How to Customize Combo Charts in Looker Studio Reports

Want to tell a better data story? Combo charts are your secret weapon. These versatile visualizations combine different chart types into one powerful view, making it easier to spot trends, compare metrics, and uncover insights that might be missed with single-chart views. Whether you're comparing website sessions with conversions, or tracking sales against profit margins, combo charts can transform complex data into clear, actionable insights. In this guide, we'll explore how to create and customize combo charts in Looker Studio to make your reports more impactful!

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What is a Combo Chart?

A combo chart combines multiple chart types in a single visualization. For example, you can mix:

• Two line graphs

• A bar graph with a line graph

• Two bar graphs together

Why Use Combo Charts?

They're particularly useful when you want to:

• Compare different metrics side by side

• Show relationships between data sets

• Visualize trends and correlations

• Make data easier to understand

Combo Chart Use Cases

1. Business Metrics:

   • Sessions vs. Conversions

   • Revenue vs. Customer Count

   • Sales vs. Profit Margins

2. Marketing Analytics:

   • Click-through Rate vs. Impressions

   • Website Traffic vs. Lead Generation

   • Ad Spend vs. Return on Investment

3. E-commerce:

   • Orders vs. Average Order Value

   • Customer Acquisition vs. Retention

   • Product Views vs. Purchase Rate

   
   

Benefits of Combo Charts

• Shows multiple metrics in one view

• Makes data comparison intuitive

• Saves space in your dashboard

• Helps identify patterns and relationships

• Makes complex data more accessible

How to Customize Combo Charts in Looker Studio Reports

📊 Create a Combo Chart

1. Add a Combo Chart

   • Click the "Insert" button on the top menu

   • Select "Combo chart"

2. Choose Your Data

   • Navigate to the "SET-UP" column (right-hand-side menu)

   • Select your dimension (e.g., date, country)

   • Pick your metrics (e.g., sessions, bounce rate)

   
   
   
   

✍️ Customize Your Combo Chart

1. Set Chart Types

• Navigate to "STYLE" column (right-hand-side)

• For Series 1 (e.g., sessions):

  • Choose "Bar chart"

• For Series 2 (e.g., bounce rate):

  • Choose "Line chart"

2. Add Data Labels

• Under each series settings

• Toggle "Show data labels" to ON

• Your values will now appear on the chart

3. Handle Different Scales

When dealing with metrics of different scales (e.g., sessions vs. bounce rate %):

• Go to Series 2 settings

• Select "Right Axis"

• This creates a separate scale for your second metric

4. Customize Colors

• Click each series

• Choose your preferred colors

• Tip: Use contrasting colors for better visibility

5. Clean Up the Design

• Remove gridlines for a cleaner look

• Under "Gridlines" section

• Toggle them OFF

6. Format Legends

• Find "Legend" settings

• Customize:

  • Font style

  • Font size

  • Colors

  • Position

7. Add Filters

For charts with many data points:

1. Under "SETUP"

2. Click "Add a filter"

3. Select "Create new filter"

4. Set your conditions

   • Example: "Sessions > 10,000"

   
   
   
   

💡Combo Chart Customisation Tips

• Use contrasting colors for bar and line

• Keep it simple - don't show too many metrics

• Add filters for clearer visualization

• Make sure scales make sense

Frequently Asked Questions on Combo Charts in Looker Studio Reports

What types of data work best in Combo Charts?

Best Data Types:

• Comparing different metrics (e.g., sales vs. profit)

• Time-based trends (e.g., monthly vs. yearly data)

• Related metrics with different scales (e.g., revenue vs. percentage)

Common Examples:

• Website traffic vs. conversion rates

• Sales volume vs. average order value

• Marketing spend vs. ROI

Can I use calculated fields in my Combo Chart?

Yes! Here's how:

• Create your calculated field in the data source

• Select it as a metric in your chart

• Use it like any other metric

How do I filter data in my Combo Chart?

Simple Filtering Steps:

1. Open chart settings

2. Look for "Add filter" option

3. Choose your filter type:

   • Date range

   • Specific values

   • Custom conditions

   
   
   
   
   
   

Why isn't my Combo Chart displaying correctly?

Common Solutions:

1. Check data connections

2. Verify metric settings

3. Review any active filters

4. Ensure scales are appropriate

   
   
   
   

How many metrics can I show in one Combo Chart?

Best Practices:

• Recommended: 2-3 metrics maximum

• Why? More metrics can make the chart:

  • Hard to read

  • Confusing to interpret

  • Visually cluttered

Can I customize the colors and styles of my Combo Chart?

Yes! You can adjust:

• Bar colors

• Line styles

• Data labels

• Axis formatting

• Legend appearance

• Background colors

• Font styles and sizes

How do I handle metrics with different scales?

Solutions Available:

• Use dual axes (left and right)

• Apply scale multipliers

• Convert to percentages

• Use logarithmic scales for large differences