Dot Plot Maker
This free Dot Plot Maker turns a list of numbers into a dot plot in your browser. Paste your numbers, or open a .csv, .tsv or .txt file, and the chart appears as you type. Download it as a PNG or SVG. No account is needed, and your data is not uploaded.
- The tool plots up to 1,000 values. Whole numbers that span 100 or less show empty slots for values nobody has.
- Downloads are PNG or SVG. PDF is only available through the API.
- The example data is made up. Replace it with your own numbers before you use the chart.
Numbers separated by commas, spaces or new lines. Each value gets one dot; equal values stack.
You can also drop a file here.
Preview
1200 × 800 px. The preview is scaled to fit; downloads are full size.
20 values, 6 different, the tallest stack has 7 dots.
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":"dot","title":"Pets per student","x_label":"Number of pets","data":{"values":[0,1,1,2,2,2,3,1,0,2,4,1,3,2,1,0,2,5,1,2]},"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 dot plot maker that draws one dot per value above a number line, stacking equal values, in your browser and downloads the chart as PNG or SVG.
Key facts
- Up to 1,000 numbers; whole numbers that span 100 or less get a slot for every whole number, so missing values show as empty slots; other data goes on a number line.
- Dot size automatic or 8 to 36 px; a summary gives the number of values, the number of different values and the tallest stack.
- 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 or paste your numbers into the box. Separate them with commas, spaces, tabs, semicolons or new lines.
- Check the preview. It updates as you type. If a value cannot be read, the tool names that value.
- Add a title, then choose the main colour, chart size and text size.
- Choose a dot size, or leave it on automatic.
- Read the summary below the preview, then download your chart as a PNG or SVG.
Example output
How to use this Dot Plot Maker
Type or paste your numbers into the box. Cells copied from a spreadsheet arrive tab-separated, and the tool reads them. You can also open a .csv, .tsv or .txt file. Files over 2 MB are not opened.
The example data is made up, so replace it with your own numbers. A button puts the example data back at any time. The preview updates as you type, so you can see each change right away.
What a dot plot shows in statistics
A dot plot shows each value as one dot above a number line. Equal values stack in a column, so you can see where values cluster and where they spread out. The shape of the dots gives you a quick view of how the values are distributed.
Below the preview, the tool gives a short summary:
- The number of values
- How many different values there are
- The tallest stack
How the dots stack in this Dot Plot Maker
Each value gets one dot. Equal values stack up in the same column, so a column of five dots means the value appears five times. You can plot up to 1,000 values in one chart.
You do not need to count the stacks by hand. The tallest stack appears in the summary below the preview, so you can check the most common value at a glance.
Whole numbers, decimals and empty slots
Whole numbers that span 100 or less get a slot for every whole number between the smallest and the largest value. A value that nobody has appears as an empty slot in that line. This makes gaps easy to spot.
Other data, such as decimals or wide ranges, is placed on a number line instead. Write numbers as plain numbers, such as 12, -3.5 or 1e3. Commas separate numbers in a list, so write 1000, not 1,000. Do not add units or currency signs.
Dot size
Dot size is automatic by default. You can also pick a size between 8 and 36 px. Smaller dots suit long lists, and larger dots are easier to see on a slide.
Other settings work the same way as on the other chart types. Pick a main colour with the colour picker, choose a text size of 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 or 24 px, and turn on a transparent background for PNG or SVG files.
Dot plot or histogram?
Use a dot plot when you want to see every value. It places one dot for each number, so you can read the list directly. It works for up to 1,000 values.
A histogram groups numbers into bins of equal width, and its bars touch. It takes up to 10,000 numbers and shows a frequency table below the preview. If your numbers are already in a spreadsheet and you only need a quick histogram there, the spreadsheet may be enough.
Download as PNG or SVG
Download the chart as a PNG at 1x or 2x size. The 2x option doubles the pixels, which keeps the chart sharp on slides. An SVG is a vector file that stays sharp at any size and opens in browsers and vector editors.
Both formats can use a transparent background. PDF output is not part of the web tool. You can get PDF files only through the API.
Dot plots from your own code
The API uses the same chart code as the web tool, so the same settings give the same chart. Send a POST request to https://api.aiipworld.com/v1/jobs with the op value chart_render, and put your chart settings and data in params. Authorize with your API key as a Bearer token or in the x-api-key header.
The job runs in a queue. Poll GET /v1/jobs/:id to check the status and get a download link. You can request png, svg or pdf output. Each chart costs 1 credit, plus 1 credit for each 5 MB of file after the first 5 MB, and failed jobs are refunded. The result also includes result.stats, which holds the numbers the chart was drawn from. This page shows a ready cURL, Node and Python example built from your data and settings.
Limits and privacy
The dot plot takes up to 1,000 values. Use plain numbers with no units, currency signs or thousands separators. Decimals and negative numbers are allowed.
The chart is drawn in your browser. Your data is not uploaded or stored, and nothing is sent to a server to make the chart. No sign-up, no account and no watermark are needed to use the web tool.
Questions
Is this dot plot maker free?
Yes. The web tool is free, and it needs no sign-up, no account and no API key. 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 dot plot?
Type or paste your numbers into the box, and the dot plot draws as you type. To draw one by hand, draw a number line, then stack one dot per value above its place on the line. Equal values share one stack, so two 4s give two dots above 4.
How do I make a dot plot in Excel?
Microsoft's list of Office chart types does not include a dot plot, so paste the numbers here instead. Copy the cells in Excel, paste them into the box, and the tool reads the tab-separated values. Excel does have histogram and box and whisker charts if those suit your data. This tool does not edit or save your spreadsheet.
How to make a dot plot in statistics class?
Enter your class values as plain numbers, separated by commas, spaces or new lines. Each value gets one dot, and equal values stack. Read the summary below the preview for the number of values, the number of different values and the tallest stack. Check your class notes for the format your teacher expects.
Can I use decimal numbers?
Yes. Write them as plain numbers, such as -3.5. Decimals are placed on a number line rather than in whole-number slots.
Why is there an empty space on my number line?
Whole numbers that span 100 or less get a slot for every whole number between the smallest and largest value. A value that nobody has appears as an empty slot, so you can see which values are missing from your list.
How many values can I plot?
You can plot up to 1,000 values in one dot plot. For longer lists, the histogram chart type takes up to 10,000 numbers.
Can I make the dots bigger?
Yes. Dot size is automatic by default, and you can pick a size between 8 and 36 px. Larger dots are easier to see on a slide.
Is my data uploaded?
No. The chart is drawn in your browser, and your data is not uploaded or stored. Nothing is sent to a server to make the chart.
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.