How to Make an Infographic on Google Docs

Creating an infographic directly in Google Docs is a practical way to combine text, shapes, and images into a single visual layout without switching to dedicated design software. This guide walks you through building a simple, clean infographic using the built-in Drawing tool and table features, then exporting it as a high-quality image or PDF. You’ll need a Google account and a topic or data you want to visualize.

What You’ll Need

A Google account (free) to access Google Docs
A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)
Your content: text, statistics, or a process you want to show
Optional: icons or images saved on your computer

Step-by-Step

Open a new Google Doc – Go to docs.google.com, sign in, and click the blank document or choose a template. For a landscape infographic, go to File > Page setup and set the page orientation to Landscape. Adjust margins to 0.5 inches or less to maximize space.
Plan your layout – Sketch a rough outline on paper or in your head. Decide on a title, sections, and where visuals will go. A typical infographic has a bold header, 3–5 sections, and a footer with sources.
Insert a drawing canvas – Click Insert > Drawing > New. This opens a separate canvas where you can create shapes, lines, and text boxes. Use this for custom graphics like arrows, flowcharts, or icons.
Add shapes and text – In the drawing editor, click the shape icon (circle/square) to add rectangles, ovals, or arrows. Double-click a shape to type inside it. Use the text box tool (T icon) for standalone text. Format with colors and borders using the toolbar.
Save and place the drawing – Click Save and Close to insert the drawing into your doc. You can resize it by dragging the corners. To edit later, double-click the drawing.
Create a table for layout – For multi-column sections, use Insert > Table and choose a grid (e.g., 2×3). This helps align text and images side by side. Merge cells by right-clicking and selecting Merge cells if needed.
Insert images – Click Insert > Image and upload from your computer, search the web, or use a URL. Resize images to fit your layout. Use the text wrapping options (click the image, then choose Wrap text or Break text) to position them neatly.
Add text boxes for callouts – Use Insert > Drawing > New again to create a small text box with a background color for key statistics or quotes. This makes them stand out.
Use bullet points and icons – For lists, use standard bullet points but change the bullet style (right-click > Bulleted list options) to use arrows or checkmarks. You can also insert emojis (Insert > Special characters) as simple icons.
Style consistently – Choose a color palette of 2–3 colors and a font pairing (e.g., a bold sans-serif for headings, a readable serif for body). Use the toolbar to apply these consistently across all sections.
Add a footer – Include sources, your name, or a website link in a smaller font at the bottom. This adds credibility.
Review and adjust – Zoom out (View > Zoom) to see the whole page. Check for alignment issues, overlapping elements, and readability. Adjust spacing and sizes as needed.
Export as an image or PDF – When finished, go to File > Download and choose PDF Document (.pdf) for a high-quality version. To get a single image, use the PDF and then convert it to PNG using a free online tool, or take a screenshot if the infographic fits on one screen.

Common Mistakes

Too much text – Infographics are visual; keep text minimal. Use short phrases and let shapes and icons carry the message.
Ignoring alignment – Misaligned elements look messy. Use the ruler and guides, and enable snap to grid (View > Snap to > Guides) in the drawing tool.
Using too many colors – Stick to a limited palette. Too many bright colors distract and look unprofessional.
Forgetting to check the final export – The PDF may render differently than the screen. Always open the downloaded file to verify.
Overcrowding the page – Leave white space. If it feels cramped, reduce content or increase margins.

Tips

Use the Explore tool (bottom right) to quickly find images and research without leaving the doc.
For a more polished look, use the built-in templates in Google Slides instead, then copy the slide into Docs – but the Drawing tool works fine for simple designs.
Group elements in the drawing canvas to move them together. Select multiple shapes, right-click, and choose Group.
Use the Format > Text > Superscript for footnotes or citations.
Save a version as a Google Drawing file (File > Download > Drawing) for easy reuse.

Troubleshooting

Drawing appears blurry in the PDF – This happens when the drawing is too small. Increase the size of the drawing canvas before saving, or use higher-resolution images.
Text overlaps in the table – Adjust column widths by dragging the borders, or merge cells to give text more room.
Images won’t move freely – Change the text wrapping to Break text or In front of text to reposition them anywhere on the page.
Can’t edit a drawing after saving – Double-click the drawing to reopen the editor. If that doesn’t work, delete it and insert a new one.
The page looks different when printed – Check the print preview (File > Print) and adjust margins or scale to fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make an infographic in Google Docs for free?

Yes, Google Docs is completely free with a Google account. All tools needed – drawing, tables, images – are built-in.

How do I make a vertical infographic?

Change the page setup to Portrait orientation (File > Page setup). For longer infographics, you can create multiple pages and then combine them into a single image using a PDF merger or screenshot tool.

Can I use Google Slides instead for infographics?

Yes, Google Slides offers more design flexibility with slide sizes and easier element positioning. You can then download the slide as an image directly (File > Download > PNG or JPEG).

How do I add custom icons?

Use the Drawing tool to create simple shapes, or insert emojis via Insert > Special characters. You can also upload icon images from free sites like Flaticon (check license).

Why does my infographic look different when I download as PDF?

Fonts may render differently if the viewer doesn’t have them installed. Use standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman for consistent results.

Can I collaborate on an infographic in real-time?

Yes, share the Google Doc with others and they can edit the drawings and text simultaneously. Use the comment feature for feedback.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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