How to Make a 3-Axis Graph in Excel? Easy-to-Follow Steps

Tracking two or more key metrics to determine relationships and trends in your data using a single visualization is not easy.

Why?

Keeping track of two or fewer metrics is relatively simple because there are a ton of visualization charts that can help with this. However, if you try to squeeze more metrics into conventional charts, such as Bar Graphs, you’ll cause clutter.

Clutter is the Achilles’ heel of data storytelling because it obscures the key insights. And it can confuse your target audiences.

When the metrics to be visualized goes beyond 2, you can easily get overwhelmed. Worse, you might find yourself using the wrong chart to extract insights.

This is where a 3-Axis Graph Excel comes in.

This chart (above) is specifically designed to allow you to visualize more than three metrics simultaneously using its tri-dimensional axis (x, y, and z-axis).

If you’re an ardent user of Excel, you cannot access 3 Axis Graph. Excel spreadsheet tool does not have this chart in its library.

However, do not worry.

We don’t recommend you to do away with Excel. You can easily supercharge the tool to access advanced charts. How? You can achieve the above by installing third-party add-ins (which we’ll talk about in the coming sections).

How to make a 3 Axis Graph in Excel does not have to be time-intensive and stressful. We’ve rounded up some valuable tips on getting started with 3-Axis Graph Excel in this blog. In this blog you will learn

• What is 3 Axis Graph?
• How to Make a 3 Axis Graph in Excel? Complete Step by Step Guide
• When should you Use 3 Axis Graph?
• How to Create a 3 Axis Graph in Excel That’s Compelling and Easy to Read?

Before we delve right into how to get started with the 3-Axis Graph in Excel (also known as 3 Axis Graph ), let’s define the chart.

So let’s get down to it.

What is the 3 Axis Graph?

Definition: You can use a 3 Axis Graph to plot data points along two or more axis. A 3 Axis Graph uses two or more axis to display the relationships in key metrics and dimensions in your raw data.

Unlike Dual Axis (Combo Charts), data in 3-Axis Graph Excel is plotted on the 3 axis, each having different data points and values. Conversely, in a Dual Axis Chart, you can plot your data on two different y-axis: primary and secondary y-axis and the x-axis.

Do you see where the difference between the two charts comes in?

A 3 Axis Graph uses two or more axis to display the relationships in key metrics and dimensions in your raw data. Essentially, you can use the 3-Axis Graph Excel to extract correlation insights from your data.

The biggest advantage of adopting this chart for your visualization strategy is that it displays tons of key insights using limited space. Besides, the 3-Axis Chart in Excel can display a lot of information without clutter.

How to make a 3 Axis Graph in Excel should never stress you or even consume significant amounts of your time. Keep reading to discover more.

How to Make a 3 Axis Graph in Excel? Complete Step by Step Guide

If Excel is your go-to data visualization tool, accessing 3 Axis Graphs is impossible.

We know Excel is a trusted data visualization tool because it’s familiar and has been there for decades. But, this spreadsheet application should not be your choice 3-Axis Graph Excel generator.

Excel does not have ready-made 3 Axis Graph templates.

We understand switching tools is not easy because you have to adjust a lot to the new one. Besides, we’re naturally wired to maintain the status quo.

This is why we’re not advocating you ditch Excel in favor of other expensive data visualization tools.

There’s an easy-to-use and amazingly affordable tool that comes as an add-in you can install in your Excel to access advanced charts, such as 3-Axis Graph Excel.

The tool we’ve been talking about all along is called ChartExpo. You can use ChartExpo addon to create a 3-axis graph in excel as well as in google sheets. You can install the add-on of your choice from following links.

How to Make a 3 Axis Graph in Excel Using ChartExpo Add-in?

If you have not installed ChartExpo Add-in in Excel so far you can follow the guide to learn the complete steps of installing ChartExpo in Excel.

Once it is installed, you can then follow the below steps to create 3-axis chart in excel in few clicks without coding:

• Open your Excel application.
• Open the worksheet and click the Insert button to access the My Apps option.
• Click the My Apps button and click the See All button to view ChartExpo, among other add-ins.

• Select ChartExpo add-in and click the Insert button.

• Once you click on insert it may ask you for log in. Once you are logged in, it will not ask next time. ChartExpo window will appear in front of your Excel screen.

• To visualize your data using the 3 Axis Graph, select the Multi Axis Line Chart, as shown below.

• Once you select the Multi Axis Line Chart, the chart below will pop on your screen.

Multi Axis Line Chart With Example:

Imagine you run a mobile dealer shop. You track various metrics, which provide you with insights into the growth of the business. Which chart would you use?

In this scenario, we’ll use the 3-Axis Graph Excel (Multi Axis Line Chart).

Besides, we’ll add metrics progressively for you to have a clear picture of the full capabilities of this chart. We’ll use the table below for our scenario.

Year	Purchase
2015	100000
2016	60000
2017	140000
2018	120000
2019	170000
2020	130000

To get started with ChartExpo add-in, follow the steps below:

• Copy the data into your Excel to get started with ChartExpo add-in.

• Select the Excel Sheet holding the tabular data (above).
• Fill in the respective dimensions and metrics into ChartExpo’s user interface (UI). In our case, the dimension under the study is the Conversely, we have one metric, namely Sales.
• If you follow the instructions, your final chart should look like the one below.

Let’s add another metric to our scenario. We’ll use purchase data this time. Check out the table below.

Year	Purchase	Sales
2015	100000	150000
2016	60000	100000
2017	140000	200000
2018	120000	180000
2019	170000	200000
2020	130000	180000

• Copy the data into your Excel to get started with ChartExpo add-in.
• Follow the same steps as the first Multi Axis Line Chart example.
• Finalize the task by clicking the Create Chart from Selection button.

• Your 3-Axis Graph Excel should resemble the one below.

Let’s add expenses data into our table below, as shown.

Year	Purchase	Sales	Expenses
2015	100000	150000	50000
2016	60000	100000	30000
2017	140000	200000	100000
2018	120000	180000	80000
2019	170000	200000	90000
2020	130000	180000	40000

• Copy the data into your Excel sheet.
• Follow the same steps as the first
• Finalize the task by clicking the Create Chart from Selection button.

• Your final chart should look like the one below.

Let’s add Profit data into our table below, as shown.

Year	Purchase	Sales	Expenses	Profit
2015	100000	150000	50000	20000
2016	60000	100000	30000	15000
2017	140000	200000	100000	22000
2018	120000	180000	80000	6000
2019	170000	200000	90000	45000
2020	130000	180000	40000	10000

• Copy the data into the Excel spreadsheet to get started with 3-Axis Graph Excel.
• Follow the same steps as the first

• Finalize the task by clicking the Create Chart from Selection button.
• Your final chart should look like the one below.

The 3-Axis Graph in Excel can visualize multiple data points for insights in a single view. In our scenario above, you can easily find out how the metrics (sales, purchases, expenses, and profit) trend over time.

When should you Use 3 Axis Graph?

The 3-Axis Graph Excel is strategically positioned to display insights into key data points, relationships, and trends over time.

For instance, you can use this chart to visualize the relationship between the following metrics: population growth, economic growth, living standards, and government investment in healthcare.

Yes, it’s possible to visualize all the metrics (above) within a single view.

Here’s an interesting fact about 3-Axis Graph Excel. This chart is straightforward to read and interpret. More so, it comes in different variants depending on the number of metrics you intend to visualize.

Below are the best scenarios you can best leverage the chart for reliable insights:

• Use 3 Axis Graph only if you want your target audience (or readers) to see the trend of two or more significant metrics in your data over a specified period.
• This chart works best if the aggregate values are as significant as the parts.
• You can use the 3-Axis Graph Excel to uncover hidden correlations between key data points.

How to Create a 3 Axis Graph in Excel That’s Compelling and Easy to Read?

To create charts that are easy to read and complement your data stories seamlessly, follow the best practices listed below religiously.

• Use high contrasting colors to depict metrics in the chart. And this is because it will help guide audiences (and readers).
• Remember, crossing lines (or curves) do not mean anything in the 3 Axis Graph.
• We recommend you avoid comparing the rate of change (gradient) between the two curves because it lacks a significant value.
• Avoid comparing heights because the axis (x, and two y-axis) could be on different scales.

FAQs:

What is a 3 Axis Graph?

A 3 Axis Graph uses two or more axis to display the relationships in key metrics and dimensions in your raw data. Essentially, you can use this chart to extract in-depth insights from your data. The key advantage of the chart is it can display tons of insights using limited space.

How do I create a chart with multiple axis?

Freemium data visualization tools, such as Excel, lack 3 Axis Graph. To get around this problem, we recommend downloading and installing the ChartExpo add-in to access advanced charts. Using ChartExpo does not require you to have coding or programming skills. Besides, it comes loaded with over 50 advanced charts.

Wrap Up:

Visualizing data with multiple key variables within a single view is not a walk in the park. You need a specialized data visualization chart if your goal is to extract reliable insights.

This is where the 3-Axis Graph Excel comes in.

Well, the 3 Axis chart is the go-to tool for professionals who want to display key data points within a single chart. Excel is not recommended if your goal is to create 3 Axis Charts that are simple to interpret and complement your data stories.

And this is because the spreadsheet tool lacks Multi Axis Line Chart templates in its library.

We recommend you install third-party apps, such as ChartExpo, into your Excel to access advanced charts, such as Multi Axis Line Chart.

This easy-to-use data visualization tool comes as an add-on you can easily download and install in your Excel app.

ChartExpo is loaded with insightful and easy-to-interpret 3 Axis Chart, plus over 50 more advanced charts. Besides, you don’t need programming or coding skills to visualize your data using this tool.

How to make a 3 Axis Graph in Excel should be a problem of the past now that we’ve introduced you to ChartExpo.

Sign up for a 7-day free trial today to access easy-to-interpret and visually appealing Multi Axis Line Charts.