How to Swap X and Y Axis in Excel Scatter Chart

Building a scatter chart in Excel should be straightforward, but sometimes it plots your data backward, mixing up the horizontal and vertical axes. If your chart doesn't look right, you don't have to start from scratch. This article will show you a few simple ways to swap the X and Y axis on an Excel scatter chart to properly visualize the relationship between your variables.

What Causes Excel to Swap Your X and Y Axes?

The main reason Excel swaps your axes is based on how it reads your source data. By default, when you create a scatter chart, Excel makes a simple assumption:

• The leftmost column of your selected data should be the X-axis (the horizontal axis, representing the independent variable).
• The column immediately to the right should be the Y-axis (the vertical axis, representing the dependent variable).

An independent variable is the one you control or that changes, while a dependent variable is the one you measure in response to that change. For example, if you're charting “Ad Spend” vs. “Sales Revenue,” Ad Spend is your independent variable (X-axis) and sales revenue is your dependent variable (Y-axis), as you expect that spending more will affect how much you sell. If your "Sales Revenue" column happens to be to the left of your "Ad Spend" column in your worksheet, Excel will plot them incorrectly.

Method 1: The Quickest Fix by Rearranging Your Source Data

If you haven't created your chart yet or don't mind adjusting your spreadsheet layout, the simplest way to avoid swapped-axis issues is to structure your data columns correctly from the start. Just make sure that the data for your independent variable (the one that should go on the X-axis) is in the left column.

Let's say you have the following data, with the independent variable (Hours Studied) incorrectly placed in the right column:

Column A: Test Score (Dependent) Column B: Hours Studied (Independent)

If you create a chart from that data, Hours Studied will mistakenly go on the vertical Y-axis. Here is an easy way to fix that:

1. Cut the Independent Variable Column: Right-click the column letter for your X-axis data (in this case, column B for "Hours Studied") and select Cut. You can also press CTRL + X.
2. Insert the Column on the Left: Right-click the column letter where you want to move it (column A) and select Insert Cut Cells.
3. Result: Your "Hours Studied" column is now on the left, and your data is ready for charting.

Once your columns are correctly ordered (independent column first), just highlight the data range (including headers) and go to Insert > Charts > Scatter to create a properly oriented chart.

Method 2: Swapping Axes in an Existing Chart (Without Changing Data)

What if you can't or don't want to rearrange your columns? No problem. You can tell Excel precisely which data to use for each axis directly in chart settings. This method is perfect for charts that have already been built and styled.

Let’s assume you’ve already created a scatter chart, but the axes are inverted. Follow these steps to reverse them:

1. Select Your Chart: Click anywhere on your scatter chart. Two new tabs will appear in the Excel ribbon: "Chart Design" and "Format."
2. Open the Select Data Menu: Click the Chart Design tab, then find and click the Select Data button in the "Data" group.

This opens the “Select Data Source” dialog box, which is the control center for your chart’s data.

Editing the Data Series

Inside the "Select Data Source" window, you'll see a panel on the left called "Legend Entries (Series)." This is where you'll make the fix. A "series" is just a set of related data points on your chart.

1. Select the Data Series: Click on the name of the data series you need to fix (e.g., "Test Score vs. Hours Studied") and then click the Edit button.
2. Swap the Axis Values: The "Edit Series" popup appears. This is where you’ll re-assign your X and Y values.
3. Confirm the Changes: Click OK in the "Edit Series" window, then click OK again in the "Select Data Source" window.

Your chart will instantly update, and the axes should now be correctly swapped without you having to touch your original data layout. If you have a scatter plot containing multiple data series (like comparing data from two different months), you will need to repeat the "Edit Series" steps for each one in the list.

Checklist After Swapping Axes

After you have corrected your axes, there are a few tidy-ups worth doing to ensure that your chart still makes sense at first glance.

• Update Axis Titles: Excel doesn't automatically update your axis titles when you swap data. Be sure to click on your titles and rename them to match the new X and Y variables. Don’t have titles? Click the chart, press the green “+” icon, and check “Axis Titles.”
• Review the Trendline: If your chart had a trendline, its calculation may now be incorrect. The safest bet is to delete the original trendline and add a new one. This ensures it reflects the proper relationship between your new X and Y values.
• Make Sure the Story Is Clear: Look at your corrected chart. Does it make sense? If you’re plotting study hours versus test scores, you should now see a pattern where test scores (Y-axis) generally increase as study hours (X-axis) get higher. This final quick check confirms your chart is telling the right story.

Final Thoughts

Fixing swapped axes in an Excel scatter chart is easy once you know where to look. For new charts, arranging your source data correctly, with the X-axis data in the left column, saves you time. For existing charts, using the Chart Design "Select Data" menu, you can have precise control over what data goes where without disrupting your original layout.

Manually handling and tweaking charts still takes time, especially when your data comes from different platforms. We built Graphed to eliminate these steps. Instead of clicking through menus, you can just use simple language to tell Graphed, “Create a scatter plot showing Ad Spend versus Sales from our Shopify data,” and it’s done. It streamlines the entire reporting process even when your data is stored across different tools like Google Analytics and Shopify, allowing you to go from a question to a report in seconds.