How to Put Two Sets of Data on One Graph in Excel

Putting two sets of data on a single graph in Excel is a simple way to instantly see how different metrics relate to each other. Instead of toggling between two separate charts, you can combine them to spot trends, compare performance, and tell a more compelling story with your data. This article will show you exactly how to create a dual-data chart, both for datasets with similar scales and for data that needs two different axes to make sense.

Why Combine Two Datasets on One Graph?

Creating separate charts for everything is easy, but it often hides the bigger picture. When you place two related datasets on a single graph, you unlock a deeper level of analysis. The primary goal is to visualize a relationship. For example, you might want to see if your marketing efforts are actually driving sales or if a drop in website traffic corresponds with a dip in customer sign-ups.

Here are a few common scenarios where combining data is incredibly useful:

• Identifying Correlations: Does an increase in ad spend (Data Set 1) lead to a rise in revenue (Data Set 2)? Plotting them together makes any potential correlation immediately obvious.
• Comparing Performance Metrics: How does the sales performance of "Product A" (Data Set 1) compare to "Product B" (Data Set 2) over the last year? A single chart makes for an easy head-to-head comparison.
• Contextualizing Data: You might see that your website traffic (Data Set 1) is soaring, but is your conversion rate (Data Set 2) keeping up? The context of one metric helps you properly interpret the other.
• Saving Dashboard Space: If you're building a report or dashboard, combining related metrics onto one graph makes your summary more concise and easier to read, preventing your audience from getting overwhelmed by too many charts.

Ultimately, a well-executed dual-data chart transforms a simple spreadsheet into a powerful visual tool for storytelling and decision-making.

First, Get Your Data Ready

Before you even click the 'Insert' tab in Excel, the most critical step is organizing your data properly. Excel needs the data in a clean, logical format to understand what you want to plot. If your data is messy, your chart will be too.

Follow this simple structure:

1. Your first column should be your shared horizontal (X-axis) label. This is typically a time period, like dates, months, or quarters.
2. Each subsequent column should contain a single data series (your Y-axis values). Each of these columns will become a separate line, bar, or point on your graph.

For example, let's say you want to compare your monthly revenue against the number of new leads you generated. Your table should look like this:

Example Data Layout:

This structure is clean and easy for Excel to read. The 'Month' column will be our X-axis, while 'Revenue' and 'New Leads' will be the two distinct data series we plot against it.

Method 1: Graphing Two Datasets with a Similar Scale

This is the most straightforward scenario. It's perfect for when you're comparing two metrics that are measured in the same unit and have a similar range of values, such as the sales figures of two different products or website traffic from two different sources.

Let's use an example of comparing the monthly sales of "Product A" versus "Product B."

Step-by-Step Guide for Similar Scales

1. Select Your Data Range

Click and drag your cursor to highlight the entire data table you want to plot, including the headers. Including the headers tells Excel to automatically use them for the chart legend, which saves you a step later.

2. Insert a Chart

With your data highlighted, navigate to the Insert tab on Excel's top ribbon. In the 'Charts' section, you'll see several options. For comparing two similar datasets over time, a Line Chart or a Clustered Column Chart is usually best.

• A Line Chart is excellent for showing trends and continuous data over time.
• A Clustered Column Chart is great for direct month-to-month magnitude comparisons.

Click on the chart type you prefer. Excel will instantly generate a chart and place it on your worksheet.

3. Customize and Refine Your Chart

The default chart is a great start, but a few quick tweaks can make it much more professional and easier to understand.

• Add a Chart Title: Click on "Chart Title" at the top and type in something descriptive, like "Monthly Sales Performance: Product A vs. Product B."
• Label Your Axes: Click the plus (+) icon next to your chart and check the box for "Axis Titles." Label your vertical Y-axis ("Sales in USD") and horizontal X-axis ("Month") to give your audience full context.
• Check the Legend: Excel should have automatically created a legend based on your "Product A" and "Product B" column headers. If not, you can enable it via the plus (+) menu.

You now have a clear, easy-to-read chart that directly compares two complementary datasets!

Method 2: Graphing Datasets with Different Scales Using a Secondary Axis

What if you want to plot our example data of 'Revenue' (measured in thousands of dollars) against 'New Leads' (measured in tens or hundreds)? If you tried plotting them on the same axis, the 'New Leads' line would be squashed flat at the bottom of the chart, completely invisible next to the huge revenue numbers. The solution is creating a Combo Chart with a secondary axis.

A secondary axis places a second Y-axis on the right side of the chart. The first data set will be measured against the left Y-axis (the primary axis), while the second data set will be measured against the right Y-axis. This allows both datasets to be displayed clearly, regardless of their scaling differences.

Step-by-Step Guide for a Dual-Axis Combo Chart

1. Start by Inserting a Basic Chart

Just like before, select your entire data range (e.g., Month, Revenue, and New Leads). Go to the Insert tab and choose a chart. A Clustered Column chart is a good starting point.

At this stage, your chart will look terrible. One series (the smaller numbers) will likely be almost invisible. Don't worry, this is expected.

2. Change the Chart Type to a Combo Chart

Click on your new, messy chart to select it. The Chart Design tab will appear in the top ribbon. Click on it. On the far right, you'll find the 'Change Chart Type' button. Click it.

In the "Change Chart Type" window that appears, go to the Combo category at the bottom of the list on the left. This is where the magic happens.

3. Configure Your Combo Chart and Add a Secondary Axis

You will now see a table that lists both of your data series ('Revenue' and 'New Leads'). Next to each one, you have two options: 'Chart Type' and a checkbox for 'Secondary Axis'.

• For the 'Revenue' series, you might leave the Chart Type as 'Clustered Column'.
• For the 'New Leads' series, change the Chart Type to a 'Line'. Mixing columns and lines is a very effective way to visually distinguish between two different types of data.
• This is the most important part: For the 'New Leads' series, check the box in the 'Secondary Axis'.

As you check the box, you'll see the chart preview at the top of the window update instantly. The 'New Leads' line will jump up and use a new axis on the right side of the chart. Click OK to apply the changes.

4. Final Touches: Label Everything!

Your combo chart is now technically correct, but without clear labels, it can be confusing. Now is the time to add titles and axis labels to ensure anyone can understand it.

• Chart Title: Give it a descriptive name like "Revenue vs. New Leads Generated by Month."
• Primary Y-Axis Title (Left): Use the plus (+) icon to add 'Axis Titles' and label the left-side axis "Monthly Revenue (USD)."
• Secondary Y-Axis Title (Right): Label the new, right-side axis "Number of New Leads."
• Pro Tip: Use colors to your advantage. Make the text of the left axis title match the color of the revenue columns, and make the right axis title match the color of the new leads line. This small detail dramatically improves readability.

You've successfully built a sophisticated dual-axis chart that clearly visualizes the relationship between two very different datasets.

Tips for Creating Effective Dual-Data Graphs

• Keep it Simple: A chart with two data series is insightful. A chart with four or five becomes a tangled mess. Stick to comparing two, maybe three, core metrics on a single graph to keep things clear.
• Use Complementary Chart Types: In a combo chart, combining columns and lines is visually very effective. The columns provide a solid sense of volume, while the line shows a clean trend over time.
• Watch Your Zero Baseline: Ensure both of your Y-axes start at zero if it makes sense for your data. If not, be aware that starting at a different number can make changes look more dramatic than they actually are.
• Tell a Story: Your final chart isn't just a picture, it should answer a question. Is there a lag between when leads are generated and when revenue increases? Does a marketing push visibly impact both metrics? Use your chart to highlight that relationship.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to plot two sets of data on one Excel graph - especially using a secondary axis - is a fundamental skill for anyone who works with data. It allows you to move beyond basic charts and start creating visual analyses that uncover valuable relationships between different parts of your business.

This process of exporting data from different applications, like your sales CRM and your website analytics platform, and then manually combining it in spreadsheets is exactly what takes up so much time. We built Graphed to remove this friction entirely. Instead of wrestling with CSVs and Excel settings, we allow you to connect all your data sources - like Shopify, Google Analytics, Salesforce, and Facebook Ads - and simply ask in plain English what you want to see. Your request to "create a combo chart showing revenue from Shopify and sessions from Google Analytics last quarter" is instantly an interactive, live-updating dashboard, giving you back hours of your week.