Change the order of numbers on the axis of a chart

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Level 1

4 points

Change the order of numbers on the axis of a chart

I have made a graph (or chart I guess Numbers calls it) based on a sheet with two columns of numeric data. The two axes of the chart correspond to those two columns. The axes both show up in ascending order of the numbers (bottom to top on the y-axis and left to right on the x-axis). But I want to change one of the axes to show the numbers in opposite order - specifically, change the y-axis so the numbers go from high at the bottom to low at the top. But I can't see how to do this; here is a sample chart, I just want to change the direction of the y-axis so 12.5 is at the bottom and 12 is at the top:

[Edited by Moderator]

iMac 24″, macOS 14.6

Posted on Jul 22, 2025 3:50 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

SGIII

Level 8

37,532 points

Jul 22, 2025 7:12 PM in response to varstarman

You can't reverse the order by checking an option, the way you can in Excel.

But there is a workaround that isn't too difficult.

The original data in this example in columns A and B of Table 1.

Add a helper column C with this formula in C2, filled down:

−B2

Select columns A and C (you can do this by holding down the command key, clicking the A column letter followed by the C column letter) and in the menu Insert > Chart > 2D Scatter.

Click the chart and in the Value (Y) tab of under the Axis tab in the pane at the right choose 'Create Custom Format...' and add an 'if less than' 0 rule similar to the screenshot.

SG

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Answer 2

varstarman Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 23, 2025 7:38 AM in response to SGIII

SG,

Thanks, that worked! I would never have stumbled across that on my own...

VSM

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