A grouped box plot displays multiple box plots side-by-side within each category, enabling comparison of distributions across subgroups. Each group contains boxes representing different subcategories or conditions, making it ideal for multi-factor comparisons and A/B testing scenarios with multiple metrics.

""" anyplot.ai
box-grouped: Grouped Box Plot
Library: letsplot 4.11.0 | Python 3.13.15
Quality: 87/100 | Updated: 2026-08-18
"""
import os
import shutil
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
from lets_plot import (
LetsPlot,
aes,
element_blank,
element_line,
element_rect,
element_text,
geom_boxplot,
geom_point,
ggplot,
ggsave,
ggsize,
labs,
position_dodge,
scale_fill_manual,
theme,
theme_minimal,
)
LetsPlot.setup_html()
# Theme tokens (Imprint palette)
THEME = os.getenv("ANYPLOT_THEME", "light")
PAGE_BG = "#FAF8F1" if THEME == "light" else "#1A1A17"
ELEVATED_BG = "#FFFDF6" if THEME == "light" else "#242420"
INK = "#1A1A17" if THEME == "light" else "#F0EFE8"
INK_SOFT = "#4A4A44" if THEME == "light" else "#B8B7B0"
IMPRINT = ["#009E73", "#C475FD", "#4467A3"]
# Data: Employee performance scores by department and experience level
np.random.seed(42)
departments = ["Engineering", "Marketing", "Sales", "Operations"]
experience_levels = ["Junior", "Mid-Level", "Senior"]
data = []
for dept in departments:
for exp in experience_levels:
n = 40
if exp == "Junior":
base = 50 + np.random.choice([0, 5, 10])
spread = 12
elif exp == "Mid-Level":
base = 60 + np.random.choice([0, 3, 6])
spread = 10
else:
base = 72 + np.random.choice([0, 2, 4])
spread = 8
dept_offset = {"Engineering": 3, "Marketing": 0, "Sales": -2, "Operations": 1}[dept]
values = np.random.normal(base + dept_offset, spread, n)
if np.random.random() > 0.5:
outlier_low = base - 3 * spread + np.random.randn(2) * 2
outlier_high = base + 3 * spread + np.random.randn(2) * 2
values = np.concatenate([values, outlier_low, outlier_high])
for v in values:
data.append({"Department": dept, "Experience": exp, "Performance Score": v})
df = pd.DataFrame(data)
df["Experience"] = pd.Categorical(df["Experience"], categories=experience_levels, ordered=True)
df["Department"] = pd.Categorical(df["Department"], categories=departments, ordered=True)
# Per-group means overlaid as diamonds so the box (median/IQR) and the mean
# read as two distinct summaries instead of one flat shape per group.
means = df.groupby(["Department", "Experience"], observed=True)["Performance Score"].mean().reset_index()
# Plot
dodge = position_dodge(width=0.7)
plot = (
ggplot(df, aes(x="Department", y="Performance Score", fill="Experience"))
+ geom_boxplot(alpha=0.85, outlier_size=1.3, outlier_alpha=0.6, width=0.7, size=0.6, position=dodge)
+ geom_point(
aes(x="Department", y="Performance Score", group="Experience"),
data=means,
position=dodge,
shape=18,
size=3,
color=ELEVATED_BG,
inherit_aes=False,
show_legend=False,
)
+ scale_fill_manual(values=IMPRINT)
+ labs(
title="box-grouped · python · letsplot · anyplot.ai",
x="Department",
y="Performance Score",
fill="Experience Level",
)
+ theme_minimal()
+ theme(
plot_background=element_rect(fill=PAGE_BG, color=PAGE_BG),
panel_background=element_rect(fill=PAGE_BG),
panel_grid_major_x=element_blank(),
panel_grid_major_y=element_line(color=INK_SOFT, size=0.3),
panel_grid_minor_x=element_blank(),
panel_grid_minor_y=element_blank(),
plot_title=element_text(size=16, face="bold", color=INK),
axis_title=element_text(size=12, color=INK),
axis_text=element_text(size=10, color=INK_SOFT),
legend_background=element_rect(fill=ELEVATED_BG, color=INK_SOFT),
legend_title=element_text(size=11, color=INK),
legend_text=element_text(size=10, color=INK_SOFT),
legend_position="right",
)
+ ggsize(800, 450)
)
# Save
ggsave(plot, f"plot-{THEME}.png", scale=4)
ggsave(plot, f"plot-{THEME}.html")
# Move files from lets-plot-images to current directory
shutil.move(f"lets-plot-images/plot-{THEME}.png", f"plot-{THEME}.png")
shutil.move(f"lets-plot-images/plot-{THEME}.html", f"plot-{THEME}.html")
Runnable source as JSON, for any HTTP client: https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/box-grouped/letsplot/code. Any spec id and library id listed in llms-full.txt fit the same URL shape; every URL below is complete and callable.
{
"spec_id": "box-grouped",
"language": "python",
"library": "letsplot",
"page": "https://anyplot.ai/box-grouped/python/letsplot",
"hub": "https://anyplot.ai/box-grouped",
"code_json": "https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/box-grouped/letsplot/code",
"spec_json": "https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/box-grouped",
"render_light_png": "https://storage.googleapis.com/anyplot-images/plots/box-grouped/python/letsplot/plot-light.png",
"render_dark_png": "https://storage.googleapis.com/anyplot-images/plots/box-grouped/python/letsplot/plot-dark.png",
"interactive_light_html": "https://storage.googleapis.com/anyplot-images/plots/box-grouped/python/letsplot/plot-light.html",
"interactive_dark_html": "https://storage.googleapis.com/anyplot-images/plots/box-grouped/python/letsplot/plot-dark.html",
"quality_score": 87.0,
"license": "MIT",
"guide": "https://anyplot.ai/llms.txt"
}Part of Grouped Box Plot on anyplot.ai.