How to Create a Combo Chart in Excel?

In this article, you will learn how to create a combo chart in Excel, a versatile visualization tool that combines two or more different chart types into a single chart. A combo chart enables you to present and analyze diverse datasets simultaneously, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the data. Typically, a combo chart involves combining a line chart with either a bar, column, or area chart, offering the flexibility to showcase variations in trends, comparisons, or distributions within the same visual framework. This dynamic combination empowers users to present complex information in a more digestible format, making Excel’s combo chart an invaluable asset for conveying multiple dimensions of data in a cohesive and comprehensible manner.

How to Create a Combo Chart in Excel?

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to create a combo chart in Excel:

1. Open Your Excel Spreadsheet: Launch Microsoft Excel and open the spreadsheet containing the data you want to visualize using a combo chart.
2. Organize Your Data: Structure your data with clear columns for the categories and corresponding values you want to represent in the combo chart. Ensure that your data has clear headers.
3. Select Your Data: Highlight the entire dataset, including the headers for categories and their respective values. Ensure that you have included all the data series you want to represent in the combo chart.
4. Go to the “Insert” Tab: Navigate to the “Insert” tab in the Excel ribbon located at the top of the screen.
5. Choose “Combo Chart” Type: Within the “Charts” or “Chart Types” group, click on the “Combo” option. A dropdown menu will appear, allowing you to choose the specific combo chart type you want.
6. Select Chart Types for Each Data Series: After choosing “Combo,” select the specific chart type for each data series. For example, you can choose a line chart for one series and a column chart for another.
7. Adjust the Combo Chart: Excel will automatically generate a combo chart based on your selected data series and chart types. Right-click on the chart, choose “Select Data,” and ensure your data series and chart types are correctly recognized.
8. Customize the Chart: Utilize the Chart Tools available in the ribbon to customize the appearance of your combo chart. This includes changing colors, titles, and labels for each data series.
9. Format Data Series (Optional): Enhance the readability of your combo chart by formatting each data series individually. Right-click on a data series, choose “Format Data Series,” and adjust settings such as line thickness or column colors.
10. Save Your Workbook: Save your Excel workbook to preserve the changes made to the combo chart.
11. Update the Chart with New Data: If your dataset changes, right-click on the chart and choose “Select Data.” Adjust the data range or add new series to update the combo chart accordingly.
12. Explore Advanced Chart Options: Depending on your needs, explore advanced options such as adjusting axis scales, adding data labels, or other features available in the Chart Tools.
13. Add Titles and Legends: Make your combo chart informative by including a title and legend. Titles convey the main message, while legends explain the categories and chart types represented in the combo chart.
14. Format the Chart Area: Fine-tune the appearance of the chart area, including background colors and borders, to align with your visual preferences.
15. Adjust Axis Labels (Optional): Customize the axis labels to improve the clarity of your combo chart. Right-click on the axis labels, choose “Format Axis,” and adjust the label format.

By following these steps, you can create a combo chart in Excel, providing a comprehensive and visually appealing representation of multiple data series using different chart types within the same visual framework. Excel’s user-friendly tools for chart creation offer flexibility for customization, allowing you to tailor your combo chart to suit your specific data visualization needs.