Home / Statistical Tools / Analysis Tools / Boxplot / Box Plot
Box Plot¶
Visualize the distribution of your data at a glance — see the median, spread, quartiles, and outliers in a single chart.
What is a Box Plot?¶
A box plot (also called a box-and-whisker diagram) summarizes a dataset using five key values:
- Median — the middle value, shown as a line inside the box
- Lower quartile (Q1) — the 25th percentile, the bottom edge of the box
- Upper quartile (Q3) — the 75th percentile, the top edge of the box
- Whiskers — lines extending from the box to show the range of typical values
- Outliers — individual points plotted beyond the whiskers
The box itself represents the interquartile range (IQR) — the middle 50% of your data. This makes it easy to see at a glance where most values fall and whether any values are unusually high or low.
When to Use a Box Plot¶
- When you want to see the shape and spread of a distribution quickly
- When you need to compare distributions across multiple groups or columns side by side
- When you want to identify outliers or suspected outliers in your data
- When you need a compact summary of many data points without showing every individual value
Example Output¶
A typical box plot shows one or more boxes, each representing a column of data. The box spans from Q1 to Q3, the median line divides the box, whiskers extend to the most extreme non-outlier values, and any outliers appear as individual points beyond the whiskers.
Learn More¶
- Examples — Step-by-step tutorials for different scenarios
- Preparing Your Data — Data types, layouts, and the behavior matrix
- Options — All chart settings and customization options