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To label each box in a Matplotlib boxplot, pass one name per dataset with the tick_labels argument. For example, ax.boxplot(data, tick_labels=['Group A', 'Group B']) labels the boxes in the same order as the data. If the plot already exists, set tick positions and labels together with ax.set_xticks(positions, labels).
Set labels when creating a boxplot
Use tick_labels in the current Axes.boxplot API. Each label corresponds to a dataset, and the labels follow the same order as the datasets.
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
data = [[1, 2, 3, 4], [2, 3, 5, 7], [1, 3, 4, 6]]
fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.boxplot(data, tick_labels=['Group A', 'Group B', 'Group C'])
ax.set_xlabel('Group')
plt.show()The equivalent pyplot call is plt.boxplot(data, tick_labels=['Group A', 'Group B']). If you omit tick_labels, Matplotlib uses numeric tick values. Matplotlib’s boxplot API documentation describes the argument and default tick behavior.
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Tick labels versus the axis label
tick_labels names each box, such as “Group A” and “Group B.” ax.set_xlabel('Group') sets the single descriptive label beneath the entire x-axis; it does not rename individual boxes.
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Label a boxplot that is already drawn
When you need to apply labels after plotting, set their positions and text in one call. For the default box positions, which are typically 1, 2, 3, and so on, supply corresponding locations:
positions = [1, 2, 3]
labels = ['Group A', 'Group B', 'Group C']
ax.set_xticks(positions, labels)For a plot made with custom box positions, use those same positions in set_xticks so each label is aligned with its box. Matplotlib documents set_xticks as accepting tick locations and optional labels in the Axes API.
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Choose the method that fits your plot
| Situation | Use | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Creating a boxplot with the current API | ax.boxplot(data, tick_labels=labels) |
Labels match the number and order of datasets. |
| Applying labels to an existing plot or custom positions | ax.set_xticks(positions, labels) |
Positions match the actual box locations and label order. |
Check compatibility with your Matplotlib version
The boxplot parameter was renamed from labels to tick_labels in Matplotlib 3.9; the labels alias was removed in Matplotlib 3.11. Use tick_labels for current Matplotlib. If an older installation reports that tick_labels is an unexpected keyword, check the installed version and consult documentation for that version before changing the argument. The current API is documented in the boxplot reference.
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Rotate longer labels and align them to the right to reduce overlap. For an existing plot, pass the rotation and alignment while setting positions and labels:
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ax.set_xticks(positions, labels, rotation=45, ha='right')
fig.tight_layout()The Matplotlib boxplot gallery demonstrates rotated x-axis labels. Adjust the rotation and figure width to suit your category names.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Avoid setting labels against unfixed tick positions
ax.set_xticklabels(labels) sets text without also fixing the tick locations. Matplotlib discourages this approach because automatically chosen positions can change and leave labels unexpectedly placed. Prefer ax.set_xticks(positions, labels); if you must set labels separately, first set the tick positions with ax.set_xticks(positions). The Axes API documentation notes this guidance.
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