How to Reverse Axis Order in Excel – 4 Methods

Method 1 – Using the Format Axis Feature

The sample dataset contains Employees’ Names and their respective Salary.

Use of Format Axis Feature to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

A Column Chart was created.

Use of Format Axis Feature to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

The Xaxis represents the Employee Name, and the Y-axis represents the Salary.

To reverse the X-axis by using the Format Axis Feature:

Steps:

  • Select the horizontal axis (i.e. X-axis) and right-click it.
  • Select Format Axis.

Use of Format Axis Feature to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

  • In the Format Axis dialog box,  check Categories in reverse order.

Note: 

For Categories: check ‘Categories in reverse order’.

For Values: check ‘Values in reverse order’.

For Series in a 3-D chart: check ‘Series in reverse order’.

The X-axis is in reverse order.


Method 2 – Applying the Select Data Option

The following dataset showcases the Employee Name, Salary, and Savings over a period of time.

Applying Select Data Option to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

A Scatter Plot was created.

Applying Select Data Option to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

To reverse the X-axis to the Yaxis:

Steps:

  • Right-click the graph, and choose Select Data.

Applying Select Data Option to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

  • In the Select Data Source dialog box, click Edit.

Applying Select Data Option to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

  • In the Edit Series window  Series X Values represent the Profit value range and Series Y Values represent the Salary.
  • Change the series: assign Salary to Series X Values and Profit to Series Y Values.

  • Click OK.

  • Click OK to close Select Data Source.

This is the output:  the X and Y axes are reversed.

Applying Select Data Option to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

  • Change the Axis Titles and the Chart Title.

Applying Select Data Option to Reverse Axis Order in Excel


Method 3 – Sorting the Chart Data

This is the same dataset as in Method 1.

Sorting Chart Data to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

To reverse and arrange it in ascending order:

Steps:

  • Select (C5:C10) >> go to the Home tab.

Sorting Chart Data to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

  • Click Sort & Filter >> select Sort Smallest to Largest.

Sorting Chart Data to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

  • In the Sort Warning dialog box, check ‘Expand the selection’ and click Sort.

  • Both your chart data and the X-axis were reversed in ascending order.


Method 4 – Utilizing the Change Series Chart Type Feature

To reverse the X axis with the ‘Change Series Chart Type feature’:

Utilizing Change Series Chart Type Feature to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

Steps:

  • Right-click any column in the chart.
  • Select ‘Change Series Chart Type’.

Utilizing Change Series Chart Type Feature to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

  • In the Change Chart Type window,  In All Charts, click Bar >> choose a Bar chart type (here Clustered Bar Chart type).
  • Click OK.

Utilizing Change Series Chart Type Feature to Reverse Axis Order in Excel

Your chart will change from column to Bar. The X-axis in the column chart is reversed to the Y-axis and vice versa.

Read More: Reverse X and Y Axis in Excel


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Md. Asaduzzaman
Md. Asaduzzaman

Hello! I am Md. Asaduzzaman. Currently, I am working as an Excel and VBA Content Developer and I will be posting my articles related to this here. I graduated from Bangladesh University of Science and Technology(BUET) in 2022. I completed my BSc in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. I like to solve real-life problems in Microsoft Excel and share the solutions through articles. I post here regularly. Hope you find the articles helpful.

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