Chart & Visualization Issues

How to Create a Combination Chart for Amounts and Percentages in Excel

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 15, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to display monthly bond maturity amounts alongside average bond yields in a single Excel chart.

How to Create an Excel Combination Chart for Amounts and Percentage Yields

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Plotting two data series with vastly different units and scales (dollars and percentages) on the exact same chart for monthly tracking.
Observed behavior: Placing both dollar amounts and percentages on a single primary axis makes the chart unreadable, as the much smaller percentage values visually disappear compared to the large dollar amounts.

Before you start

Ensure your data is organized in adjacent columns with clear headers, such as 'Month', 'Maturity Amount', and 'Yield Percentage', before attempting to insert the chart.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Combo Chart with a Secondary Axis

Use Excel's built-in Combo Chart feature to assign a different chart type and axis scale to each data series.

A combination chart allows you to use column bars for large numbers (like dollar amounts) and a line for smaller numbers (like percentages). Adding a secondary axis ensures both sets of data are scaled appropriately and remain easy to read.

Select the data range

Highlight the entire data table including the column headers for months, maturity amounts, and percentage yields.

Insert a Combo Chart

Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon. In the Charts group, click the 'Insert Combo Chart' icon and select 'Create Custom Combo Chart'.

Configure the chart series

In the Insert Chart dialog box, locate your two data series. Set the 'Maturity Amount' series chart type to 'Clustered Column' and the 'Yield' series chart type to 'Line'.

Enable the secondary axis

Check the box labeled 'Secondary Axis' situated next to the 'Yield' series, then click 'OK' to generate your chart.

Add data labels

Right-click the newly created line series on the chart and select 'Add Data Labels' to display the exact percentage figures directly on the chart line.

Create a Combo Chart with a Secondary Axis

Clear Visualization Achieved: By separating the scales onto two different axes, your chart now accurately displays both large monetary amounts and small percentage yields without one overshadowing the other.

Easily Visualize Complex Data

Create Stunning Combination Charts with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet offers an intuitive chart creation tool that easily handles multiple data series with conflicting units. You can seamlessly add secondary axes to visualize both amounts and percentages side-by-side without sacrificing readability or formatting.

1. Open data in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your spreadsheet containing the column headers, maturity amounts, and yield percentages.
2. Insert a Chart: Highlight your data range, navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon, and click on 'Chart'.
3. Choose the Combo Chart type: Select 'Combo' from the left panel in the chart dialog. Set your amounts to a Column chart and your percentages to a Line chart.
4. Apply a Secondary Axis: Check the 'Secondary Axis' box corresponding to your percentage series, then click 'Insert' to place the optimized chart into your spreadsheet.

Quickly insert combination charts with a built-in secondary axis option for multi-scale data.Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formats, ensuring your charts display correctly across platforms.Extensive customization options for chart elements like data labels, legends, and gridlines.Free, lightweight, and user-friendly alternative to Microsoft Office.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my percentage line flat at the bottom of the combo chart?

This happens when percentages (values less than 1, where 100% = 1.0) share the same primary axis as large numbers (like thousands or millions). You must assign the percentage data series to a secondary axis so it has its own appropriate visual scale.

How do I format the secondary axis to display percentage signs?

Right-click the secondary axis numbers on your chart and select 'Format Axis'. Navigate to the 'Number' section in the format pane, change the category to 'Percentage', and adjust the decimal places as needed.

Can I change the chart type for the secondary axis after creating it?

Yes. Right-click any data series in the existing chart, select 'Change Series Chart Type', and you can adjust the chart type (e.g., from line to area) for either series in the Combo Chart dialog box.

Excel & Data Problems