Display the Same Y-Axis on Both Sides of an Excel Chart in WPS Office
Question details
The user wants to add a right-side Y-axis in an Excel or WPS Office Spreadsheet chart that duplicates the values, scale, and formatting of the primary left Y-axis.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheet
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating or editing a chart where readers need the same Y-axis labels on both the left and right sides.
- Observed behavior
- The chart shows only the primary left Y-axis, and the user wants a matching right-side Y-axis without changing the original data series.
Open the workbook that contains the chart and click the chart to activate the chart tools. Identify the data series you can duplicate without changing the visual meaning of the chart.
Add a Duplicate Series and Assign It to the Secondary Axis
Use this method when you want a right-side Y-axis that exactly matches the primary axis without changing the existing chart series.
Excel and WPS Office Spreadsheet normally only display a secondary axis when a series is assigned to it. By adding an invisible duplicate series, you can create the right-side axis and then format that axis to match the left axis.
Right-click the chart and choose Select Data. In the Select Data dialog, add a new series and point it to the same category and value ranges as the existing series you want to duplicate.
Right-click the duplicate series in the chart and choose Format Data Series. Under Series Options or Plot Series On, select Secondary Axis. A new Y-axis appears on the right side of the chart.
With the duplicate series still selected, set its line to No line and its marker fill to None or No fill so the helper series is hidden, leaving only the secondary axis visible.
Right-click the right-side Y-axis and choose Format Axis. Set the same minimum, maximum, major unit, number format, and axis title as the primary left Y-axis.
Click the chart legend, then click the duplicate series label once more and press Delete. This removes the helper series label without removing the secondary axis.
Reassign an Existing Series to the Secondary Axis
Use this quicker method when you can plot one existing series on the secondary axis and still keep the chart readable.
Add a Matching Right-Side Y-Axis in WPS Office Spreadsheet
WPS Office Spreadsheet supports secondary chart axes, so you can duplicate the primary Y-axis on the right side, adjust axis scales, and keep the chart clear. Follow the steps below to create a mirrored Y-axis without switching to another Office suite.
- 1. Open the workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office, choose Spreadsheets, and open the Excel workbook that contains the chart. Click the chart to activate the Chart Tools.
- 2. Duplicate the series and assign it to the secondary axis: Right-click the chart, choose Select Data, and add a series with the same values. Then right-click the new series and choose Format Data Series, then select Secondary Axis.
- 3. Make the duplicate series invisible: In the same Format Data Series panel, set the line to No line and the marker fill to None so the duplicate series is hidden.
- 4. Match the right Y-axis format: Right-click the right-side Y-axis, choose Format Axis, and enter the same minimum, maximum, major unit, number format, and title as the left Y-axis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a secondary right Y-axis without adding another data series?
In Excel and WPS Office Spreadsheet, a secondary axis normally requires a series assigned to it. You can add an invisible duplicate series and format it with no line or markers so the axis appears without changing the chart visually.
Why is my right-side Y-axis scale different from the left axis?
When a series uses the secondary axis, the right axis has its own scale. Right-click the right axis, choose Format Axis, and set the same minimum, maximum, major unit, and number format as the primary axis.
How do I remove the duplicate legend entry after adding a helper series?
Click the legend once, then click the duplicate series label once more and press Delete. Only the legend label is removed; the hidden series and secondary axis remain.
Does WPS Office support Excel chart files with secondary axes?
Yes. WPS Office Spreadsheet opens and saves Excel .xlsx files and preserves chart axes, series formatting, and axis titles, so you can edit the secondary Y-axis directly.
What should I do if the secondary axis title does not match the primary axis?
Select the right-side Y-axis and choose Format Axis or Axis Titles. Type the exact same title text, and check the number format and scale settings to keep both sides identical.
