How to Add Secondary X Axis in Excel (with Quick Steps)

If you are searching for the solution or some special tricks to add secondary X axis in Excel. Then, you have landed in the right place. While using Excel charts, there is one horizontal axis by default. But sometimes you may need to add a secondary X axis to plot another data set. There is a quick way to add secondary X axis in Excel. This article will show you each and every step with proper illustrations so, you can easily apply them for your purpose. Let’s get into the main part of the article.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook from here:

Steps to Add Secondary X Axis in Excel

Suppose, You have a dataset showing the values of the 2nd and 3rd power of numbers. And you want to plot a graph showing the pattern of the graph. In addition, you want to show X² values on the primary horizontal axis and X³ values on the secondary horizontal axis.

So, in this section, I will show you the quick and easy steps to add a secondary X-axis in Excel on Windows operating system. You will find detailed explanations of methods and formulas here. I have used Microsoft 365 version here. But you can use any other versions as of your availability. If any methods won’t work in your version then leave us a comment.

📌 Step 1: Make a Scatter Chart

At first, you have to make a scatter graph with the available series of data. As there are two columns depending on the value of X then you have created two series in the scatter chart.

Read More: How to Add Second Vertical Axis in Excel Scatter Plot (3 Suitable Ways)

📌 Step 2:  Enable Secondary Horizontal Axis

• Now, click on the chart and you will find a plus(+) icon on the right-top side of the chart.
• Then, the chart elements will appear. You will see the Axes box is marked by default.
• Click on the arrow in the Axes option and you will find the Secondary horizontal axis. Mark the checkbox to enable and show it in the graph.

Read More: How to add secondary axis in Excel (2 easy ways)

📌 Step 3: Give Axes Titles

Now, to add titles in the axes, go to the chart elements again and click on the arrow in the axis titles and mark the secondary horizontal option.

Now rename the axis titles by simply clicking on them.

Read More: How to Change Axis Titles in Excel (with Easy Steps)

Excel Not Showing Secondary Horizontal Axis Option

Sometimes you will not find any options to add a secondary horizontal axis. Then, you have to do some extra steps.

Solution:

• For example, here you are seeing there is no option for secondary horizontal axes.

• To enable showing the secondary axes options, you have to enable it manually.
• For this, right-click on one of the graphs and select the Format Plot Area

• Now, you will see the Format Data Series window will appear on the right side of the worksheet.
• Here, select the Secondary Axes option in the Series Options.
• By this, you have enabled the secondary vertical axis.

• Now, go to Axes options again from the Chart Elements Here, you will find secondary axes options that weren’t before.

Conclusion

In this article, you have found how to add a secondary X-axis in Excel. You can download the free workbook and practice it yourself. I hope you found this article helpful. You can visit our website ExcelDemy to learn more Excel-related content. Please, drop comments, suggestions, or queries if you have any in the comment section below.

Related Articles

• How to Change Axis Labels in Excel (3 Easy Methods)
• Add X and Y Axis Labels in Excel (2 Easy Methods)
• Excel Bar Chart Side by Side with Secondary Axis
• How to Change X-Axis Values in Excel (with Easy Steps)
• How to Switch X and Y-Axis in Excel (2 Easy Ways)