Online box-and-whisker plot maker

Free Box Plot Maker for Excel and CSV Data

Name: Box Plot Maker
Author: PaperBanana

Paste values from Excel or upload a CSV to make a box-and-whisker plot. Compare multiple groups, check quartiles and 1.5×IQR outliers, then export SVG, PNG or a summary CSV. No signup needed.

Paste raw values or Excel, or upload CSVMultiple groups in one plotQuartiles, mean and 1.5×IQR outliersSVG, PNG and summary CSV export

Enter Raw Data and Choose Plot Settings

Paste labeled rows, wide spreadsheet columns or a long group/value table. Blank cells are ignored.

Paste values for one or more groups

Accepted formats: one column per group, a group/value CSV, or “Group: 1, 2, 3” lines. You can copy straight from Excel or Google Sheets.

treatment-groups.csv

Plot title

Numeric axis label

Quartile method

Whiskers

Orientation

Show outlier pointsShow mean diamondLabel quartiles and outliers

The values look valid. Review the quartile and whisker methods before you publish or share the figure.

Your values are parsed and calculated in your browser. They are never uploaded.

Live box plot and summary

36
Values: 3
Groups: 1
Outliers: R-7
Method

Five-number summary and mean

Group	n	Min	Q1	Median	Q3	Max	Mean	Outliers
Control	12	42	47.75	52	56.75	91	54.75	1
Treatment A	12	55	60.5	65	69.75	78	65.5	0
Treatment B	12	48	56.25	63.5	72	86	64.83	0

The default is Excel QUARTILE.INC / R type 7 quartiles with Tukey 1.5×IQR whiskers. Other quartile conventions can give different results for small samples.

Box plot basics

What a Box Plot Shows: Quartiles, Whiskers, and Outliers

A box plot summarizes a numeric distribution with five landmarks: the minimum, first quartile (Q1), median, third quartile (Q3) and maximum, or the whisker endpoints. The box spans the middle 50% of values, so its length is the interquartile range (IQR).

The median line shows the center without assuming a normal distribution. A long box, unequal whiskers or a median near one edge reveals spread and skew that an average alone would hide.

With the common Tukey rule, whiskers reach the most extreme values still within 1.5×IQR of Q1 and Q3. Values beyond those fences are plotted as individual points. They are possible outliers, not automatic errors.

Q1

The 25th percentile and lower edge of the box.

Median

The 50th percentile and line inside the box.

Q3

The 75th percentile and upper edge of the box.

IQR and whiskers

IQR is Q3 − Q1. Whiskers show the non-outlying range under the selected rule.

Calculation methods and references

Why Quartile Methods Can Produce Different Box Plots

Software packages do not all calculate quartiles and whiskers the same way. Choose a method explicitly and keep it consistent with the software or protocol used in your analysis.

Reference documentation reviewed: September 2026

ReferenceMethodWhat to verifyDocumentation

Reference

Microsoft Excel

Method

Inclusive quartiles

What to verify

The default linear interpolation matches QUARTILE.INC and the percentile convention commonly called R type 7.

Documentation

QUARTILE.INC

Reference

R graphics

Method

Tukey boxplot statistics

What to verify

Compare hinges, confidence notches, whisker endpoints, and outlier definitions with the boxplot.stats implementation.

Documentation

boxplot.stats

Reference

Vega-Lite

Method

Tukey or min–max whiskers

What to verify

Review the explicit distinction between 1.5×IQR box plots and whiskers that span the full observed range.

Documentation

Box plot documentation

Method labels make the calculation reproducible, but they do not replace a study-specific analysis plan or independent verification.

Box Plot Examples for Comparing Multiple Groups

Load any example to inspect its raw values, selected method, five-number summary, means and outliers, then edit it.

Built for real analysis tasks

From Statistics Homework to Research Figures

One workflow for understanding distributions, comparing groups, checking possible outliers and preparing a figure for review.

Student using a box plot generator to compare raw values and a five-number summary

Students and statistics teachers

Paste classroom values, see quartiles and outliers immediately, and connect the finished plot to its five-number summary.

Biomedical researcher reviewing multiple box plots and outlier values

Biomedical and experimental researchers

Compare treatment, cohort, assay, or time-point distributions without turning individual extreme observations into invisible averages.

Data analyst using a Box Plot Maker with Excel spreadsheet columns

Excel and CSV data analysts

Move straight from wide or long spreadsheet data to a shareable visual and an auditable summary table.

What the Box Plot Maker does

Build and Export a Box-and-Whisker Plot

Go from spreadsheet data to an auditable chart while keeping every statistical choice visible.

Paste from Excel or upload CSV

Use wide columns, a group/value table, a single numeric column or labeled group lines. Blank cells are ignored and non-numeric cells are reported.

Try it with your data

Box Plot Maker accepting wide Excel columns and group-value CSV data

Choose quartile and whisker rules

Switch between Excel QUARTILE.INC / R type 7 and Tukey median-of-halves quartiles, plus 1.5×IQR or min–max whiskers.

Try it with your data

Box plot quartile methods compared with 1.5 IQR whisker rules

Export the plot and its statistics

Download editable SVG, high-resolution PNG, and a summary CSV containing n, quartiles, mean, range, IQR, and outlier count.

Try it with your data

Box plot generator export options for SVG PNG and summary CSV

Statistical guardrails

How the 1.5×IQR Outlier Rule Works

The tool shows the decisions a polished chart can hide, so you can explain exactly how every box, whisker and point was produced.

Calculate the IQR

Subtract Q1 from Q3 to measure the spread of the middle 50% of the data.

Set the fences

The lower fence is Q1−1.5×IQR; the upper fence is Q3+1.5×IQR.

Place the whiskers

Each whisker ends at the most extreme observed value still inside its fence.

Plot possible outliers

Observed values outside the fences stay visible as points; investigate them rather than deleting them automatically.

Box-and-whisker plot guide to Tukey 1.5 IQR outlier detection — Fences are calculated limits; whiskers end at observed inlier values, not at the fence itself.Method visible

Why use it

Fast Enough for Exploration, Clear Enough for Review

Make a useful first figure without installing software or losing track of the calculation behind it.

Free to use

No signup

Open the page and start from pasted values or an example dataset.

Data stays local

Private by design

Values stay in your browser while they are parsed, calculated, previewed and downloaded.

Less reformatting

Flexible input

Use the same tool for a simple list, a wide Excel table or a long group/value CSV.

Reproducible choices

Named quartile methods

Method names explain why your result may differ from another calculator or software package.

Editable output

Vector output you can edit

SVG stays crisp in papers, slides, posters and figure editors.

Auditable results

Summary CSV

Keep the five-number summary, mean, IQR, and outlier count beside the image.

How to make a box plot

Create a Box Plot from Raw Data, Excel, or CSV

Four steps keep the source values, method, interpretation and export connected.

Paste or upload raw values

Use one column per group, a group/value CSV, or labeled lines such as “Control: 12, 15, 18”.

Choose the calculation method

Select the quartile convention and whether whiskers use 1.5×IQR or the full minimum-to-maximum range.

Inspect boxes, outliers, and statistics

Review group sizes, Q1, median, Q3, means, whiskers, and any points outside the fences.

Export the plot and summary

Download SVG or PNG for the figure and CSV for the values used to review it.

Make your box plot

Box Plot Maker workflow from Excel or CSV data to an exported chart — The live plot and summary table always use the same values and selected method.

Continue the analysis

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Frequently asked questions

Box Plot Maker FAQ

How do I make a box plot from raw data?+

Paste one numeric list, put each group in its own Excel column, use a group/value CSV, or write labeled lines such as “Group A: 1, 2, 3”. The maker sorts each group, calculates its quartiles and whiskers, plots any detected outliers, and displays the summary table automatically.

Can I paste data directly from Excel or Google Sheets?+

Yes. Copy the header row and numeric cells from Excel or Google Sheets and paste them into the data field. Each column becomes a group. Blank cells are ignored, while non-numeric cells are counted and reported so you can check the source.

How are outliers calculated in a box plot?+

With the default Tukey rule, the IQR equals Q3 minus Q1. The lower and upper fences are Q1−1.5×IQR and Q3+1.5×IQR. Whiskers stop at the most extreme observed values inside those fences, and values beyond them are shown as possible outliers.

Why does my box plot differ from Excel, R, Python, or another calculator?+

Small datasets can produce different quartiles because software uses different interpolation or hinge conventions. Select Excel QUARTILE.INC / R type 7 to match the common inclusive interpolation, or Tukey median-of-halves when that convention matches your course or analysis plan before exporting.

What is the difference between a box plot and a box-and-whisker plot?+

They are two names for the same chart. The box runs from Q1 to Q3 with the median marked inside. The whiskers show either the selected non-outlying range or the full observed range, depending on the chosen rule. Individual points can show observations outside the whiskers.

Should I use 1.5×IQR whiskers or minimum-to-maximum whiskers?+

Use 1.5×IQR when you want the conventional Tukey display that separates possible outliers. Use minimum-to-maximum when your reporting standard explicitly requires whiskers to cover the full range. Always state the convention in a caption or methods note and keep it consistent across related figures.

Can I compare multiple groups in one box plot?+

Paste one column per group, repeat group names in a group/value table, or add one labeled line per group. The chart aligns every group on one numeric scale, while the summary table reports each sample size, quartiles, mean, whiskers, and outliers separately for a direct comparison.

Does this Box Plot Maker keep my data private?+

Values are parsed, calculated and rendered in your browser and are never uploaded. You do not need an account to create or download a chart. Export an editable SVG, a high-resolution PNG or a summary CSV so the statistics stay with the figure.

Ready to plot your data?

Create Your Box Plot in the Browser

Paste the raw values, choose a quartile and whisker method, inspect possible outliers and export the figure with its summary. No signup needed.

Plot your data now