How to Get Microsoft Excel to Create Box-and-Whisker Plots
(Note: This tutorial was created using Excel 2003.)
Monmouth University Mathematics Department instructor: Donna M. Wacha
Assignment: Create a box-and-whisker plot for the 5-number summary given below for 2001 SAT scores:
statistics MIN Q1 median Q3 MAX
scores 200 440 510 590 800
Although Microsoft Excel has a “chart wizard” that will allow one to make several different graphs, it does not have
the capability to make a box-and-whisker plot directly. Therefore, we will need to adapt what is available. Just
follow these step-by-step instructions and you should be able to produce a box plot without too much difficulty.
1
. In a new worksheet, enter the necessary information (as shown in the figure):
in cell A1: statistics in cell B1: 2001 SAT
in cell A2: median in cell B2: 510
in cell A3: Q1 in cell B3: 440
in cell A4: MIN in cell B4: 200
in cell A5: Q3 in cell B5: 590
You need to enter the information in the order as presented for this to work
properly. So make sure that you are entering the correct information.
1. Highlight cells
A1 through B6.
2. Select the
“chart wizard”
by clicking on
its icon in the
tool bar located
on the top of the
screen.
3. When the chart type dialog box appears, choose
the STOCK chart type and the fourth chart sub-
type.
4. Click NEXT.
5. When the next
dialog box
appears, select
the ROW (rather
then the
COLUMN) option
for the “series in”
category.
6. Click NEXT.
7. When the
next dialog
box appears,
under the
LEGEND
tab, clear the
SHOW
LEGEND
option.
8. Under the
GRIDLINES
tab, clear all
gridlines.
9. Under the
AXES tab,
clear the
VALUE (Y)
AXIS for the
secondary
axis.
