How to Add a Second Vertical Axis in an Excel Chart

Many spreadsheets put two measures on one chart: revenue in dollars and return rate in percent, or temperature and rainfall. When the numbers are on very different scales, one series can look flat while the other fills the plot. A second vertical axis fixes this by giving one series its own scale on the right side of the chart. This guide shows you how to build an Excel chart with two y axis settings, which series to move, and how to check that the result is accurate.

The steps below use Excel on a desktop computer. The same idea applies in the browser version of Excel, although the menus may be laid out differently. If your chart lives inside a PDF, you will need to get the data into a spreadsheet first, and the "Before you start" section covers that.

Can you put two y axis scales on one Excel chart? The short answer

Yes. Put the series that needs its own scale on the secondary axis, then add titles to both vertical axes so the chart reads clearly.

Your situation	What to do	Why
Two measures with different units, like dollars and percent	Move the percent series to the secondary axis	Each series gets a scale that fits its own values
Two series in the same unit but very different sizes	Compare them in separate charts or use a log scale	A second axis can mislead when both use the same unit
A column series with a line series on top	Keep the columns on the primary axis and move the line to the secondary axis	Columns and lines often read well when the line has its own scale
Data stored in a PDF table	Get the numbers into a spreadsheet, then build the chart	Charts in PDFs are usually images or loose shapes, not editable data
You need a secondary axis in a shared spreadsheet	Build the chart in the same file and confirm the setting with a teammate	Other people may open the file in a different Excel version

Before you start

Check these points first. Each one prevents a common problem later.

Clean up the source table. Put the category labels (such as months) in the first column and each measure in its own column, with a single header row. Excel uses the headers as legend names, so unclear headers produce unclear charts.
Confirm the units. Write the unit in each header, such as "Revenue (USD)" or "Return rate (%)". You will reuse these labels as axis titles.
Decide what belongs on the second axis. Only move a series when its scale is genuinely different. Putting two series of similar size on separate axes makes it hard to compare them.
Check for blank or text cells. A text value in a numeric column can turn a series into zeros or skip points. Fix these before you build the chart.
Get the data out of the PDF if needed. If the numbers only exist in a PDF, the PDF editor in the OmniDoc desktop client can export a PDF to Excel. Download it at download.omnidoc.top. Chart objects in a PDF may not come across as editable charts, so you may need to rebuild the chart from the exported numbers.

Adding a secondary axis in Excel, step by step

Select your data range. Include the category column and both measure columns, including the header row. Select the whole block so Excel can read the series names.
Insert a chart. Choose a basic chart type, such as a line or column chart. Both series should appear on the same axis at first, which is why one of them may look flat.
Select the series to move. Click the series once in the chart, not a single point. Check that the selection handles surround the whole series before continuing.
Open the series formatting options. Right-click the selected series and choose the option to format the data series. A panel usually opens on the right side of the window.
Plot the series on the secondary axis. In the series options, select the setting that places the series on the secondary axis. Excel adds a second vertical axis, usually on the right.
Change the chart type for that series if needed. A line on the secondary axis often works well with columns on the primary axis. Right-click the series and choose the option to change its chart type to keep the chart readable.
Set titles for both vertical axes. Add an axis title to each side, using the units from your headers, so readers know which scale belongs to which series.
Adjust the secondary axis bounds if needed. If the line sits at the top or bottom of the plot or looks flat, open the axis options and set a minimum and maximum that fit your data. Set these values by hand so the scale is easy to read.

Check the result

Once the chart displays two vertical axes, check the following before you share it.

Check	How to see it	If it's wrong
The right series is on the right axis	Compare the legend with the axis position, and confirm the secondary series reads against the right-hand scale	Open the series options again and move the series to the other axis
Values match the source table	Pick two or three points and compare them with the cells in your table	Recheck the data range and make sure the series points to the correct column
Both axes have titles and units	Look at the left and right edges of the plot area	Add the missing titles, copying the unit from the header
Lines and columns are readable	Look for lines that are flat or clipped at the top or bottom	Set the minimum and maximum of the affected axis by hand
Colors match between legend and axis	Confirm each axis label is close to its series color	Change the series color or the axis label color so they match

If the numbers come from a PDF export or a scanned table, check each value against the original. Automated extraction can misread digits, decimal points or column alignment, so spot-checking matters more than a quick glance at the chart.

❓ FAQ

1. Can I add a secondary axis in Excel for the web?

Yes, the same general approach applies: select the data, insert a chart, and set the series to plot on the secondary axis. The menu names and positions may differ from the desktop version, so look for the series formatting options after you right-click the series.

2. Why does my chart still show only one vertical axis?

Usually the series was not selected as a whole, or the setting was applied to a single point. Click the series again, confirm the whole series is highlighted, and apply the secondary axis setting once more.

3. Can a chart have more than two vertical axes?

Standard Excel charts support a primary and a secondary vertical axis. If you need three measures on different scales, consider splitting the data into two charts so each one stays readable.

4. Will the chart keep its second axis if I export a PDF table to Excel?

It may not. Charts in PDFs are often pictures or loose shapes, so the exported file may contain the numbers but not an editable chart. Rebuild the chart in Excel from the exported data, then check the values against the original PDF.

📝 Summary

A second vertical axis lets two series with different scales share one Excel chart without either becoming unreadable. Move only the series that needs its own scale, title both axes with their units, and compare a few points against your source table. Those checks keep the two y axis chart accurate as well as easy to read.

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