A stem and leaf plot is a unique hybrid: it shows the distribution of data and preserves every original value. It's a staple of K–12 statistics and a useful tool for small datasets.
How to make a stem and leaf plot
Paste your data
Open the stem and leaf plot maker and enter your values — one per line. The tool accepts any list of numbers.
Choose the leaf unit
Select Ones for two-digit numbers (72 → stem 7, leaf 2), or Tens for three-digit numbers (127 → stem 12, leaf 7).
Download your chart
Save the chart as PNG or PDF. Works on any device.
How to read a stem and leaf plot
Each data point is split into two parts:
- Stem — the leading digit(s), shown in the left column
- Leaf — the trailing digit, shown in the right column
Example: the dataset 62, 65, 68, 71, 73, 75, 78, 81, 85, 87
6 | 2 5 8
7 | 1 3 5 8
8 | 1 5 7
Reading it back: 6 | 2 = 62, 6 | 5 = 65, 7 | 1 = 71, and so on. Every original value is preserved.
Leaf unit: ones vs tens
- Ones (default) — Stems are the tens digits. For
72, stem = 7, leaf = 2. Use this for two-digit numbers (10–99). - Tens — Stems are the hundreds digits. For
127, stem = 12, leaf = 7. Use this for three-digit numbers (100–999).
For four-digit numbers you'd need a leaf unit of 100 — our tool covers the two most common cases.
What a stem and leaf plot reveals
The shape of the plot (when viewed sideways) shows the same information as a histogram:
- Where leaves are densest → the mode / most common range
- Spread of leaves per stem → variability within each decade
- Isolated stems with few leaves → sparse regions or outliers
- Symmetric vs lopsided shape → distribution skewness
Unlike a histogram, you can recover the original values by reading the plot — critical for small datasets where the exact numbers matter.
Back-to-back stem and leaf plots
A useful use is comparing two datasets back-to-back, with leaves for one group on the left and the other on the right, sharing the stems in the middle:
Class A | Stem | Class B
8 5 2 | 6 | 1 4 6
9 7 5 1 | 7 | 2 3 5 8
8 4 2 | 8 | 0 5 9
5 | 9 | 2 4
This makes comparing medians, spread, and shape quick.
When to use a stem and leaf plot
- Dataset has 10–50 values
- You need to see the original values, not just counts per bin
- You're doing classroom statistics or homework
- You're comparing two small groups (back-to-back plot)
Stem and leaf plot vs histogram
| Stem & Leaf | Histogram | |
|---|---|---|
| Preserves original values | Yes | No |
| Good for n < 50 | Yes | Not ideal |
| Good for n > 100 | No | Yes |
| Supports back-to-back comparison | Yes | No |
| Common in K–12 | Yes | Yes |
| Used in research | Rarely | Frequently |
How to find median and quartiles
A stem and leaf plot naturally sorts data — leaves within each stem are arranged in order.
Count total values (n)
Count every leaf in the entire plot to get n.
Find the median position
Position = (n+1)/2 when n is odd. When n is even, average the two middle values at positions n/2 and n/2+1.
Count through the leaves
Read left-to-right, top-to-bottom until you reach the median position.
Example: for n=10, median = average of 5th and 6th values = average of 73 and 75 = 74.
FAQ
Can I include decimal values?
Stem and leaf plots work best with integers. For decimal data, round to the nearest integer first, or choose the appropriate leaf unit.
What if many values share the same stem?
That's fine — a long row of leaves just means many values in that range. If rows get very long (more than 10 leaves), consider a 5-split stem and leaf plot, which divides each stem into two rows.
Is this the same as a leaf plot or stem plot?
Yes — "leaf plot," "stem plot," and "stem and leaf plot" all refer to the same chart type.
How this guide is reviewed
This guide is maintained by the ChartsMakers Editorial Team and reviewed for statistical accuracy, product behavior, and clarity. When a guide relies on software behavior or statistical definitions, we check it against official documentation or established references. See our editorial policy.