Can Excel Have a Third Vertical Axis? Use a WPS Spreadsheets Combo Chart
Question details
The user wants to know whether Excel supports a third vertical axis and how to plot a third data scale in a WPS Office chart.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user has a dataset with three series that use different value ranges or units and wants to display all three clearly on one chart.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Excel does not natively provide a third vertical axis, so the third scale must be simulated with combination charts, secondary-axis workarounds, or custom scatter chart techniques.
Before creating the chart, arrange each data series in separate columns and decide which two series can share the primary or secondary vertical axis. Open the workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheets and confirm the chart data is selected.
Simulate a third vertical axis with a WPS Spreadsheets combination chart
Use this method when you need to show three data series with different scales in one chart by combining a column or line chart with a secondary axis.
WPS Spreadsheets supports combination charts and a secondary vertical axis. A true third Y-axis is not native, but you can use a secondary axis for one series and scale the third series against the secondary axis to approximate a third scale.
Open WPS Office Spreadsheets, select the data range including all three series, go to Insert > Chart, and choose Combo Chart from the Chart Type list.
Click the chart, then go to Chart Tools > Format, or right-click the series you want to move to the secondary axis and choose Format Data Series.
In the Format Data Series pane, under Series Options, select Secondary Axis, then set the secondary axis minimum and maximum values to fit the series scale.
For the third series, keep it on the primary axis if the scale is close to the first series, or apply a calculated field such as a multiplier and label it in the chart title or data labels so the secondary axis represents two scales.
Use a custom XY scatter series to label a third scale
Use this when you need more visual separation for a third unit and want to add a manually scaled axis line with labels.
Create a third-scale combination chart in WPS Office Spreadsheets
WPS Office Spreadsheets lets you build a combination chart with a secondary axis to simulate a third vertical axis, so you can compare three data series with different scales without leaving your Excel-compatible workbook.
- 1. Open your workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office, click Menu > Open, and select the Excel workbook that contains the data you want to chart.
- 2. Select the chart data and insert a Combo Chart: Highlight the three data series, go to Insert > Chart, and choose Combo Chart to create a chart with mixed chart types.
- 3. Assign a series to the secondary axis: Right-click the series that needs a different scale, choose Format Data Series, and enable Secondary Axis under Series Options.
- 4. Rescale and label the simulated third axis: Adjust the primary and secondary axis scales from Format Axis, then add data labels or a text box to explain the third unit or scale.
- 5. Save and share in Excel format: Click Menu > Save As, choose .xlsx so Microsoft Excel users can open the file with the combination chart and secondary axis preserved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Excel have a native third vertical axis?
No. Microsoft Excel does not provide a native third vertical axis for standard charts. You can simulate one using a combination chart, a secondary axis, or a custom XY scatter series.
How do I add a secondary vertical axis in WPS Office Spreadsheets?
Insert a Combo Chart, right-click the data series you want to move, choose Format Data Series, and select Secondary Axis under Series Options.
Can WPS Office save my chart so it opens correctly in Microsoft Excel?
Yes. Save the workbook as .xlsx from Menu > Save As. The combination chart and secondary axis settings are preserved when the file is opened in Excel.
What should I do if my three data series use very different units?
Use a secondary axis for the most different series and add a clearly labeled scale or text box for the third unit. You can also create a calculated series that normalizes the values to the same scale.
Does WPS Spreadsheets support three vertical axes natively?
No. Like Excel, WPS Spreadsheets supports a primary and a secondary vertical axis. A third scale must be simulated with a combination chart or custom scatter series.
