Box and Whisker Plot Maker
This box and whisker plot maker draws a box and whisker plot from your numbers in your browser, for free and with no signup. The box shows the middle half of your data, the whiskers show its spread, and far-off values appear as separate dots. Use this box plot maker to check the summary numbers, compare up to 20 groups, or download the chart as a PNG or SVG.
- Up to 10,000 numbers in all, and up to 20 groups.
- Quartiles use linear interpolation, like Excel's QUARTILE.INC. Other tools can show slightly different values.
- The example data is made up. It is not real statistics.
Plain numbers make one box. For several boxes, paste columns with a name in the first line, or two columns per line: group name, number.
You can also drop a file here.
Preview
1200 × 800 px. The preview is scaled to fit; downloads are full size.
Five-number summary
| n | Min | Q1 | Median | Q3 | Max | Outliers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class A | 10 | 62 | 68.25 | 71.5 | 74.5 | 80 | – |
| Class B | 10 | 70 | 74.75 | 80 | 84.5 | 90 | – |
| Class C | 10 | 55 | 58.25 | 60.5 | 63.75 | 95 | 95 |
Quartiles use linear interpolation (the same method as Excel QUARTILE.INC). Whiskers reach the furthest values within 1.5 × IQR of the box; values beyond are drawn as outliers.
The chart is drawn in your browser. Your data is not uploaded or stored.
Runs in your browser
Type or paste your numbers and the chart updates as you go. Nothing is sent to a server.
PNG or SVG
Download a PNG at 1× or 2× for slides and documents, or an SVG that stays sharp at any size.
Same chart from the API
Send the same settings to the API to get the chart as PNG, SVG or PDF from your own code.
Make this chart from your code
This request has the data and settings you see above. The API draws the chart on our servers with the same chart code and returns a PNG; set format to svg or pdf for those files. A chart costs 1 credit, plus 1 credit for each 5 MB of file after the first 5 MB.
curl -X POST https://api.aiipworld.com/v1/jobs \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $AIIPWORLD_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"op":"chart_render","params":{"type":"box","title":"Test scores by class","y_label":"Score","data":{"groups":[{"name":"Class A","values":[62,71,68,75,80,66,73,69,77,72]},{"name":"Class B","values":[70,74,79,81,77,85,88,72,90,83]},{"name":"Class C","values":[55,60,58,66,64,59,61,95,63,57]}]},"format":"png","pixel_ratio":2}}'
# returns {"job_id": "...", "status": "queued", "credits_reserved": 1}; then poll:
curl https://api.aiipworld.com/v1/jobs/JOB_ID -H "Authorization: Bearer $AIIPWORLD_API_KEY"In one sentence
A free online box and whisker plot maker that draws box plots for one or up to 20 groups in your browser, shows the five-number summary and outliers, and downloads the chart as PNG or SVG.
Key facts
- Quartiles by linear interpolation, the same method as Excel QUARTILE.INC; whiskers at 1.5 x IQR with outliers as dots (default), or minimum to maximum.
- Example: the values 1 to 10 and 40 give Q1 3.5, median 6, Q3 8.5, whiskers 1 to 10, and 40 as an outlier.
- Up to 20 groups and 10,000 numbers; a table under the preview shows n, minimum, Q1, median, Q3, maximum and outliers per group; horizontal option.
- Drawn in the browser with Apache ECharts; the data is not uploaded.
- API: POST https://api.aiipworld.com/v1/jobs with {"op": "chart_render", "params": <chart>} and an API key returns the same chart as PNG, SVG or PDF; result.stats has the numbers it was drawn from.
- Free in the browser: no sign-up, no limit on the number of charts, no watermark. The API (POST https://api.aiipworld.com/v1/jobs, op chart_render, PNG, SVG or PDF) costs 1 credit per chart.
How it works
- Type, paste or open a .csv, .tsv or .txt file of numbers in the input box above the chart.
- Check the preview and the summary table below it.
- Choose the whisker option: 1.5 x IQR (the default) or minimum to maximum.
- Add a title and axis labels, then pick a colour, size and text size.
- Download the chart as a PNG or SVG.
Example output
How to make a box and whisker plot
To make a box and whisker plot, type or paste your numbers into the input box above the chart. The preview updates as you type. Commas, spaces, tabs, semicolons or new lines can separate the numbers in a list.
Then check the summary table below the preview. It lists the five-number summary for your data, so you can confirm the numbers match what you expected.
When the chart looks right, add a title and axis labels, pick your colour and size, and download the result.
What the box and the whiskers show
The box runs from the first quartile (Q1) to the third quartile (Q3). The line inside the box marks the median. So the box holds the middle half of your values.
The whiskers extend outward from the box. By default, they reach the furthest values that still sit within 1.5 x IQR of the box. The IQR is the box height, which is Q3 minus Q1. You can also set the whiskers to run from the minimum to the maximum.
- Median: the line inside the box.
- Box: Q1 to Q3.
- Whiskers: the spread of the values, shown by the default rule or from minimum to maximum.
How the quartiles are calculated
This tool uses linear interpolation for the quartiles, the same method as Excel's QUARTILE.INC function. When a quartile falls between two values, the tool places it between them.
Here is a worked example with made-up numbers: the values 1 to 10 and 40, which is eleven values in all. The median is 6. Q1 falls halfway between the third and fourth values, so it is 3.5. Q3 falls halfway between the eighth and ninth values, so it is 8.5.
Different textbooks and programs use different quartile methods, so your quartiles can differ slightly from another calculator.
- Q1: 3.5
- Median: 6
- Q3: 8.5
Outliers and the 1.5 x IQR rule
With the default whiskers, any value more than 1.5 x IQR beyond the box is an outlier. In the example above, the IQR is 5, so 1.5 x IQR is 7.5. The upper limit is 8.5 + 7.5 = 16, and the lower limit is 3.5 - 7.5 = -4. The whisker stops at 10, and 40 is drawn as a separate dot.
The tool draws each outlier as its own dot. The table below the preview lists the outliers for each group, so you can see the exact values.
If you choose minimum to maximum, the whiskers reach the lowest and highest values instead.
Comparing several groups
To compare groups, enter up to 20 of them on one chart. Paste columns with a group name in the first line, or use two columns per line: a group name, then a number. You can enter up to 10,000 numbers in all.
Each group gets its own box, so you can compare medians and spreads at a glance. The table below the preview has one summary row per group, with n, minimum, Q1, median, Q3, maximum and outliers.
Entering your data
You can type numbers, paste them, or open a .csv, .tsv or .txt file. Cells copied from a spreadsheet arrive tab-separated, so they paste cleanly. Files over 2 MB are not opened. A button puts the example data back. The example data is made up for the example, and it is not real statistics.
Write numbers as plain numbers, such as 12, -3.5 or 1e3. Do not use thousands separators, units or currency signs.
If a value cannot be read, the tool says which one is wrong, for example: Line 3: "x" is not a number.
- Use plain numbers: write 1000, not 1,000.
Download as PNG or SVG
Download the chart as a PNG or an SVG. PNG comes at 1x or 2x, and 2x doubles the pixels for sharp slides. SVG is a vector file, so it stays sharp at any size and opens in browsers and vector editors.
You can choose a preset size: 1200 x 800 (the default), 1600 x 900, 1080 x 1080 or 800 x 600. You can also enter a custom width from 200 to 4000 px and a height from 150 to 4000 px. You can also set the text size and the main colour, and make the background transparent. PDF output is only available through the API.
Box plots from your own code
Send a POST request to https://api.aiipworld.com/v1/jobs with the op set to chart_render, and put your chart settings and data in params. Use an API key in the Authorization header as a Bearer token, or in the x-api-key header. The job runs in a queue, so poll GET /v1/jobs/:id for its status and a download link.
The API uses the same chart code as the web tool, so the same settings give the same chart. You can choose png, svg or pdf output, and PNG can be 2x with pixel_ratio 2. Each chart costs 1 credit, plus 1 credit for each 5 MB of file after the first 5 MB. Failed jobs are refunded.
The result includes result.stats, which holds the quartiles and outliers behind the chart. This page shows a ready cURL, Node and Python example built from the data and settings above.
Limits and privacy
The web tool does not upload your data. The chart is drawn in your browser with Apache ECharts, an open-source chart library under the Apache-2.0 licence. Nothing is sent to a server to make the chart, and your data is not stored.
The tool has limits. A box and whisker plot takes up to 10,000 numbers in all and up to 20 groups. Files over 2 MB are not opened.
The free tool needs no sign-up, no account and no watermark. Check the numbers in the summary table before you use them in a report.
Questions
Is this box plot maker free?
Yes. The web tool is free, with no sign-up, no account and no watermark. The API needs an account and an API key; the Free plan includes 100 credits a month, and each chart costs 1 credit.
How do you make a box and whisker plot?
Type or paste your numbers into the input box, and the preview draws the plot as you type. Then add a title and axis labels, and download the chart as a PNG or SVG.
How do I make a box and whisker plot in Excel?
Select your data, then go to Insert > Insert Statistic Chart > Box and Whisker in Microsoft 365, Excel 2024, 2021, 2019 or 2016. The chart has a Quartile Calculation option for an inclusive or exclusive median. If your numbers are already in a spreadsheet, that chart may be all you need. Our tool is for when you want the chart without a spreadsheet: copy the cells, paste them here, and download the chart. It does not edit or save your spreadsheet.
Why are my quartiles different from another calculator?
Different programs use different quartile methods, so values can differ slightly. This tool uses linear interpolation, the same method as Excel's QUARTILE.INC function. Check which method your other calculator uses.
What counts as an outlier?
With the default whiskers, an outlier is a value more than 1.5 x IQR beyond the box, below Q1 or above Q3. The tool draws outliers as separate dots and lists them in the summary table.
Can the whiskers go to the minimum and maximum?
Yes. Choose minimum to maximum as the whisker option, and the whiskers reach the lowest and highest values. The default is the 1.5 x IQR rule.
How many groups can I compare?
You can compare up to 20 groups on one chart. Paste columns with a group name in the first line, or use two columns per line: a group name, then a number. The limit is 10,000 numbers in all.
Can I make a horizontal box plot?
Yes. There is a horizontal option for the box and whisker plot.
Can I see the five-number summary?
Yes. Below the preview, a table shows n, minimum, Q1, median, Q3, maximum and outliers for each group. The API also returns the quartiles and outliers in result.stats.
Is my data uploaded?
No. The web tool draws the chart in your browser, and your data is not uploaded or stored. Nothing is sent to a server to make the chart. The API is different, because it sends your data to our server as part of the request.
Need this in your app or in bulk?
This tool draws the chart in your browser. The API draws the same chart from the same settings on our servers and returns a PNG, SVG or PDF file, so a script or app can make charts without a browser. A free account includes 100 credits a month.