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Understand distributions

Free Histogram Generator

Turn a column of raw measurements into a frequency distribution. See how values spread, where they cluster, and how bin choices change the picture.

Start with your data ↓
One numeric column of raw observations
Your workspace

Create your histogram

CSV, TSV, XLS/XLSX or pasted cells. Your spreadsheet contents stay on this device.

Save or reopen data and style

Download a local file with your table, title, theme, source and notes. Reopening detects fields again; review chart-specific settings. No data is uploaded.

Start with your table or try the sample

One numeric column of raw observations

No account or server-side file processing.

Paste data from Google Sheets

In Google Sheets, select the cells with their column headers and copy them. Choose Paste data above, paste the table, and choose Use pasted data. Copy the cell range rather than a chart image or a spreadsheet sharing URL.

Copy one column of original measurements with its header. Select that column as Value field after pasting. Do not paste pre-counted frequencies as raw observations: a row containing a count of 12 would be one observation at 12, not twelve observations.

This is a separate chart made from the copied values; later changes in Sheets do not update it. The table is processed locally in your browser.

Input requirements

Give the chart the right data

Select a numeric column of raw observations, not a pre-counted frequency table. Auto uses a Sturges-style bin count capped at 30; you can choose 1–50 equal-width bins. Constant values use one padded interval. Y always counts observations.

Maximum import: 10 MB, 2,000 rows including the header, 100 columns, and 20,000 cells. This tool accepts zero or absolute numeric values between 10⁻⁹ and 10¹²; rescale extreme values first. Excel imports read the first worksheet.

Choose deliberately

When to use a histogram

Order values, response times, customer ages, or test scores. Histograms show the shape of a distribution rather than a comparison between named categories. If you arrived looking for a histogram maker, the workflow is the same: load one numeric column, choose equal-width bins, and check the frequency counts before exporting.

When to choose another chart

Do not import a table of categories and frequencies as raw observations. Use a bar chart for that task. Changing bins changes the appearance, so check more than one bin count before drawing conclusions. For relationships between two numeric variables, use the scatter plot generator instead.

Histogram vs bar chart: what changes?

A histogram takes raw numeric observations, groups them into equal-width intervals, and counts how many values fall in each interval. Its bars touch because the intervals represent a continuous scale. Changing the bin count may change the shape you see.

A bar chart starts with named categories and their values. Its bars are separate because categories such as regions or products are distinct. If your table already contains category totals, use the bar chart generator; if it contains individual measurements, use this histogram. See the histogram vs bar chart guide for a worked comparison.

From table to figure

Three steps to a useful chart

  1. Import and review

    Upload a spreadsheet, paste cells, or load fictional sample data. Review the automatically selected fields and correct them if necessary.

  2. Read and refine

    Inspect the values and any data warnings. Choose a publication style, canvas, title, and source note.

  3. Export your result

    Download editable SVG or PNG at 1×, 2×, or 3×. The original spreadsheet contents stay in your browser.

Before you create your chart

Is this a histogram maker or a histogram generator?

Both names describe this tool. Import one column of raw observations, choose equal-width bins, and export the frequency distribution as PNG or SVG.

Which bin includes a boundary value?

Bins include the lower boundary and exclude the upper one. The final bin includes its upper boundary, so the maximum value is counted exactly once.

Why are all bars touching?

Adjacent bars represent continuous numeric intervals. This distinguishes a histogram from a bar chart of separate categories.

What happens if all values are identical?

The tool displays one interval centered on the common value and counts every observation. It does not invent a distribution.

Does Charttoolbox upload my data?

Spreadsheet contents are parsed, calculated, and rendered locally. Optional Google Analytics loads only after consent and does not receive filenames, spreadsheet contents, or generated chart data.

Explore related chart tools

Use a tool that matches the question you are asking.

Heatmap →Pie / Donut →Bar Chart →Stem-and-Leaf Plot →Dot Plot →Box Plot →Line Chart →Scatter Plot →Correlation Matrix →

Understand your chart

Learn how to make a histogram in Excel, or compare the input with our guide to histogram vs bar chart differences.

Compare distributions across groups

To compare medians, quartiles, and outliers for several groups on one scale, use the box plot maker. Keep this histogram for examining peaks, gaps, and distribution shape within a numeric variable.

See each observation in a small sample

Use the dot plot maker to retain individual numeric positions and count repeated values in vertical stacks. It accepts up to 200 raw observations. Choose a histogram when values are numerous or too densely spaced to distinguish.

Keep whole-number observations visible

For a small set of non-negative integers, the stem-and-leaf plot maker shows each original final digit beside its stem. Try it when individual values matter; use a histogram for a larger or denser set.