Free tool
Org Chart Maker From a Plain Indented List
Write one person per line with a name and a role, indent the people who report to someone, and the boxes lay themselves out. Switch between top down and left to right, and save the picture when it looks right.
Two spaces per level; Tab indents the line and Shift and Tab takes it back (Escape, then Tab, leaves the box). A CSV with Name, Role and Reports to columns works too.
The chart is drawn in your browser and names are never uploaded. The list and your settings are kept on your own device for next time.
Showing who reports to whom, without a drawing tool
Teams ask for an org chart for an about page, a proposal, an onboarding pack or a project kick-off. Drawing boxes and lines by hand is slow, and every new hire means moving things around. A list is much easier to edit, so the chart here is built from one.
Each line holds a name, then a comma, then an optional role. The indent says who is above. In the starting example, the CEO sits at the top, the heads of product, engineering and sales are indented once, and the people under them are indented twice.
| You type | The chart shows |
|---|---|
| No indent | A top level box, filled with your colour |
| Two spaces, a tab or a dash | One level lower, under the nearest box above |
| Text after the first comma | A smaller role line under the name |
Editing quickly in the box
- Press Tab to indent a line, and Shift with Tab to take a level back. This works on several selected lines at once.
- Press Escape, then Tab, if you want Tab to leave the box instead.
- More than one line with no indent makes more than one top level, drawn side by side.
- A role can contain commas, since only the first comma splits name from role.
- Names are cut after two lines inside a box and roles after two lines, so keep them short.
The chart redraws shortly after you stop typing, and a status line counts the people drawn.
Layout options for big and small teams
Top down is the classic shape. Left to right turns the chart on its side, which suits a deep chain of command or a chart that would otherwise be very wide. If the status line warns that a chart is wide, try that option or split the chart into one per team.
The box that stacks people with no reports in a column applies to top down charts. When a manager has several direct reports who each have nobody under them, they are stacked down the side instead of spreading across the page. That keeps a team of fifteen narrow. Left to right charts do not use stacking.
Colour sets the top level fill and the accent bar of lower boxes, which fade slightly with depth. Background can be white, dark or see-through.
Working with a spreadsheet
Open a CSV file, or drop one on the list box, and it is turned into the indented list. The tool looks for columns called name, role or title, and reports to or manager. The names can be in any order when the first row names them. A person whose boss is not found, or is blank, becomes a top level box. The CSV button writes the chart out the other way, as Name, Role and Reports to, which is the shape many staff systems expect.
Files over 5 MB are refused with a message.
If the chart goes on a website
A team page works best as live text and photos with the chart as an extra. SVG keeps the boxes sharp at every screen width, and PNG is the easier choice for slides. If you are planning a company site with a team section, our WordPress development page describes how we set up pages that your staff can edit themselves.
Frequently asked questions
How do I show that someone reports to someone else?
Indent their line by two spaces or one tab under their manager. The chart draws a line from the manager's box to theirs.
Can I have more than one person at the top?
Yes. Add another line with no indent. Each unindented person starts a separate tree, and they are drawn side by side.
What CSV columns does it read?
It looks for Name, Role and Reports to, in any order when the first row names them. Without a header row it expects name, role and boss in that order.
How do I make the chart narrower?
Keep the option that stacks people with no reports ticked, or choose Left to right. Splitting one big chart into team charts also helps.
Can I change the colour?
Yes. Use the colour picker. It sets the top level box and the accent bar on the others.
Are the names stored online?
No. They stay in your browser and the list is kept on your own device.
More free tools
- flowchart maker: Draw flowcharts with joined shapes or build one from typed steps, then save it as PNG, SVG or PDF.
- mind map maker: Make a mind map with keyboard shortcuts, import or export outlines, and save it as PNG, SVG, PDF, Markdown or OPML.
- timeline maker: Turn dated events into a timeline across or down the page and save it as PNG, SVG or PDF.
- Business card maker: Design a business card with a logo and QR code, then download a print PDF with bleed and crop marks.
- Email signature generator: Make a clean email signature with photo, links and a button, ready to paste into Gmail, Outlook or Apple Mail.