How to Create a Chart in Excel with Multiple Columns

Trying to visualize multiple sets of data in a single Excel chart can feel like you're solving a puzzle with pieces that don't quite fit. You have different columns, maybe even with completely different scales - like tracking website traffic in the thousands and a conversion rate as a small percentage. This article will walk you through exactly how to combine different columns into one clear, easy-to-understand chart in Excel.

Graphed

Build AI Agents for Marketing

Build virtual employees that run your go to market. Connect your data sources, deploy autonomous agents, and grow your company.

Build Your First Agent

First, Prep Your Data for Success

Before you even think about clicking the "Insert Chart" button, a few minutes of data preparation will save you a ton of headaches. A well-organized table is the foundation of a great chart.

1. Use Clear Column Headers

Excel uses the first row of your selection as a label for each data series in your chart. Vague headers like "Data 1" or "Metric" will lead to a confusing legend. Make your headers short but descriptive.

Instead of this:

Try this:

| Month | Website Sessions | Sales Revenue ($) | Conversion Rate (%) |

2. Arrange Your Data Logically

Structure your data so that your primary category (like dates, product names, or campaign names) is in the first column on the left. Place the data series you want to plot in the subsequent columns. This "long and thin" format is what Excel's charting engine understands best.

For example, if you want to track marketing performance over time, your table should look like this:

• Column A: Month
• Column B: Ad Spend
• Column C: Leads Generated
• Column D: Cost Per Lead

AI Agents for Marketing

Crash Course

Graphed

Free PDF · the crash course

AI Agents for Marketing Crash Course

Learn how to deploy AI marketing agents across your go-to-market — the best tools, prompts, and workflows to turn your data into autonomous execution without writing code.

Download the PDF

3. Be Mindful of Different Scales

This is the most common reason multi-column charts look "broken." If you plot Ad Spend (in thousands of dollars) and Cost Per Lead (in single dollars) on the same vertical axis, the Cost Per Lead numbers will look like a flat line at the bottom. This is where using a secondary axis comes in, which we'll cover in detail below.

Creating a Combination Chart with Multiple Columns

The best way to visualize multiple data series with different scales is with a Combination Chart. This chart type lets you mix and match chart types - like columns and lines - and plot them on separate axes.

Let's use a practical example: You want to visualize Website Sessions, Number of Sales, and the Conversion Rate by month.

Step 1: Select Your Data

Click and drag your cursor to highlight the entire data range, including the column headers. In our example, you would select the cells containing "Month," "Website Sessions," "Sales," and "Conversion Rate," along with all the corresponding data below them.

Pro Tip: If your columns are not next to each other, you can select them separately. Click and drag to select your first column of data (e.g., Month and Website Sessions). Then, hold down the Ctrl key (or Cmd on a Mac) and select the other columns you want to include.

Step 2: Insert the Chart

1. With your data selected, navigate to the Insert tab on the Excel ribbon.
2. In the "Charts" section, click on Recommended Charts. Excel is often smart enough to suggest a Combo Chart when it detects varying scales.
3. If it's not suggested, click the All Charts tab.
4. On the left-hand menu, scroll down and select Combo.

Excel will show you a preview of its default combination chart, which is a good starting point.

Graphed

Build AI Agents for Marketing

Build virtual employees that run your go to market. Connect your data sources, deploy autonomous agents, and grow your company.

Build Your First Agent

Step 3: Customize the Combo Chart and Add a Secondary Axis

This is where you take control. In the Combo chart dialog box, you'll see a list of your data series (your column headers) and two dropdown menus next to each: "Chart Type" and "Secondary Axis."

Let’s set up our example chart:

• Website Sessions: This is a large volume number. Let's keep its Chart Type as a Clustered Column. It will be the primary visual focus. Leave the "Secondary Axis" box unchecked.
• Sales: This is also a volume number and directly relates to sessions. We can also set this as a Clustered Column to compare it side-by-side with Sessions. Leave the "Secondary Axis" box unchecked.
• Conversion Rate: This is a small percentage. If we plot it on the same axis as sessions, it will be invisible.

Once you click "OK," you'll see a chart that makes sense. The columns for Sessions and Sales are plotted against the primary vertical axis on the left. The Conversion Rate line floats above them, plotted against its own new secondary vertical axis on the right, scaled appropriately for percentages.

Fine-Tuning Your Chart for Maximum Clarity

A functional chart is good, but a clear and professional-looking chart is even better. Take a few extra moments to clean it up.

• Write a Descriptive Title: Change "Chart Title" to something meaningful, like "Monthly Website Performance: Sessions vs. Sales and Conversion Rate."
• Label Your Axes: Your chart now has three axes. Click the "+" icon next to your chart, then "Axis Titles." Add titles for the horizontal (Month), primary vertical (Total Sessions & Sales), and secondary vertical (Conversion Rate %) axes. This avoids any confusion for the person reading it.
• Use Good Colors: Go to the Chart Design tab. Use the "Change Colors" option to select a palette that is professional and easy to see. Avoid colors that are too similar or jarring.
• Check Your Legend: Excel automatically creates a legend. Make sure it's clearly visible and accurately describes each data series. You can click and drag it to a better position if needed (e.g., to the top or side).
• Simplify the Look: Consider removing background gridlines (or making them a lighter gray) to help your data stand out and reduce visual clutter.

Beyond the Combo Chart: Other Ways to Visualize Multiple Columns

A combo chart isn't always the answer. Depending on what you want to show, other chart types might be more effective for your multi-column data.

Stacked Column/Bar Charts

Use a stacked chart when your different columns represent parts of a whole. For example, if you want to show your total quarterly sales broken down by three different product categories (e.g., Category A, Category B, Category C). A stacked chart would show a single bar for each quarter, with colored segments representing the sales contribution of each category.

AI Agents for Marketing

Crash Course

Graphed

Free PDF · the crash course

AI Agents for Marketing Crash Course

Learn how to deploy AI marketing agents across your go-to-market — the best tools, prompts, and workflows to turn your data into autonomous execution without writing code.

Download the PDF

Clustered Column/Bar Charts

If you have multiple columns of data that use the same unit of measurement and you want to compare them directly across categories, a clustered chart is ideal. For example, you could compare "Projected Sales" vs. "Actual Sales" for different sales reps. Excel would show two bars side-by-side for each rep, making the comparison instant and intuitive.

Line Charts with Multiple Series

When all your data columns are tracking trends over time and share a similar scale, a line chart with multiple lines can be very effective. This is perfect for comparing metrics like website traffic from a few different sources (e.g., Organic Search, Social Media, Direct) over the same period.

Final Thoughts

Creating charts in Excel with multiple columns is a powerful skill for turning raw numbers into an insightful story. By preparing your data, choosing the right chart like the versatile combination chart, and using a secondary axis for different scales, you can build clear reports that command attention and drive better decisions.

While mastering Excel is incredibly valuable, the process of manually exporting CSVs and wrestling them into the right format every week can be a major time sink. That's a huge reason we built Graphed. Instead of clicking through menus to build your charts, you can connect your live data sources (like Google Analytics and Shopify) and just ask for what you need in plain English - "show me a bar chart of sessions vs sales by month with a line for conversion rate." Everything updates in real-time so you spend your time acting on insights, not just finding them.