How to make 3 axis graph

by Best Excel Tutorial Charts

As you know, it’s easy to draw 2D (with 2 axis) graphs in Excel. You can also draw a 3D chart in Excel, with 3 axes: X, Y and Z.

How to draw?

The procedure is very similar to how you draw a 2 dimension graph. Suppose you have data on quarterly sales in millions for the last 10 years, something like the following.

Table Data three axis

See the data carefully. You have 4 x 10 data fields. Just follow these steps:

Insert 3D chart

Select the data, including labels, in the Insert ribbon tab go to the column and select the 3-D chart.

Ribbon Menu chart axes

The chart should now have three axes: the primary axis, the secondary axis, and the third axis.

And that’s it! You’ve just inserted a 3 axis chart. Your 3-axis chart is now ready to use. You can also customize it further by formatting the chart elements, adding labels or data markers, and changing the chart type as needed.

3 axis chart

Here are some common customization options:

  • Change Chart Type: You can right-click on the chart and choose “Change Chart Type” to switch to a different 3D chart type if needed.
  • Format Axis: To adjust the appearance of the X, Y, and Z axes, right-click on them and choose “Format Axis.” Here, you can change axis labels, adjust scaling, and apply other formatting options.
  • Add Data Labels: You can add data labels to the chart elements to make it easier to read. Right-click on the chart element (bars or columns) and choose “Add Data Labels.”
  • Chart Title and Axis Labels: Don’t forget to add a chart title and labels for the X, Y, and Z axes. This helps viewers understand the chart better.
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Rotate and Adjust the Chart

3D charts in Excel allow you to rotate and adjust the perspective to view data from different angles. To do this:

Right-click on bars and select 3-D Rotation to adjust the grade visibility.

3D rotation chart three axes

Note: For learning purposes, use the table shown above (numbers in an increasing pattern). Otherwise, the result will be fairly unreadable since 3D charts just don’t work on a 2D surface, unless you actually rotate them and get things into perspective.

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