How to make a flow chart in google docs

How to make a flow chart in google docs

Flowcharts and diagrams can help people understand confusing data. If you need one for your Google Docs or Slides file, you can create it without leaving your document. We’ll show you how.

Insert a Flowchart In Google Docs

Fire up your browser, open a Docs file, and then click Insert > Drawing > + New.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

RELATED: The Beginner's Guide to Google Docs

From the Google Drawing window, click the icon that looks like a circle on top of a square. Hover over “Shapes,” and then click the shape you want to use. Note that all the shapes at the bottom of the Shapes selector are for flowcharts.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

Google Drawing is an extremely simple flowchart creator. It relies heavily on your drawing and organizational skills. After you select a shape, drag your mouse cursor to create it on the canvas.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

If you need to resize a shape, drag any of the squares that surround it to change it.

You can also use keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste any shape you want to reuse. Press Ctrl+C (Windows/Chrome OS) or Cmd+C (macOS) to copy a shape. To paste a shape, press Ctrl+V (Windows/Chrome OS) or Cmd+V (macOS).

If you want to insert connecting lines between shapes and processes, click the down arrow next to the Line tool.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

To change the color of a shape, select it, and then click the Fill Color icon.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

Repeat this process until you’ve inserted all the shapes you need to create a full flowchart. Click “Save and Close” to insert the drawing into your document.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

If you need to edit a flowchart after you insert it into a document, select it, and then click “Edit” to reopen it in Google Drawing.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

Insert a Diagram in Google Slides

Fire up a Google Slides document and click Insert > Diagram.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

RELATED: The Beginner's Guide to Google Slides

In the panel that opens on the right, choose a grid, hierarchy, timeline, process, relationship, or cycle diagram.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

After you select the type of diagram you want, you see several templates. At the top, you can customize the color, and the number of levels, steps, or dates for each diagram. Click a template to insert it into your slide.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

From here, you can click a box and customize or edit it to include your data.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

Create Flowcharts and Diagrams with LucidChart

If Google Drawing doesn’t do it for you, give the Google Docs add-on LucidChart Diagrams a shot. It’s easy to use and has tons of features that should satisfy anyone who needs a detailed, professional-looking diagram.

RELATED: The Best Google Docs Add-Ons

To use LucidChart, you have to sign up for a free account, which is limited to 60 objects per diagram, and three active diagrams. To get unlimited shapes and diagrams, basic plans start at $4.95 per month.

You can use LucidChart for either Docs or Slides, but you have to install it in both.

To add LucidChart to your document, open a new or existing file in Google Docs or Sheets, click “Add-ons,” and then click “Get Add-ons.”

How to make a flow chart in google docs

Next, type “LucidChart” in the search bar and hit Enter. Click the LucidChart icon.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

From the add-on’s page, click “Install.”

How to make a flow chart in google docs

The add-on requires permission to access your document; click “Continue” to grant it.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

Review the list of permissions LucidChart requires, and then click “Allow.”

How to make a flow chart in google docs

After it’s installed, click Add-ons > LucidChart Diagrams > Insert Diagram.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

From the panel that opens on the right, click the orange plus sign (+) icon.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

Select a template from the list.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

You’re redirected to LucidChart’s website, where you can use the editor to fully customize the chart or diagram you chose.

The editor is fairly intuitive, full of features, and easy to navigate. Even though you’re limited to 60 shapes per chart on a free account, that’s more than enough.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

When you’re done with your chart, click “Back to Docs” at the top left of the page.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

Click “My Diagrams” from the LucidChart add-on in Docs or Sheets.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

Hover over a diagram, and then click the plus sign (+) to insert it in your document.

How to make a flow chart in google docs

If you don’t see your diagram, click the circular arrow icon, and then click “Document list” to refresh them.

How to make a flow chart in google docs


Google Drawing and LucidChart Diagrams are both viable options to insert diagrams and flowcharts into your documents.

However, if you don’t want to draw every process, shape, or line, then LucidChart is the best choice.

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Does Google Docs have a flow chart template?

Google docs does not offer flowchart templates. If you'd like to create a flowchart in Google docs, you will need to start from scratch with their drag-and-drop interface. While Google docs offers a seamless way to add a quick flowchart to an existing document, it's not the best solution for complicated flowcharts.

Can you make a flowchart in Google Sheets?

Go to the Insert tab, click Drawing to open the Drawing window. On the Drawing window, you can use the shape icons to add flowchart shapes and the line or arrow icons to connect them. When you finish making the diagram, you can click Save and Close button, then the flowchart will be added on the spreadsheet.

Does Google have a flowchart app?

diagrams.net is the most tightly Google Drive integrated diagramming application available. draw.io is completely free online diagram editor built around Google Drive(TM), that enables you to create flowcharts, UML, entity relation, network diagrams, mockups and more.

How do you create a flow chart?

How to Make a Flowchart in 7 Simple Steps.
Step #1: Know the purpose of your flowchart..
Step #2: Start with a template..
Step #3: Add shapes and symbols..
Step #4: Connect your shapes with lines and arrows..
Step #5: Split paths or add decisions..
Step #6: Customize your flowchart's appearance..