Box plot

Alternative name:

Box and whisker plot

This is a standardised way to show the distribution of data based on the five number summary: minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile and maximum. It consists of a box with lines showing the middle value, spread and potential outliers. The lines extending from the boxes are known as the 'whiskers'. Outliers are sometimes plotted as individual dots that are in line with the whiskers.

Tips for use and when NOT to use

This can be drawn either vertically or horizontally. Include a brief explanation of the components (median, quartiles, outliers) and clearly mark any outliers in the data. Use multiple box plots to compare distributions across different categories or groups. Don't use for very small datasets or when it's more important to show individual data points than the overall distribution.

Use case / Examples

To visualise the distribution of employee engagement scores across different teams.

Question example:

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your company's overall performance in terms of digital transformation?

Recommended Survey Question Types:

Numerical response, Rating scale