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Make a Combo Chart

"Sales are up — but is the margin?" "PV is rising — but what about CVR?" The chart that overlays data with different units and scales onto a single canvas so you can read the relationship.

Per-series bar / line Second (right) Y-axis support Multiple series OK
Preview
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Start from a sample
Enter data
Series display

First row is the header (label, series 1 name, series 2 name…); paste data from row 2. After loading, you can choose bar or line for each series.

Adjust appearance

What is a combo chart?

A combo chart overlays two different chart types on a single canvas — typically bars and a line. For example, "Revenue (bars)" with "Year-over-year change (line)" lets you show quantity and ratio simultaneously. It's a staple of monthly business reports.

"Quantity and rate" or "actual and target," at once

Use bars for totals and absolute counts; lines for ratios and indices. Pick the form that matches what each value is.

When to use it

Revenue and growth rate
Monthly revenue as bars, year-over-year growth (%) as a line. The second axis really earns its keep here.
PV and CVR
Monthly PV as bars, CVR (%) as a line. Quantity of access and quality of outcome on a single chart.
Actual vs. target
Stack actuals as bars and overlay the target as a line to visualize attainment.
Temperature and precipitation
A weather-report classic — precipitation as bars, temperature as a line, on one chart.

Tips for making one well

1. Bars for absolute amounts, lines for ratios and trends

This is the basic rule. Countable amounts (revenue, visits) belong on bars; percentages and indices (growth rate, yield) belong on lines. The visual feels natural that way.

2. Use the second (right) Y-axis to separate units

If the bar's scale (e.g., 0–$2M) and the line's scale (e.g., 0–10%) differ widely, enable the second axis. On a single axis, one of them gets crushed.

3. Limit yourself to three or four series

Two bar series + one line, or one bar + two lines — about three to four series total is the readable limit. Beyond that, split the chart or focus on the series that matter.

4. Keep the line in front

This tool automatically draws lines in front of bars. The reader's eye flows naturally: "quantity (bars) → trend (line)."

FAQ

When two series differ in scale by 10× or more, the second axis is the standard answer. Same scale → one axis is enough. In this tool, fill in "Y-axis (right) label" and pick the right axis on each series to switch.
Yes. Toggle "Stack the bars" under "Adjust appearance" and the bar series stack while the line series overlay on top. Useful when you want to show actuals' breakdown alongside a target line.
Per-series form is bar or line only. For filled areas, use the dedicated area chart.
Two-axis charts are sometimes criticized because choices of origin and scale can manipulate impressions. This tool auto-tunes the second axis maximum, but please always do a final check that nothing looks exaggerated.

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