Combo Chart in Excel: Column and Line Chart Guide

Part of the free Module 8: Basic Charts · Lesson 9 of 9 · Full Excel course

A combo chart in Excel plots two measures on one chart using different chart types, most often columns for a value such as sales and a line for a rate such as conversion percentage on a secondary axis. In this lesson you will build a column and line combo chart of employee-wise sales and sales conversion, first with the built-in Combo Chart command and then with the manual method that works in every version.

Table of Contents

What a combo chart is and when to use it

When two measures have very different scales, plotting them on the same axis flattens one of them: a conversion rate of 0.35 disappears next to sales of 120. A combo chart gives the second measure its own secondary axis on the right and a different chart type so the reader never confuses the two. It is the standard visual for volume versus rate, actual versus target, or revenue versus margin. Since Excel 2013 there is a dedicated Insert Combo Chart command; the manual secondary-axis method below also works in Excel 2010 and is useful when you need full control.

The data and the finished chart

Employee-wise sales and sales conversion percentage table — Employee-wise sales and conversion table

Sales are shown as columns on the primary axis and conversion percentage as a line on the secondary axis.

Finished column and line combo chart with a secondary axis in Excel — Finished combo chart

Method 1: Insert Combo Chart (Excel 2013 to Microsoft 365)

Select the data range including headers, A1:C6.
Go to Insert > Charts > Recommended Charts. Excel usually proposes a clustered column and line on secondary axis as the first suggestion. You can also go straight to Insert Combo Chart > Clustered Column – Line on Secondary Axis.

Recommended Charts button on the Insert tab — Recommended Charts on the Insert tab

In the Insert Chart dialog choose the first recommendation, or open the All Charts tab, pick Combo and set Sales to Clustered Column and Sale Conversion to Line with Secondary Axis ticked. Click OK.

Insert Chart dialog recommending a clustered column and line on secondary axis — Recommended combo chart option

Click the title and type Employee wise Sales and Sale Conversion. The combo chart is complete.

Combo chart created with the Insert Combo Chart command — Combo chart from the built-in command

Method 2: build the combo chart manually (works in Excel 2010 and later)

This method shows what the built-in command does behind the scenes and lets you convert any existing chart into a combo chart.

Select A1:C6 and go to Insert > Charts > Line Chart > Line with Markers. Both series appear as lines, and the conversion line sits flat at the bottom.

Inserting a line chart with markers as the starting point — Insert a line chart with markers

Right-click the Sale Conversion line and choose Format Data Series.

Format Data Series option for the conversion line — Format Data Series

Under Series Options select Secondary Axis. A percentage axis appears on the right and the line becomes readable.

Secondary Axis option under Series Options — Plot the series on the secondary axis

Right-click the Sales line and choose Change Series Chart Type.

Change Series Chart Type option on the right-click menu — Change Series Chart Type

Choose Clustered Column for the Sales series and click OK.

Change Chart Type dialog with Clustered Column selected — Change Chart Type dialog

On the Chart Design tab choose a Quick Layout that includes a legend and data labels (Layout 3 in the example) and a Chart Style you like (Style 42 was used here in Excel 2010; the gallery differs in newer versions).

Chart Layouts gallery on the Design tab — Chart Layouts gallery

Chart Styles gallery on the Design tab — Chart Styles gallery

Click the title and type Employee wise Sales and Sale Conversion.

Download the practice file

Download the Combo Chart Excel file to practise both methods, or click the chart below.

Click to download the combo chart practice workbook — Click the chart to download the Excel file

When to use a combo chart

Volume and rate together: sales and conversion, calls and abandonment rate, revenue and margin percent.
Actual as columns with target as a line, so the gap is visible at every point.
Two measures with different units, such as units sold and average price.

Formatting tips

Format the secondary axis as percentage with zero decimals and set fixed bounds such as 0 to 100 percent so the line does not exaggerate small changes.
Use a contrasting colour and markers for the line so it is not confused with the columns.
Label the axes or add the unit to the legend text; two unlabelled axes are a common source of misreading.
Keep to one line series on the secondary axis; more than that becomes cluttered.
Add data labels to the line only, positioned above, to keep the columns clean.

Tips and common mistakes

If the conversion series is invisible after inserting, it is on the primary axis; move it to the secondary axis first.
Do not put two column series on different axes; overlapping columns of different scales are unreadable.
Include headers in the selection so the legend names the series correctly.
In Excel 2013 and later you can change any series type and axis in one place: right-click the chart and choose Change Chart Type > Combo.

Related lessons

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a secondary axis in Excel?

Right-click the series, choose Format Data Series and select Secondary Axis under Series Options. In Excel 2013 and later you can also tick Secondary Axis in the Change Chart Type > Combo dialog.