Format Axis in Excel: 7 Different Modifications

Method 1 – Change Display of Chart Axes

1.1. Display or Hide Axes

• Click the chart and select it.
• From the Chart Design tab, select Add Chart Element.
• Click Primary Horizontal from the Axes as shown.

Alternate Method:

• Select the chart.
• Click on the plus icon at the top right corner.
• Check/uncheck the mark on Primary Horizontal or Primary Vertical, or both to display or hide the axis.

• A chart axis with Primary Horizontal and Primary Vertical axis will appear/disappear depending on your selection/deselection from the options.

1.2. Adjust Axis Tick Marks and Labels

• Start with selecting the chart, click on the big plus icon at the top-right corner of the chart.
• Click More Options from Axes.

• In the Axis Options, click Tick Marks. In the Major type box, select Inside.
• Click on Labels, now select Next to Axis in the Label Position.

• Ticks and Labels are added as follows.

Method 2 – Format Axis Labels in a Chart

2.1. Change the Number of Categories Between Labels or Tick Marks

• Select the chart and then click on the plus icon at the top-right corner.
• Click on More Options from Axes
• From Axis Options, click Labels. Type 2 in the Specify interval unit.

• Display a label for every other category as follows. It omitted some labels.

2.2. Change the Alignment and Orientation of Labels

• Click the plus icon appearing at the top-right corner after selecting the chart.
• Click on More Options from
• From Text Options, select Vertical alignment and Text direction, and Custom angle.

2.3. Change Text and Numbers Format in Labels

• At the top-right corner, click on the plus icon appearing after selecting the chart.
• Click More Options from the menu.
• From Axis Options, click Number; select the number types in the box.

Method 3 – Add Axis Titles

• Selecting the chart, click the plus icon appearing at the top-right corner.
• Click Axis Titles, and check Primary Horizontal.

• The axis title will appear as follows.

Method 4 – Change Axis Type

• At the top-right corner, click on the plus icon appearing after selecting the chart.
• Click on More Options from
• From the Axis option, in Axis type, select Text axis. 

Changing the axis type in a chart adjusts how Excel shows the data:

• Text Axis: Treats numbers as text labels (e.g., names).
• Date Axis: Formats for time-based data (e.g., dates).
• Logarithmic Scale: This shows data on a logarithmic scale.
• Percentage Axis: Displays data as percentages. Choose the right axis type for accurate representation.

Method 5 – Adjust Axis Scale

• Select the Y-axis, then right-click on the chart.
• A menu bar will appear. Click Format Axis.

• In the Axis option, type 2500 in the Maximum box, and 500 in the Major box.

• A chart with an adjusted scale will appear as follows.

Method 6 – Swap X and Y Axes in the Chart

Swap X and Y axis,

• Click the chart and then select the Chart Design tab from the ribbon.
• Select the chart, and find the Switch Row/Column option.

• The swapped chart will appear as follows.

Method 7 – Flip an Excel Chart from Left to Right

To flip an Excel chart,

• Select the chart, and in the top-right corner, click the plus icon.
• Choose More Options from the Axes
• Mark on Categories in reverse order.

• The flipped chart will appear as follows.

Things to Remember

• Choose the right scaling for your data.
• Use clear axis labels and titles.
• Format numbers for readability.
• Adjust font size and style appropriately.
• Position the axis appropriately.
• Customize tick marks and axis lines.
• Consider axis crossings for negative values.
• Use a logarithmic scale when needed.
• Set fixed intervals for large data ranges.
• Format date and time values correctly.
• Reverse order if necessary.
• Set axis limits to focus on specific data.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How do I format a horizontal axis in Excel?

• Select the horizontal axis on your chart.
• Right-click and choose Format Axis.
• Use the Format Axis task pane on the right to customize the axis appearance.
• Adjust axis options, labels, numbers, tick marks, font, and line color.
• Preview changes and click Close to apply the formatting.

2. How do I change the axis scale in Excel?

• Select the axis (either vertical or horizontal) on your chart.
• Right-click and choose Format Axis.
• In the Format Axis task pane, go to Axis Options.
• Set the scale to Automatic for Excel to determine the best-fit scale.
• Or, choose Fixed and enter specific minimum or maximum values.
• Click Close to apply the changes to your chart.

3. How do I change the Y-axis format in Excel?

• Select the Y-axis on your chart.
• Right-click and choose Format Axis.
• In the Format Axis pane, go to Axis Options.
• Under Number, choose your desired format (General, Number, Currency, Percentage, etc.).
• Set the decimal places and use a 1000 separator if needed.
• Close the Format Axis pane to apply the changes.

Format Axis in Excel: Knowledge Hub

• Reverse Axis Order in Excel
• Reverse X and Y Axis

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