Tableau Box Plot

Tableau Box and Whisker plot or boxplot help to show the distribution of values along the axis. In Box and Whisker plot, Box represents the middle data, i.e., the values between the first quartile, second quartile (median), and third quartile. The Whiskers, called lines, display all points between the lowest first quartile value and the highest upper quartile value.

Tableau Box and Whisker Plot is useful for graphically visualizing the numeric data group by specific data. Let us see how to Create a boxplot in Tableau with an example.

How to Create a Tableau Box Plot

In this example, we are going to create a boxplot in Tableau. First, drag and drop the Sales Amount from the Measures Region to the Rows Shelf and Color from the Dimensions region to the Details field in Marks Shelf.

The Tableau intelligence automatically creates the Bar Chart, but we want to create a Box plot. So, please select the below-shown option from the Show Me window.

Single Bar

From the below screenshot, you can see the Tableau Box plot.

Tableau Box Plot 2

Let me drag the English Country Region Name from Dimensions to Columns Shelf. It will be created for each country.

Tableau Box Plot 3

You can hover over the mouse on the box plot to see the Median, Upper Quartile, Lower Quartile, and Whisker values.

Tooltip 4

Change Colors of a Tableau Box plot

We will show you how to change the colors of the rectangles. We have two different approaches to creating this.

First Approach: Please right-click on the rectangle and select the Edit.. option from the context menu.

Right-click and choose Edit

Once you select the Edit.. option, a new window called Edit Reference Line or Band will open to style the box plot.

Edit Reference Line, Band

Second Approach: Go to the Format menu and select the References Lines… will open the Format Reference Lines tab.

Select reference Lines under Format menu

Let me change the Fill color to the Red pallet.

Fill the boxes with Different Color

Next, we are changing the tableau box plot Border width and color.

Tableau Box Plot 9

Lastly, we are changing the Whiskers width and color

Edit Reference Lines

Change the Colors of the dots

This Tableau box and whisker plot example explain how to add color to the dots. For this, drag and drop the English Country Name from the Dimensions Region to the Color field in the Marks Shelf, as shown below. It means each country has its own color.

Change Dot Colors of a Tableau Box Plot 11

Change the Size of a dot

In this example, we will show you how to change the size of the dots. For this, drag the Order Quantity from the Measures Region to Size field in the Marks Shelf.

Change Tableau Box Plot Dot Size 12

Create Categorical Box Plots in Tableau

Here, we show how to create a boxplot for each color within a region. For this, drop the Color from the Dimensions Region to the Columns Shelf.

By default, the box plot displays compressed horizontal lines (or dots). Because it is difficult to draw for aggregated data, let’s remove the aggregated measure by unchecking the Aggregate Measures available in the Analysis Menu.

Aggregate Measures

Now, you can see the box plot for each color present in a region.

Tableau Box Plot 14

Horizontal Tableau Box and Whisker plot

Change the default vertical into a horizontal boxplot by swapping rows and columns.

Show Rows and Columns

Tableau Box and Whisker plot of Circles

This section uses the superstore Excel file to build the Tableau Box and Whisker plot. Drag and drop the Sub-Category dimension to the columns shelf.

Tableau Box and Whisker plot 1

Next, drop the Sales measure into the row shelf. By default, the Aggregated sum was assigned and, based on the data, displayed the bar chart.

Tableau Box and Whisker plot 2

Drag the Order Data from the Order section to the Details section. Here, you have to select the MONTH.

Tableau Box and Whisker plot 3

Let me convert the bar chart to Tableau Box and Whisker plot. To do so, please select Circle from the Marks section.

Select Circle from Marks Shelf for Tableau Box and Whisker plot

As you can see, we are a step closer to the actual tableau boxplot.

Tableau Box and Whisker plot 5

Right-click on the Sales Y-axis and select the Add Reference Line option to Tableau to add reference lines.

Tableau Box and Whisker plot 6

It opens the Add Reference Line, Band window. Please select the Box plot tab, leave the default settings, and click OK. Use the formatting section to format the fill color, borderline size, or whisker lines.

Tableau Box and Whisker plot Reference Lines 7

Now, you can see the Tableau Box and Whisker plot.

Tableau Box and Whisker plot 8