5 Ways To Create A Violin Plot In Excel

Violin plots are a great way to visualize the distribution of data, and they can be especially useful when comparing multiple groups or datasets. While Excel doesn't have a built-in function for creating violin plots, there are several workarounds that can help you achieve this visualization. In this article, we'll explore five different methods for creating a violin plot in Excel.

What is a Violin Plot?

Before we dive into the methods, let's take a quick look at what a violin plot is. A violin plot is a type of data visualization that shows the distribution of a dataset. It's similar to a box plot, but instead of just showing the median, quartiles, and outliers, a violin plot also displays the kernel density estimation (KDE) of the data. This allows you to see the shape of the distribution and compare it to other datasets.

Method 1: Using a Box Plot with a Custom KDE

One way to create a violin plot in Excel is to use a box plot and add a custom KDE (kernel density estimation) to it. You can use the KERNEL.DENSITY function in Excel to calculate the KDE values.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Select your data range and go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon.
2. Click on "Box & Whisker" and select "Box Plot".
3. Customize the box plot as needed.
4. In a new column, calculate the KDE values using the KERNEL.DENSITY function.
5. Select the KDE values and go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon.
6. Click on "Area" and select "Area Chart".
7. Customize the area chart to match the box plot.

Method 2: Using a Histogram with a Smooth Curve

Another way to create a violin plot in Excel is to use a histogram with a smooth curve. You can use the FREQUENCY function in Excel to calculate the histogram values.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Select your data range and go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon.
2. Click on "Histogram" and select "Histogram Chart".
3. Customize the histogram as needed.
4. In a new column, calculate the smooth curve values using the TRENDLINE function.
5. Select the smooth curve values and go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon.
6. Click on "Line" and select "Line Chart".
7. Customize the line chart to match the histogram.

Method 3: Using a Density Plot Add-in

If you're looking for a more straightforward solution, you can use a density plot add-in for Excel. There are several add-ins available, including the "Density Plot" add-in from Excel-Tool.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Download and install the "Density Plot" add-in.
2. Select your data range and go to the "Density Plot" tab in the ribbon.
3. Click on "Density Plot" and select "Violin Plot".
4. Customize the violin plot as needed.

Method 4: Using a Third-Party Software

If you're looking for more advanced features and customization options, you can use a third-party software like Tableau or Power BI. These software programs offer a wide range of data visualization tools, including violin plots.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Download and install Tableau or Power BI.
2. Connect to your data source and select your data range.
3. Drag and drop the data fields to the "Columns" and "Rows" shelves.
4. Click on the "Show Me" button and select "Violin Plot".
5. Customize the violin plot as needed.

Method 5: Using a Custom VBA Code

If you're comfortable with VBA programming, you can create a custom code to generate a violin plot in Excel.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open the Visual Basic Editor in Excel.
2. Create a new module and paste the following code:

Sub ViolinPlot()
    Dim dataRange As Range
    Dim densityRange As Range
    Dim plotRange As Range
    
    Set dataRange = Range("A1:A100")
    Set densityRange = Range("B1:B100")
    Set plotRange = Range("C1:C100")
    
    ' Calculate KDE values
    For i = 1 To dataRange.Rows.Count
        densityRange.Cells(i, 1).Value = Application.Kernel.Density(dataRange.Cells(i, 1).Value, dataRange)
    Next i
    
    ' Create violin plot
    For i = 1 To plotRange.Rows.Count
        plotRange.Cells(i, 1).Value = densityRange.Cells(i, 1).Value
    Next i
End Sub

3. Customize the code to match your data range and plot range.
4. Run the code to generate the violin plot.

Gallery of Violin Plots

Violin Plot Examples

Conclusion

In this article, we've explored five different methods for creating a violin plot in Excel. Whether you're using a box plot with a custom KDE, a histogram with a smooth curve, or a third-party software, there's a method that's right for you. By following the step-by-step instructions and customizing the code to match your data range and plot range, you can create a beautiful and informative violin plot in Excel. So why not give it a try?