Overview
RainCloud charts are a modern alternative to box plots that show the full distribution of data without hiding the underlying shape. This workbook builds horizontal RainCloud charts entirely in Excel using 34 embedded chart objects, VBA macros, and formula-driven data scaffolding. It includes both single-cloud and three-cloud comparison layouts.
Download the Excel file (.xlsm)
Chart Components
- Cloud (Density Curve): The "rain cloud" at the top shows the probability density — built from frequency bins, upper/lower bounds, and a scale-down factor to control the curve height.
- Box Plot (Stacked Bar): A stacked bar chart shows the interquartile range (25th, 25–50th, 50–75th percentiles) with error bars for whiskers.
- Rain Drops (Scatter): Individual data points plotted as a jittered scatter below the box, so every observation is visible.
Sheets Included
- Horizontal Raincloud Bar Cloud: Single-cloud layout showing one distribution with bar-based cloud rendering.
- Horz Raincloud True Cloud: Single-cloud layout using a true density curve (area chart) instead of bars.
- Horizontal Raincloud - 3 Clouds: Side-by-side comparison of three distributions with sorted data, percentile calculations, and stacked bar configurations for each cloud.
When to Use This
RainCloud charts excel at comparing distributions across groups — salary ranges by department, test scores by cohort, or financial returns by strategy. They show everything a box plot does, plus the actual distribution shape and individual data points. This is especially valuable in presentations where stakeholders want to see the "why" behind summary statistics.