How to Switch X and Y Axis in Excel (without changing values)

Written by co-founder Kasper Langmann, Microsoft Office Specialist.

Knowing how to switch the 10-axis and y-axis in Excel volition salvage you lot a lot of problem.

Microsoft Excel is powerful spreadsheet software that will let you store data and make calculations on it. You lot tin can then visualize the data using built-in charts and graphs .

Even so, there are times when you have to switch the value series of the chart's axes .

And if you don't know how, your simply selection is to exchange the columns or values manually.

In this article, nosotros'll show you how to switch x and y axes in Excel.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

The X-Axis and Y-Axis

Well-nigh graphs and charts in Excel, except for pie charts , has an ten and y axes where information in a column or row are plotted.

By definition, these axes (plural of axis) are the ii perpendicular lines on a graph where the labels are put.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

Hither'southward an example of an Excel line chart that shows the 10 and Y axes:

pageviews line chart with x and y axes

The x-axis is the horizontal line where the months are named. The y-axis is the vertical line with the numbers.

Why switch the axes

There are times when you accept to suit the variables in the spreadsheet before making a nautical chart out of them.

Like in the example of making a besprinkle plot . It'south recommended that the independent variable should be on the left while the dependent variable should be on the right.

But of class, that's non general knowledge. So chances are, some people would have swapped them.

This is just one example of a scenario where knowing how to switch axes would come in handy.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

In this tutorial, we'll borrow this data set from the scatter plot tutorial where the values in the left (B) and correct cavalcade (C) isn't the recommended arrangement.

The nautical chart nevertheless works. All the same, the "Pageviews" value serial should be on the y-axis (horizontal line) while the "Sales" value series should be on the ten-axis (vertical line).

Go your FREE exercise file

Earlier y'all kickoff:

Throughout this guide, y'all demand a data set to do.

I've included one for you (for costless).

Download it correct below!

Download the Gratis Exercise File

Download exercise file

How to switch the axes

If you don't know how to switch the axes, y'all would've deleted the chart and copy-pasted the contents of columns B and C to substitution the values.

In that location's a ameliorate manner than that where you don't demand to change any values.

Offset, right-click on either of the axes in the chart and click 'Select Data' from the options.

select data option after right-clicking an axis

A new window will open.

Click 'Edit' .

edit option on select data source window

Another window will open where you tin can exchange the values on both axes.

What you take to do is exchange the content of the 'Serial X values' and 'Series Y values'.

You can apply notepad and copy the values. Then, simply paste them on each form.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

Your goal is to change the values from this:

Once you practise that, the value series on the axes would be swapped.

switched axes

Detect that we didn't change whatsoever values on the spreadsheet data at all. All we did was customized the chart.

Wrapping things up…

Microsoft Excel's nautical chart and graph features are so advanced that y'all tin can literally bandy the series value on the axes without touching the original data on the spreadsheet.

If you lot got confused along the way, feel free to download the exercise file for this tutorial. That way, you tin can follow this guide pace-by-footstep.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto