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Displaying insights into the relationship between two different data series is easier said than done.
Why?
It’s incredibly easy for you to use the wrong charts, which may mislead your target audiences. In fact, charts that can reveal hidden insights into the relationship between two different variables are limited.
Well, the Double Y-axis Graphs are among those limited visualization charts. Besides, these charts come in 4 variants, namely:
The main benefit of this group of charts is they spare you the time and effort needed to create two charts for the same data story.
Hello, ardent Excel users. Yes, I am calling you out.
Excel spreadsheet is super convenient in storing and visualizing data. However, its library lacks the Double Y-axis charts templates. Essentially, you have to add secondary axis in Excel manually, which is time-intensive.
But, we’re not recommending you to do away with Excel. No.
You can supercharge Excel by installing third-party add-ins to access ready-made, visually appealing, and insightful charts.
Don’t go anywhere because we’ll take you through how to get started with the Double Y-axis visualization in your data stories in this blog. We’ll also reveal the proven and tested add-in you can install in your Excel to access this chart.
You don’t want to miss the rest of the blog if your goal is to take your data storytelling expertise to the All-Star level.
In this blog you will learn:
Before we delve into the how-to guide in the later parts of the blog, let’s define this chart.
Let’s get this show on the road.
You can use the Double Y-axis chart to plot two different data series.
This chart achieves the task (above) using a secondary Y-axis on the right-hand side. More so, you can use the Double Y-axis Chart to display the relationship between two variables. In other words, this chart is convenient in uncovering hidden insights into the relationship between two or more measures with different scales and measures.
There’re 4 types of Double Y-axis visualization design, namely:
Charts with double y-axes can help you save time because of its ability to display critical insights using limited space.
Here’s an interesting fact.
You can actually use these charts to visualize two different variables without worrying about clutter and other issues that can obscure critical insights.
One of the most significant benefits of this visualization design is its ability to display insights into the relationship between 2 metrics.
Furthermore, the metrics you’re tracking in your data does not need a similar scale or measure to use the chart.
Secondly, charts with double y-axes allow you to save space by performing the work of two graphs. How?
As we said, The Double Y-axis Diagrams come with secondary axes to enable you to display two different data series simultaneously.
You don’t have to visualize your data using two charts.
There’s a famous saying that goes, “bring a gun to a knife fight.” Please note we don’t advocate violence, but we find the phrase (above) relevant.
A gun can prove the decisive factor in a knife fight—similarly, the Double Y-axis Graphs outperform other traditional visualization designs in complex tasks that require two or more.
Take a look at a screenshot of the graph below.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
Later in this blog you will see how the above chart can be created in Excel. There is another example below of double y-axis.
The chart above displays two different KPIs. Note the y-axes have two different scales but share the x-axis.
The visualization above confirms that the Double Y-axis Graph is the proverbial gun in a knife fight.
You can leverage the Double Y-axis Chart maximally in the following scenarios (below):
For instance, you can compare the US and Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the same chart across a specified time (dimension variable).
For instance, you can compare life expectancy with the US’ economic growth across a specified time.
Excel lacks charts with double y-axes in its library. Essentially, you have to add a secondary axis Excel manually in a super time-intensive process.
You don’t have to undergo all this.
You can install third-party add-ins into your Excel to access insightful and easy-to-interpret Double Y-axis Graphs.
There are over 2,000 add-ins purposely designed for Excel.
To simplify things, we’ve installed and tested over 40 data visualization-based add-ins.
We narrowed down our results based on the following factors: ease of use, cost of access, quality of visualization chart, and the size of the chart library.
The Excel add-in that met all our conditions is ChartExpo. With ChartExpo, you don’t have to add secondary axis in Excel manually.
Yes, this tool comes with ready-made charts that need minimum editing, such as adding a title and legends.
Let’s take a closer look at ChartExpo.
ChartExpo is an Excel-based add-in with an ultra-friendly user interface to ensure that any professional can visualize data, irrespective of their coding or programming skills.
This easy-to-use add-in comes loaded with super-advanced Double Y-axis Graphs, such as
We’re confident this is the tool you need to use minimum space to display critical insights into two different data series.
You don’t have to plot an extra chart or add secondary axis in Excel manually.
ChartExpo’s charts are read-made, meaning you can deploy them in your data stories without getting subjected to time-intensive customizations.
In the coming section, we’ll take you through the four types of Double Y-axis Graphs:
The Double Axis Line and Bar Chart can help you compare two different metrics across time without having to plot extra diagrams.
Let’s visualize the sample data below using the Double Axis Line and Bar Chart.
Note: You don’t have to add secondary axis in Excel manually. And this is because the chart (above) comes ready-made with two y-axes.
| Year | Sales | Profit Margin % |
| 1998 | 22.23K | 7.2 |
| 1999 | 19.87K | 8.2 |
| 2000 | 18.22K | 6.8 |
| 2001 | 27.67K | 7.5 |
| 2002 | 22.7K | 4.8 |
| 2003 | 15.76 K | 6.1 |
| 2004 | 16.85 K | 7.1 |
| 2005 | 17.54 K | 8.4 |
| 2006 | 16.14 K | 7.3 |
| 2007 | 16.33 K | 8.9 |
| 2008 | 16.43 K | 5.6 |
| 2009 | 16.34 K | 4.5 |
| 2010 | 16.21 K | 6.4 |
| 2011 | 16.52 K | 7.9 |
| 2012 | 16.42 K | 8.3 |
| 2013 | 16.17 K | 9 |
| 2014 | 15.57 K | 4.6 |
| 2015 | 16.48 K | 9 |
| 2016 | 16.34 K | 6.8 |
| 2017 | 14.99 K | 7.9 |
| 2018 | 17.26 K | 9.6 |
| 2019 | 13.67 K | 6.9 |
| 2020 | 12.32 K | 4.3 |
| 2021 | 11.28 K | 5.6 |
To get started with the Double Y-axis chart maker in ChartExpo, If you have not already installed it, you can click here to get the it then please follow the easy steps below.
Alternatively, the other option is to browse through categories, namely:
You’ll find the Double Y-axis Graph variant under the Pay-per-Click-(PPC Charts) tab.
The first look of this chart you will see will be below. This visualization is not based on the data values but it is based on percentage value. We will change the chart property to see the value based view.
You can click on the setting button on top then find property section Chart Drawing and then change it to Value Based.
Then click on Apply button to see the change. You will notice that right axis don’t have dollar sign and thousand “K” sign. You can click on Edit Chart button from the below bar.
You will see different pencils appear on chart. This pencil icon is an indication that you can properties from there of relevant areas. Let’s change right axis properties.
Now you will see Label Text section under this you can put prefix and postfix and then click on Apply All.
Same you can do with right axis to add percentage sign. You will get the following view.
You can also add header on the top and change axis labels to put better aesthetics on the chart. For header you can do it as shown in below image:
Same you can do for left and right axis, also change the colors of the axis and labels accordingly then you will see following look of your chart.
You can click on Save Changes to have the final visualization look as below:
The Area Line Chart (also called an Area Line Graph) is a Double Y-axis Graph variant that shares similarities with an Area Graph.
This chart (above) can help you display insights into the relationship between two different data series over a specified time. You can achieve the above using a line curve and shaded area using two y-axes, as shown below.
Use ChartExpo to generate easy-to-read and insightful Area Line Charts.
You don’t have to add secondary axis in Excel manually when using this tool.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
The Dual Axis Grouped Bar Chart is a Double Y-Axis Graph type that shares similarities with the Bar Chart.
It has two y-axes to display data for two different metrics.
Take a look at the chart below
The blue bars on the left side shows insights into GPD per capita (y-axis). Similarly, the grey bars show life expectancy insights.
A Vertical Axis Line Chart is a Double Y-axis Graph type you can use to display metrics with different measures or magnitudes.
You can easily pick hidden trends and patterns in your data using this chart. Remember, you don’t have to add secondary axis in Excel manually when using this ChartExpo.
Use these charts to visualize two different data series rather than deploy two charts. You’ll save a lot of space in your data visualization dashboard.
To get the most from Double Y-axis Graphs types (Double Axis Line and Bar, Area Line, Dual Axis Grouped Bar, and Vertical Axis Line Charts), use data with different metric units.
A chart can only hold so much information before it becomes overwhelmed or appear cluttered. Stick to making one point with your chart.
Just because you have two y-axes doesn’t mean data visualization best practices don’t apply.
For example, a line chart is hardly the best way to represent categorical data. They’re best reserved for trends over time.
You can use the Double Y-axis Graphs to plot two different data series. You can achieve this using a secondary y-axis on the right hand side.
These visualization designs display insights into the relationship between two variables. Besides, they’re incredibly handy in uncovering hidden insights into the general trends and patterns between two or more metrics.
One of the advantages of this visualization design is its ability to display insights into the relationship between 2 varying metrics. The metrics you’re tracking in your data do not need similar scales or measures when using these charts.
The Double Y-axis Chart can save you space by performing the work of two charts.
You’ll agree when we say visualizing two different metrics with varying scales using traditional charts, such as Bar Graphs is challenging. You need specialized data visualization charts to get reliable insights.
This is where Double Y-axis Graphs come in.
You can use these charts to visualize two different data series without plotting more diagrams. Yes, you read that right.
Besides, you can easily save a lot of space in your dashboard by constricting insights from different variables into a single chart.
There’re 4 types of Double Y-axis Graphs:
Excel should not be your go-to tool if want charts with double y-axes.
Why?
This spreadsheet application’s library lacks the Double Y-axis Graphs templates. Essentially, you have to add secondary axis in Excel manually. And this means you’ve to spend more of your valuable time.
But we’re not recommending you to do away with Excel. No.
Just install third-party apps, such as ChartExpo, into your Excel to access visualization designs with two y-axes.
ChartExpo is an add-in you can easily download and install in your Excel app. More so, it’s loaded over 50 more advanced charts. You don’t need programming or coding skills to visualize your data using ChartExpo.
Sign up for a 7-day free trial today to access easy-to-interpret and visually appealing Double Y-axis Graphs for your data story.
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