How to Make a Family Tree in Excel

This guide shows you how to build a clear, editable family tree using Microsoft Excel’s built-in SmartArt graphics. You’ll enter your relatives’ names, arrange them in a hierarchy, and format the result to look polished—no design skills or add-ins required. All you need is a computer with Excel (2016 or later works well) and your family information at hand.

What You’ll Need

• Microsoft Excel (desktop version recommended; web version has limited SmartArt)
• Your family data: names, relationships, and approximate birth years (optional but helpful)
• Basic familiarity with Excel tabs and ribbon menus

Step-by-Step

1. Open a new workbook. Launch Excel and create a blank workbook. You’ll work on the default sheet (Sheet1).
2. Decide on your layout. For a typical family tree, you’ll start with the oldest generation at the top (e.g., grandparents) and work down to children. Alternatively, you can start with yourself at the top and branch to parents and grandparents above—choose what feels natural.
3. Insert a SmartArt graphic. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon. In the Illustrations group, click SmartArt. A dialog box will appear.
4. Choose a hierarchy layout. In the SmartArt dialog, select Hierarchy from the left sidebar. Pick a layout that suits your tree—Organization Chart is a common choice because it shows multiple levels clearly. Click OK to insert it.
5. Add text to the shapes. Click on a shape and type the person’s name. Press Enter to add a second line (e.g., birth year). Repeat for each shape. To add more shapes, select a shape near where you want the new one, then go to the SmartArt Design tab (appears when the graphic is selected) and use Add Shape to insert an assistant, subordinate, or peer.
6. Build your tree structure. Start with the top-level person (e.g., your grandfather). Use Add Shape Below to add his children, and then add grandchildren below them. For spouses, add a shape to the side (use Add Shape After). You can rearrange shapes by dragging them or using the Promote/Demote buttons in the SmartArt Design tab.
7. Enter all your data. Continue adding shapes until every family member is included. Keep the hierarchy logical: parents above children, siblings on the same level.
8. Format the tree. With the SmartArt selected, use the SmartArt Design tab to change colors (e.g., Change Colors) and apply a style (e.g., Cartoon or Polished). On the Home tab, you can adjust font size, boldness, and alignment.
9. Resize and position. Click and drag the corners of the SmartArt frame to make it larger or smaller. Move it by clicking the border and dragging. Ensure all text is visible and not cut off.
10. Add extra details (optional). To include dates or notes, you can add a text box (Insert > Text Box) near each shape, or simply add a second line in the shape with a comma and the year, e.g., “Mary Smith, 1942�.
11. Save your work. Press Ctrl+S (or Cmd+S on Mac) and name your file. Choose a location you’ll remember.
12. Print or share. To print, go to File > Print and adjust scaling to fit one page if needed. To share digitally, you can export as a PDF (File > Save As > PDF) or just send the Excel file.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong SmartArt layout. Some layouts (like “Listâ€�) don’t show hierarchy lines. Stick to the Hierarchy section.
• Adding shapes incorrectly. If you click “Add Shape Afterâ€� when you meant “Add Shape Below,â€� you’ll get a sibling instead of a child. Pay attention to the tooltip.
• Overcrowding. Too many shapes on one level can make the tree unreadable. Use a larger canvas or split into multiple charts.
• Forgetting to resize. SmartArt defaults to a small size; if you don’t enlarge it, the text may be tiny and clipped.
• Typing directly in the text pane. The text pane (the small window with bullets) is handy, but if you type there and then click outside, you might lose formatting. Use the shapes themselves for final edits.

Tips

• Plan before you click. Sketch your tree on paper first. This saves time and prevents messy rearrangements.
• Use the text pane for quick entry. Click the small arrow on the left edge of the SmartArt frame to open the text pane. You can type names in a list and press Tab to indent, which automatically creates child shapes.
• Keep names short. Use first names or “First Lastâ€� without middle names to avoid clutter. Add middle names as a second line if needed.
• Consistent formatting. Use the same font and color for all shapes. Use bold for the oldest generation or the main ancestor.
• Save a backup. Before making major changes, save a copy of the file (File > Save As) so you can revert if needed.
• Use cell borders as an alternative. If SmartArt feels limiting, you can create a tree using merged cells and borders, but that’s more manual.

Troubleshooting

• SmartArt is grayed out. This happens when a worksheet is protected or in compatibility mode. Go to Review > Unprotect Sheet, or save the file as .xlsx (not .xls).
• Shapes overlap or look messy. Select the SmartArt, then go to SmartArt Design > Reset Graphic. This clears formatting but keeps your text. Then reapply a style.
• Can’t add more shapes. Some layouts have a limit (e.g., 30 shapes). If you hit it, switch to a simpler layout like “Hierarchyâ€� or split the tree into two parts.
• Text is cut off. Enlarge the SmartArt frame, or reduce font size. Also, you can drag individual shapes to be larger.
• Lines don’t connect properly. If you move shapes manually, the connector lines may not follow. Use the Promote/Demote buttons instead of dragging to keep the structure intact.
• Excel crashes or freezes. Save often. If the file becomes corrupt, try opening it in Excel Online or using the “Open and Repairâ€� feature (File > Open > select file > arrow next to Open > Open and Repair).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a family tree in Excel without SmartArt?
Yes, you can use merged cells and borders, but it’s more time-consuming and less flexible for rearranging.

How do I add a spouse without making them a child?
Use “Add Shape After� on the person’s shape. That places a shape to the right, which you can treat as a spouse. The connector line will be horizontal, not vertical.

Can I import data from a genealogy site?
Excel doesn’t have a direct import for GEDCOM files, but you can export your tree as a CSV from most genealogy software and then manually copy names into the SmartArt shapes.

Why does my tree look tiny when printed?
Go to File > Print > Settings and select “Fit Sheet on One Page� (or adjust the scale to 70-80%). Also, set the page orientation to Landscape for wide trees.

Can I hyperlink each shape to a photo or document?
Yes, right-click a shape, choose “Link� (or Hyperlink), and select a file or webpage. This works in Excel, but the link is not visible in the printed version.

Is there a limit to how many generations I can show?
No hard limit, but readability suffers beyond 5-6 generations. Consider making a separate sheet for each branch if you have a large family.

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