Create a Combo Chart in Excel: Steps and Tips

To create a combo chart in Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, select your data, choose Insert > Insert Combo Chart, and pick a combination such as clustered columns and a line. If the chart needs different settings, choose Create Custom Combo Chart, assign a chart type to each series, and select Secondary Axis for a series whose scale is substantially different.

What a combo chart shows

A combo chart displays two or more data series in one chart using different chart types. A common choice is columns for totals and a line for a rate or trend. The two forms let readers compare related measures while keeping their differences visible: columns emphasize the size of each category, while a line makes a change over time easier to follow.

For example, a monthly report might show revenue as columns and profit margin as a line. Revenue is an amount of money, while margin is a percentage. A single vertical scale would make one series hard to interpret, so the chart can use a secondary vertical axis for the percentage. The axes should be clearly labeled so the reader knows which values belong to which series.

A combo chart is not automatically clearer than two separate charts. It works best when the measures share categories, such as months, products, or regions, and the purpose is to compare their patterns or relationship. If the measures have little to do with each other, putting them together can imply a connection that the data does not support.

Prepare the data before charting

Organize the worksheet as a simple table: put category labels in the first column and each numeric series in its own column, with descriptive headers in the top row. For example, columns could be Month, Revenue, and Profit Margin, followed by one row for each month. Avoid blank rows or columns inside the data range, merged cells in the table, and explanatory notes mixed into the values.

Use one consistent row per category, and make sure every series aligns to the same categories.
Use real numeric values for amounts and rates. Format them as currency or percentages rather than typing symbols into the values as text.
Give each series a short, distinctive header. Excel uses these headers for the chart legend.
Check for missing values, totals, and outliers before charting. A total row may be plotted as another category unless you leave it out of the selected range.

When data is in an Excel table, adding rows to the table can help keep the chart source current, depending on how the chart was created and the workbook structure. For a one-time chart, selecting the exact data range is usually sufficient. If Excel assigns months as separate series rather than category labels, use Chart Design > Switch Row/Column to change how it reads the selection.

Create the chart with a built-in combination

Select the data, including the header row and category labels. If the table has unrelated columns between the series, it is usually easier to make a clean adjacent copy of the relevant columns first.
On the ribbon, choose Insert > Insert Combo Chart. The chart gallery presents common combinations, such as clustered columns with a line.
Choose a suitable combination. Excel inserts the chart into the worksheet, where you can move or resize it.
Review the axes, legend, category labels, and series assignment. Do not assume Excel has selected the most meaningful scale or chart type for your purpose.

The built-in choice is a quick starting point, not a permanent limitation. Select the chart and use Chart Design > Change Chart Type to adjust it. In the chart-type window, select Combo to view or edit the type assigned to each series and whether a secondary axis is used. The same area can be reached during insertion by choosing Create Custom Combo Chart from the combo chart menu.

Set each series and add a secondary axis

In the custom combo settings, each series has a chart-type menu. Choose a type that suits the information: clustered columns are useful for comparing values across categories, while a line is useful for showing a trend across an ordered sequence such as time. Use the Secondary Axis checkbox for a series that cannot be read sensibly on the primary axis because its units or range differ substantially.

For the revenue and margin example, assign Revenue to Clustered Column and Profit Margin to Line, then place Profit Margin on the secondary axis. Excel adds another vertical scale on the right side of the chart. Format that axis as a percentage, and check that its bounds and labels make the values easy to interpret. The primary axis on the left can remain in currency. Add axis titles if the units are not immediately obvious.

A secondary axis is a display tool, not a conversion of the data. Its scale is independent of the primary axis, so changing its minimum or maximum can change the visual impression of how closely the series move together. Use a scale that represents the data honestly, and do not select a secondary axis simply to make a line look more dramatic. If readers need exact values, add data labels selectively or include the underlying table.

Choose chart types that fit the question

Start with the question the chart should answer. If the goal is to compare a total with a rate over time, columns and a line are often a practical pairing. If the goal is to show how a total is made up, a stacked column may be appropriate, but it can be harder to compare individual components. Avoid adding a third or fourth series just because Excel permits it; too many marks, colors, and axes make interpretation difficult.

Columns plus a line: Useful when one measure is a category total and another is a trend, target, rate, or percentage.
Two scales: Useful when the series use different units or have very different magnitudes, provided both axes are labeled and the relationship is explained.
One scale: Prefer this when the series share units and comparable ranges. A second axis can make direct comparisons less intuitive.
Separate charts: Prefer these when the series have unrelated meanings, very different category structures, or a crowded set of values.

Do not confuse a line chart with a scatter chart. A line chart treats the horizontal values as categories, even if they look like dates or numbers. If the x-values represent measured numeric positions and the spacing between them matters, an XY scatter chart may be more appropriate. Combo chart options and combinations depend on the chart types Excel offers in the selected chart dialog.

Format the chart for readability

Once the series and axes are correct, make the chart self-explanatory. Give it a specific title, name both axes when needed, and keep the legend labels close to the terminology used in the source data. A title such as Monthly Revenue and Profit Margin says more than a generic title such as Results. If the line uses the secondary axis, make that relationship apparent through the axis title and, where helpful, a consistent line color.

Use restrained formatting. A strong line color and a small number of column colors are usually easier to read than several decorative effects. Gridlines can help estimate values, but heavy gridlines, 3-D effects, and unnecessary backgrounds compete with the data. If adding data labels, use them only where they clarify a point; labeling every column and every line marker can clutter a chart with many categories.

Check the chart at the size at which it will be read. Long category names may need a wider chart or shorter labels. For a long time series, a line may be clearer than many narrow columns. If the chart will be printed or viewed without color, use clear markers, line styles, or direct labels in addition to color differences.

Common problems and how to fix them

The wrong series appears as categories: Select the chart and choose Chart Design > Switch Row/Column. Confirm that the horizontal axis shows the intended months or categories.
The line is flat or hard to see: Check whether its values are being plotted against a much larger primary-axis range. Consider a secondary axis only if the units or scales justify one.
The chart uses the wrong data: Select the chart and choose Chart Design > Select Data to review the chart data range and series. Correct the range if it includes a total row, blank section, or unrelated column.
Percentages display as decimals: Format the source cells or the relevant axis as Percentage. Make sure the stored values represent the intended rates; for example, 0.15 displays as 15% when formatted as a percentage.
The right axis makes the relationship look misleading: Review its minimum and maximum and explain the two scales. If the comparison remains confusing, use separate charts instead.
The combination option is missing or limited: Select the chart and open Chart Design > Change Chart Type, then look for Combo. Some chart types cannot be combined in every way; try a supported column-and-line combination or use separate charts.

To undo a recent formatting or chart change in Windows, press Ctrl+Z; on Mac, press Command+Z. If you have made many edits, it can be quicker to reopen Change Chart Type and reset the series settings than to undo them one at a time.

Excel for Mac and Excel for the web

In Microsoft 365 for Mac, select the source data and use the Insert tab to create a chart, or select an existing chart and open Chart Design > Change Chart Type. The exact placement of the combo option can vary with the ribbon layout and app update, but the chart-type dialog is the place to assign series types and a secondary axis. Mac keyboard shortcuts differ for common actions: Command+Z undoes, where Windows uses Ctrl+Z.

Excel for the web can display and edit many charts, but the available chart creation and formatting controls may differ from the desktop app. If the browser interface does not offer the needed combination or secondary-axis settings, open the workbook in desktop Excel for Windows or Mac to create or adjust the chart. Keep the source data and chart in the same workbook when moving between versions, and review the result after editing because formatting support can vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put two chart types in one Excel chart?
Yes. Use Insert > Insert Combo Chart or select an existing chart and choose Chart Design > Change Chart Type, then choose Combo. Assign an available chart type to each data series.

How do I add a second axis to a combo chart?
Open the Combo settings from Chart Design > Change Chart Type and select Secondary Axis beside the series that needs its own scale. Label that axis with its unit, such as percent or units sold.

Can I make a combo chart without a secondary axis?
Yes. Leave the Secondary Axis option unchecked when the series can be read clearly on the same scale. A shared scale generally makes direct comparisons easier when the units and ranges are comparable.

Why is my combo chart not showing the data I selected?
Check the chart’s data range with Chart Design > Select Data, confirm the headers and category labels, and remove unintended totals or blank rows. Use Switch Row/Column if Excel interpreted rows and columns in the wrong direction.

Can I create a combo chart in Excel for the web?
Some chart controls are available in the browser, but options can differ from desktop Excel. If you cannot find the required Combo or secondary-axis controls, open the workbook in the Microsoft 365 desktop app to finish the chart.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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