Excel Combo Chart: Change a Bar to a Line

To change one bar or column series to a line in an Excel combo chart, select the chart, go to Chart Design > Change Chart Type > Combo, and choose Line for that series. Leave the other series as bars or columns, then select OK; use a secondary axis if the line’s values are on a very different scale.

What changing a bar series to a line does

A combo chart displays different chart types together in one chart area. A common arrangement is columns for totals and a line for a rate or target. Changing one series from bars to a line changes how Excel draws that series; it does not alter the underlying worksheet values or formulas. The category labels and series data remain connected to the chart unless you edit the chart’s data source.

Excel distinguishes between bar and column charts. Bar charts use horizontal bars, while column charts use vertical bars. People often call vertical columns bars in everyday conversation. In the Combo dialog, Excel may identify the existing type as Clustered Column, Stacked Column, or another specific type. The key is to select the series you want to change and choose Line in that series’ chart-type list.

A chart with just one data series can be changed to a line chart, but it is no longer a combo chart because it has only one chart type. To keep a genuine combo chart, leave at least one other series as a different type, such as a column series.

Change one series to a line in Excel for Windows

Click the chart. If the chart is on a different worksheet, first open that sheet.
Select Chart Design on the ribbon, then choose Change Chart Type. The Chart Design tab appears when a chart is selected.
In the Change Chart Type window, choose Combo from the chart categories.
Find the row for the series you want to convert. In its chart-type drop-down, choose Line or a line variation, such as Line with Markers.
Check the chart type shown for each other series. Keep those as the desired bar or column type.
If needed, select Secondary Axis for the line series, then choose OK.

Check the series names in the dialog before confirming. If the names are generic, such as Series 1 and Series 2, compare them with the chart legend or the source data headings. This prevents changing the wrong series. If the dialog does not show a Combo category, make sure you are changing a chart that Excel supports for a combination, and try selecting a standard two-dimensional chart rather than a 3-D chart.

Choose the right series and chart types

Before changing the chart, decide what each series is meant to communicate. Bars or columns work well for comparing amounts across categories. A line makes a sequence or trend easier to follow, especially when categories have a meaningful order such as months. A line can be misleading when the categories are unrelated, such as product names in no particular order, because connecting them implies continuity or progression.

For example, imagine monthly columns for units sold and a line for the percentage of orders delivered on time. The columns show the size of each month’s sales, while the line makes changes in the delivery rate visible. In the Combo dialog, set Units Sold to Clustered Column and On-time Rate to Line with Markers. If the rate is between 0 and 100 percent while sales are in the hundreds or thousands, the line may be hard to see on the same axis. A secondary axis can make it legible.

Use a line only where connecting the points helps interpretation. If the series represents separate categories without a natural sequence, consider a different comparison instead of joining the values with a line.

When to use a secondary axis

A primary axis is the scale on the chart’s left side by default. A secondary axis adds a separate scale, usually on the right, for a series whose values differ substantially in magnitude or units. Without one, a small-valued line can appear almost flat beside large columns. In the example above, sales might range from 200 to 900 units while the delivery rate ranges from 80% to 98%. Plotting both against the same numerical scale can make the rate’s movement difficult to see.

In the Combo dialog, tick Secondary Axis on the row for the line series. After choosing OK, check both scales and their labels. If one axis is a percentage and the other is a count, make those units clear in axis titles or other chart labels. A secondary axis is a display choice, not a conversion of the data. It can also make visual comparisons seem stronger or weaker depending on the selected scale, so use it transparently and avoid implying that two different units are directly comparable.

If the chart includes a secondary axis but the line still looks confusing, select that axis and inspect its bounds and number format. Excel may choose automatic minimum and maximum values. A narrower range can highlight modest changes, but it can also exaggerate them, so choose bounds that suit the point of the chart and make the scale readable.

Format the line so readers can follow it

Once the chart type is set, improve the line’s visibility. Click the line to select the series, then use the formatting controls to change its color, width, or marker style. If the line is difficult to distinguish from the bars, choose a contrasting color. Markers are useful when there are only a few categories or when readers need to identify the individual values; they can clutter a chart with many closely spaced points.

Also review the legend, chart title, and axes. A legend should make clear which series is the line, and a title should describe what the chart compares rather than merely repeat a worksheet label. If you have a percentage series, format its axis as a percentage where appropriate. Keep the series’ actual stored values in mind: a value stored as 0.9 may display as 90% when formatted as a percentage, while a value stored as 90 may display as 9,000%. The number format changes display, not the underlying value.

Common problems and fixes

The whole chart changed to a line. This can happen if you choose a standard Line chart category instead of Combo, or if the chart has only one series. Return to Chart Design > Change Chart Type > Combo and set each series individually.
The line is nearly flat or invisible. The line’s values may be much smaller than the column values. Try a secondary axis, and verify that the line series contains the intended data rather than blanks or text.
The wrong series changed. Use the series names shown in the Combo dialog to identify the target. If necessary, rename the source column heading or edit the chart’s data source so the series names are meaningful.
The line connects categories in an odd order. A line follows the chart’s category order. Sort the source data into the sequence you intend, such as chronological order, and confirm that the category labels are correct.
The chart type option is unavailable or behaves unexpectedly. Some chart layouts, including 3-D charts, do not support every combination. Change to a suitable two-dimensional chart first, then open the Combo options again.
The line appears on top of or behind other marks. Series order and formatting affect how overlapping elements look. Adjust colors and markers, and check whether the line has enough contrast against the columns and chart background.

Excel on Mac and Excel for the web

In current Excel for Microsoft 365 on Mac, select the chart and look for the chart design tab and Change Chart Type; the Combo choices are reached through that chart-type interface. Ribbon wording and window layout can differ slightly from Windows, but the essential task is the same: choose Combo and assign a type to each series. If the exact control is not visible, check the Chart Design tab after selecting the chart.

Excel for the web has a more limited chart-editing interface than the desktop app, and available options can vary. If you cannot find controls for assigning separate types or a secondary axis, open the workbook in the Excel desktop application and make the change there. After saving, the chart can generally be viewed in the browser, though intricate formatting may be easier to inspect in desktop Excel.

When another chart may be clearer

A combo chart is not automatically the best choice whenever data has different units. If the goal is to compare two trends rather than show totals and rates together, two small charts with clearly labeled scales can be easier to read. If the categories are not ordered, a scatter chart may be more suitable for showing the relationship between two numerical variables. If the purpose is to show a percentage of a total, a 100% stacked chart may communicate that composition more directly than a line on a second axis.

Keep the number of series modest. Multiple lines layered over several sets of columns can make the chart difficult to interpret. Consider removing unneeded series, splitting the information into separate charts, or using a table with conditional formatting when exact values matter more than a visual trend. The best choice depends on the question the chart is meant to answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change just one bar series to a line in Excel?
Yes. Select the chart, open Chart Design > Change Chart Type > Combo, and choose Line for the target series while leaving the other series as bars or columns.

How do I change a column chart to a line chart?
For the entire chart, select it and choose Chart Design > Change Chart Type, then select a Line chart. To change only one series and keep other series as columns, choose Combo and set the types separately.

Why is my line flat after I add it to a combo chart?
The line and columns may use values with very different sizes. Assign the line to a secondary axis in the Combo dialog, then label and review that scale so readers can understand it.

Can I make a bar chart and line chart together?
Yes. Excel combo charts can combine supported two-dimensional chart types. Choose the desired type for each series in the Combo settings; note that Excel uses bar for horizontal bars and column for vertical bars.

Does changing the chart type change my worksheet data?
No. It changes the chart’s presentation, not the source values. Editing or replacing data in the worksheet can update the chart because the chart remains linked to its source range.

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