How to Stack Graphs in Excel

Displaying two different types of data on one Excel chart, like revenue versus unit sales, can make your chart unreadable if the scales are too far apart. The solution is to stack your graphs by creating a combo chart with a secondary axis, layering one data series on top of another. This tutorial will walk you through exactly how to combine different chart types and use a second axis to visualize your data clearly and effectively.

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What Exactly Is a Stacked Graph?

In Excel, "stacking" graphs doesn't always refer to a stacked column or area chart. More commonly, it means creating a combination chart (or combo chart) that displays two or more data series using different chart types and often, different scales. A classic example is layering a line graph over a column chart.

Imagine you want to show your company's monthly revenue (in hundreds of thousands of dollars) alongside the number of new customers acquired (in the hundreds). If you plot both on a standard column chart, the customer numbers will be so small compared to the revenue figures that they will be nearly invisible.

To fix this, you combine two chart types on one chart:

• A column chart for the revenue.
• A line chart for the customer count.

You then plot the line chart on a separate, secondary axis. This second vertical axis appears on the right side of the chart, with a scale appropriate for the customer count data. The final result is two easy-to-read charts layered on top of one another in one comprehensive picture.

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When Should You Use a Combo Chart?

Combining graphs in Excel is incredibly useful for several common reporting scenarios. It allows you to tell a more nuanced story with your data by showing relationships that would otherwise require two separate charts.

Comparing Metrics with Different Scales

This is the most popular use case. When you need to visualize two metrics that are measured in completely different units or magnitudes, a combo chart with a secondary axis is the answer. Examples include:

• Sales Revenue ($) vs. Units Sold (#): Plotting dollars alongside units.
• Website Sessions vs. Conversion Rates (%): Comparing tens or hundreds of thousands of sessions with a percentage ranging typically from 1-5%.
• Advertising Spend ($) vs. Click-Through Rate (%): Showing how the spending relates to engagement metrics.

Highlighting Part-to-Whole Relationships

You can also use a "stacked" style to show how individual components make up a total over time. A stacked column or stacked area chart is perfect for this. The total is broken into sections where each section shows its contribution to the total over time, offering a good overall trend as well as insights into individual contributions.

• Tracking sales contributions from different regions or product categories.
• Visualizing website traffic sources (e.g., Organic, Search, Social, Paid, Direct) over time.

Revealing Trends and Correlations

By layering charts, you can gain more insight into how metrics move in tandem or independently. For example, did an email campaign in your advertising budget lead to increased sales for a given month or improved conversion rates overall? Plotting these variables in a combination chart helps visualize such associations clearly.

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Step-by-Step: Stacking a Column and Line Chart in Excel

Let’s walk through a common example of creating a chart that combines a column and a line series on two separate axes. For our example, we'll use a dataset showing monthly revenue and new customer numbers.

Step 1: Get Your Data Ready

Good charts stem from well-organized data. Ensure your data is in columns with headers. Here's what our example looks like:

Step 2: Create Your Basic Chart

Once your data is organized, select the entire data area including column headers. Go to the Insert tab, click on Recommended Charts, and select the option that suits your needs, or choose from the 'All Charts' tab.

• Select cells A2 to C4.
• Navigate to the Insert tab on the ribbon.
• In the Charts section, choose a column chart. You'll get a chart showing revenue columns, but the customer column may appear skewed due to varying scales.

Step 3: Change to a Combo Chart

Now, convert the basic chart to a combo chart by layering lines over columns.

• Right-click the chart and select Change Chart Type.
• In the Chart Type dialog box, go to the Combo category. Excel previews how the chart will look if changed.
• Use the dropdown menus to select different chart types for your data:

The preview will show the updated chart layout.

Step 4: Add a Secondary Axis

The chart will look better, but the scale may still not be right on the secondary axis.

• In the Chart Type dialog, check the box for Secondary Axis for the 'New Customers' series.
• Once checked, the line chart gets adjusted to the right-hand side, making it more visible.
• Click OK to finalize the combo chart.

Step 5: Style Your Chart

The last step is to format your chart for clarity and ease of reading. Add Titles and Axis Labels:

• Go to Chart Design and click Add Chart Element, then add Chart Title and Axis Titles. Ensure your labels clarify what each axis represents. For example, left axis for "Revenue" and right axis for "Customer Count".
• Adjust Colors and Fonts: Change them to match your company branding if appropriate.
• Remove Gridlines: Tidy up the chart's look by removing unnecessary gridlines.

With these steps, you create a clear chart that's easy to read and understand at a glance.

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Tips for Creating Effective Stacked Graphs

Creating combo charts in Excel is part art and part science. Keep these tips in mind:

• Label Clearly: It's crucial that any secondary axes are clearly labeled. Anyone looking at your chart should immediately understand what each scale represents.
• Choose the Right Chart Type: While a column and line combo is common, you might need a stacked column or two lines sharing the same axes. Experiment with what works best for your data.
• Consider Simplicity: Combining charts isn't always the best answer if precise comparison of values is needed. Two separate charts or dual axes might be clearer.

An Alternative: Creating a Stacked Area Chart

Let's also take a quick look at another common option: the stacked area chart. This type is perfect for showing parts of a whole over time, such as website traffic data from different sources like Organic, Social, or Direct.

To create stacked area charts:

• Select the data range. Insert a chart and choose stacked area chart from the area charts section.
• Excel will now show you how each segment has moved, offering trends and insights over time.
• Make sure your chart legend is clear to viewers about what each color represents for better understanding.

This kind of chart is great for showing how all channels contribute to overall traffic over time.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the combo chart in Excel is a skill that can help you effectively convey trends, comparisons, and parts of a whole. Whether you're demonstrating complex reporting scenarios or simplifying storytelling through data, a combination chart with a secondary axis is an excellent tool.

We know that although these charts provide great value, building and updating them can be a hassle, especially when pulling data from sources like Google Analytics, Shopify, or CRMs. To simplify your workflow, consider using tools that help automate data integration and visualization processes, freeing up time to focus on insights rather than chart building.

And that’s why we recommend Graphed. It streamlines your reporting process and provides you with all the tools you need, letting you get the most value out of your data insights.