Excel chart showing monthly profit on the left y-axis and running total on the right y-axis.” data-img-url=”https://static1.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/an-excel-chart-showing-monthly-profit-on-the-left-y-axis-and-running-total-on-the-right-y-axis.png” src=”https://static1.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/an-excel-chart-showing-monthly-profit-on-the-left-y-axis-and-running-total-on-the-right-y-axis.png” style=”display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%;”/>
Understanding your business’s financial health is crucial, and visualizing data can make all the difference. Excel offers powerful charting capabilities, and one especially insightful technique is displaying both monthly profit and a running total on the same chart. This allows you to quickly assess not only how you’re performing each month, but also your cumulative progress over time.
Here’s how you can create this dual-axis chart in Excel, giving you a extensive view of your financial performance.
1. Prepare Your Data
First, you’ll need your data organized in a clear format. Typically, this involves two columns: one for the month and another for the profit for that month. Ensure your profit figures are accurate and consistently calculated.
2. Create the Initial Chart
Select your data,including the month and profit columns. Then, navigate to the ”Insert” tab and choose a column chart. A clustered column chart works well for this purpose. Excel will generate a basic chart displaying your monthly profit.
3. Calculate the Running Total
Now, you need to calculate the running total. In a new column next to your profit data, enter a formula to sum the current month’s profit with the previous month’s running total. For the first month, the running total will simply be the profit for that month. For example, if your profit is in column B and the running total starts in column C, the formula for C2 would be `=B2`, and for C3 it would be `=B3+C2`, then drag this formula down for all months.
4. Add the Running Total Series
Select your chart. Right-click on the chart and choose ”Select Data.” In the “Select Data Source” dialog box, click “add.” This will open a new window where you can define the new data series. Name the series “Running Total.”
5. Assign Values to the Running total Series
In the ”Series values” field, select the range containing your calculated running total data. Ensure the “Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels” are set to your month labels.Click “OK” to add the running total series to your chart.
6. Change to a Combo Chart
This is where the magic happens. Right-click on one of the data series (either the profit or the running total) and select “Change Series Chart Type.” For the profit series, keep it as a column chart.However, for the running total series, change the chart type to a line chart. This visually distinguishes the two data sets.
7.Add a Secondary Axis for the Running Total
To prevent the running total line from being overshadowed by the profit columns, you need to assign it to a secondary
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