Ampler Charts turns a chart into a bar/line combination chart with two Y-axes, so you can plot two series on different scales — revenue and margin, say — on one chart.
Quick answer: Select a series and convert it to a line under Chart type, then right-click the chart and choose Add second y-axis.
How to use it
Convert a series to a line, then add a second Y-axis.
- Select the series to plot on the second axis and convert it to a line under Chart type.
- Right-click the chart and select Add second y-axis from the menu.
The line series is then plotted against its own Y-axis, so two measures with different scales sit clearly on one chart.
When to use it
Use a second Y-axis when two series have very different scales or units — a value and a rate, such as revenue in £m against margin in %. If the two series tell separate stories, two side-by-side charts are usually clearer than one dual-axis chart.
How consultants use it
Combination charts with two axes are a consulting staple — showing a value and a rate, or two metrics of different magnitude, on one exhibit. Three habits apply:
- Two measures, one chart: a value series and a rate (e.g. revenue and margin) share the exhibit
- Each on its own scale: the second axis stops one series dwarfing the other
- Read as one story: the reader sees the relationship between the two on a single chart
A second Y-axis makes a two-measure comparison clear on one chart.
Tips & best practices
- Convert the second series to a line before adding the axis.
- Label both axes so the reader knows which is which.
- Don’t use a dual axis to imply a correlation that isn’t there — if the series are unrelated, split them into two charts.
- Use Control which axis a series is plotted against to reassign series.
Availability
Part of Ampler Charts, included in Ampler for PowerPoint and the Ampler Suite, on Windows desktop PowerPoint.
Frequently asked questions
How do you add a second Y-axis in PowerPoint charts?
In Ampler Charts, convert the series to a line under Chart type, then right-click the chart and choose Add second y-axis. The series is plotted on its own axis.
How do you make a combination (bar and line) chart?
Convert one series to a line under Chart type and add a second Y-axis for it, so bars and a line share the chart on separate scales.
Should you use a second Y-axis or two separate charts?
Use a second Y-axis when the two series are related but on different scales. If they tell separate stories, two charts are usually clearer and less prone to implying a false link.
Why use two Y-axes?
To compare two measures of different magnitude or type — such as a value and a percentage — on one chart without one dwarfing the other.