How to Make a Combo Chart
If you've ever tried to show two completely different types of data on the same chart, you know a combo chart is exactly what you need. It solves the tricky problem of visualizing metrics with wildly different scales - like showing monthly revenue in millions of dollars next to the number of units sold in the hundreds. This guide will walk you through exactly what a combo chart is, when to use one, and provide step-by-step instructions for creating them in both Excel and Google Sheets.
What is a Combo Chart?
A combination chart, or combo chart, is a single chart that visualizes your data using two or more different chart types. The most common combination is a bar or column chart paired with a line chart. The real power behind this format is its ability to use a secondary axis, allowing you to plot data with completely different ranges or units of measurement in a way that’s easy to understand.
For example, let's say you're a marketing manager tracking campaign performance. You want to see the relationship between your monthly advertising spend (e.g., $10,000) and the number of leads generated (e.g., 250). If you put both on a standard column chart, the leads column would be so small next to the ad spend column that it would be practically invisible. The chart would be useless.
A combo chart fixes this:
- Your primary vertical axis (on the left) would show the scale for your ad spend, measured in dollars. This would be represented by column bars.
- Your secondary vertical axis (on the right) would show the scale for the number of leads. This would be represented by a line overlaying the bars.
By giving each metric its own axis and chart type, you can clearly see the correlation between how much you spent and how many leads you generated each month. It’s an instant, powerful story that a simple chart could never tell.
When is a Combo Chart the Right Choice?
Combo charts are perfect for specific data storytelling scenarios. While they are incredibly versatile, they shine brightest when you need to illustrate a particular relationship between datasets. Here are the most common situations where a combo chart is your best bet.
1. Comparing Metrics with Different Scales
This is the classic use case we just discussed. Anytime you need to analyze the relationship between two metrics measured in different units or on completely different scales, a combo chart is the go-to solution.
Common examples include:
- Sales Analytics: Displaying total revenue (columns) alongside the number of units sold (line).
- Marketing Performance: Comparing ad spend (columns) against website sessions or click-through rate (line).
- Operational Data: Showing production volume (columns) next to the number of factory incidents (line).
In each case, one metric involves large numbers, while the other involves smaller numbers or percentages. A secondary axis makes them both visible and comparable.
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2. Highlighting Trends Against a Total
Combo charts are great for providing context. You can use columns to show the absolute value of something, like monthly sales, while using a line to represent a related trend, like the month-over-month growth percentage. This view allows your audience to see not just what the number is, but also the story behind the number. The combination answers two questions at once: "How much did we sell?" and "How is our sales momentum changing?"
3. Showing Actuals vs. a Target
One of the most valuable visualizations for any performance-driven team is a chart showing actual results against a set goal. A combo chart is the perfect way to display this clearly.
You can use columns to represent your actual performance for a given period (e.g., sales per quarter) and a straight or stepped line chart to represent the target you were aiming for. At a single glance, anyone can see which periods you hit your target and by how much, and which periods you fell short.
4. Analyzing Leading and Lagging Indicators
In business, you often want to track a leading indicator (an action) and a lagging indicator (the result). For instance, an e-commerce store might track the number of marketing emails sent (the leading indicator) alongside the weekly revenue generated from those emails (the lagging indicator). By plotting these on a combo chart, you can visualize the impact your efforts are having on your key outcomes and identify potential cause-and-effect relationships.
How to Make a Combo Chart in Excel (Step-by-Step)
Creating a combo chart in Excel is surprisingly straightforward once you know where to click. Let’s walk through it with a simple dataset. Imagine we have the following data for monthly sales revenue and units sold.
Month | Revenue | Units Sold
-----------------------------
Jan | $52,000 | 255
Feb | $48,500 | 230
Mar | $65,000 | 315
Apr | $71,000 | 360
May | $68,300 | 340
Jun | $82,000 | 425Step 1: Set Up Your Data
First, make sure your data is structured properly in a table. It should have clear column headers, with each row representing a category or time period (in our case, the month).
Step 2: Insert a Clustered Column Chart
Highlight your entire data table, including the headers. Go to the Insert tab on the Excel ribbon. In the Charts section, click the icon for a column chart and select Clustered Column. Excel will generate a basic column chart with both "Revenue" and "Units Sold" as bars. You'll immediately see the problem: the "Units Sold" bars are barely visible because their values are so small compared to the revenue figures.
Step 3: Change the Chart Type for One Data Series
Now, let's fix it. Right-click on one of the tiny "Units Sold" bars in the chart. In the context menu that appears, select Change Series Chart Type....
Step 4: Configure the Combo Chart Settings
This is where the magic happens. A new dialog box will pop up titled "Change Chart Type." Excel will automatically switch to the Combo chart type category on the left. In the main window, you will see your two data series ("Revenue" and "Units Sold") listed.
For each series, you can choose a Chart Type. Let's keep "Revenue" as a Clustered Column. For "Units Sold," click the dropdown and change its chart type to Line.
Beside the chart type selector, there's a crucial checkbox for Secondary Axis. For the "Units Sold" series, check this box. You will see a live preview of your chart update, with the line now plotted against a new axis on the right side of the chart.
Click OK.
Step 5: Tidy Up Your Chart
Your combo chart is now functional, but a little formatting goes a long way. Click on the chart title to give it a descriptive name like "Monthly Revenue vs. Units Sold."
To add axis titles, click on the chart, then click the plus (+) icon that appears on the top right. Check the box for Axis Titles. You can now add a title for the primary axis ("Revenue in USD") and the secondary axis ("Units Sold"). A clean, well-labeled chart is a trustworthy chart!
How to Make a Combo Chart in Google Sheets (Step-by-Step)
The process in Google Sheets is quite similar and, in some ways, even more intuitive. We'll use the same dataset as before.
Step 1: Position Your Data
Organize your data in columns with headers, just as you would in Excel. Proper data layout is the foundation of any good chart.
Step 2: Insert a Chart
Highlight the data range you want to visualize. Then, go to the menu at the top of your screen and click Insert > Chart. Google Sheets is pretty smart and will often analyze your data and default to a combo chart automatically. If it does, you're almost done!
Step 3: Manually Select the Combo Chart Type
If Google Sheets doesn't create a combo chart by default, don't worry. The Chart editor pane should appear on the right side of your screen. Under the Setup tab, find the Chart type dropdown menu. Scroll down until you find the Combo chart option and select it.
Step 4: Customize Your Series and Axes
Now, click over to the Customize tab within the Chart editor. Expand the Series dropdown section.
By default, both "Revenue" and "Units Sold" will be using the left axis. Click the selector below the Apply to all series text and choose the series you want to change - in this case, Units Sold. Now, use the options below to configure it:
- Change its Type to Line (if it isn't already).
- Most importantly, under the Axis dropdown, switch it from "Left axis" to Right axis.
Your chart will instantly update, displaying the "Units Sold" line correlated against its own scale on the right.
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Step 5: Add Final Touches
In the Chart editor, expand the Chart & axis titles section. Here, you can define your overall chart title, as well as titles for the horizontal, left vertical, and right vertical axes. Take a minute to add clear labels so everyone knows what they're looking at. Close the chart editor, and your professional-looking combo chart is ready to share.
Best Practices and Common Mistakes
Creating a combo chart is easy, but making an effective one requires a bit of care. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
1. Always Label Both Vertical Axes
The number one mistake people make is forgetting to add titles to their axes. A secondary axis without a label is confusing. Make it obvious what each scale represents.
2. Don't Overload the Chart
A combo chart's strength is its clarity in comparing two or three metrics. If you try to add a second line or another set of bars, the chart quickly becomes a cluttered mess. As a rule of thumb, stick to two or three data series at most.
3. Use Contrasting Colors
Make sure your columns and line are visually distinct. Use colors that contrast well and are easy to tell apart, thinking about how it will look if printed in black and white or viewed by someone who is colorblind.
4. Choose the Right Chart Types for Your Data
A column/line combination is the most common, but it's not the only option. The key is to match the chart type to the data. Lines are best for showing continuous data or trends over time. Columns or bars are better for comparing distinct categories.
Final Thoughts
Combo charts are a powerful tool in your data visualization kit, allowing you to show crucial relationships between otherwise disconnected metrics on a single, clear graph. Whether you use Excel or Google Sheets, they help you move beyond simple charts to tell more sophisticated and compelling stories with your data. Spend a little time mastering them, and you'll find they answer some of your most important business questions.
Building these charts in spreadsheets is a fantastic skill, but we know it can become a time-consuming part of your weekly reporting ritual, especially with data spread across Google Ads, Shopify, and Salesforce. That's why we created Graphed. You can connect all your tools and simply ask questions like, "Build a combo chart showing my website traffic versus sales this quarter." We handle the connections and build the visualizations in seconds, so you can stop wrestling with manual chart settings and focus entirely on the insights.
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