from a list of chart elements:
    1. Click the chart.

      This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

    2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the data series that you want to plot along a secondary vertical axis.

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  2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
  3. Click Series Options if it's not selected, and then under Plot Series On, click Secondary Axis and then click Close.
  4. On the Layout tab, in the Axes group, click Axes.
  5. Click Secondary Vertical Axis, and then click the display option that you want.

Tip To help distinguish the secondary axis, you can change the chart type for just one data series. For example, you can change one data series to a line chart.

Add a secondary horizontal axis

  1. Click a chart that displays a secondary vertical axis.

    This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

    Tip If you need to add a secondary vertical axis, see .

  2. On the Layout tab, in the Axes group, click Axes.

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  3. Click Secondary Horizontal Axis, and then click the display option that you want.

Change the chart type of a data series

  1. In a chart, click the data series that you want to change, or do the following to select the data series from a list of chart elements:
    1. Click the chart.

      This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

    2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the data series that you want to change.

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  2. On the Design tab, in the Type group, click Change Chart Type.

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  3. Click a chart type in the first box, and then click the chart subtype that you want to use in the second box.

Remove a secondary axis

  1. Click the chart that displays the secondary axis that you want to remove.

    This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

  2. Do one of the following:
    • On the Layout tab, in the Axes group, click Axes, click Secondary Vertical Axis or Secondary Horizontal Axis, and then click None.

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    • Click the secondary axis that you want to delete, and then press DELETE.
    • Right-click the secondary axis, and then click Delete on the shortcut menu.

    Tip You can also remove secondary axes immediately after you add them by clicking Undo button image on the Quick Access Toolbar, or by pressing CTRL+Z.

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