How to Make a Flowchart

A step-by-step guide to making a flowchart for free. Map steps and decisions with boxes, diamonds and arrows, then export your flowchart as PNG or SVG.

Updated 5 min read By CodingEagles
Free tool Flowchart Maker Map a process with boxes, decisions and arrows. Open tool

A flowchart turns a process you can only describe in words into something you can see. It’s the quickest way to agree how a task actually works, and to spot the step everyone forgets.

Here’s how to build one from scratch.

Write out the steps first

Before you draw anything, list the steps in order. Keep each one short: “receive order”, “check stock”, “send confirmation”. A flowchart is only as clear as the steps behind it, so getting this list right is most of the work.

Lay the steps on the canvas

Open the flowchart maker and add a rectangle for each step, top to bottom or left to right. Double-click a box to label it. Don’t fuss over spacing yet; you’ll tidy up once the arrows are in.

Add decisions

Wherever the process can go more than one way, use a diamond for the question. Draw an arrow out of the diamond for each answer and label them, so a reader can follow either path without guessing.

Connect everything with arrows

Draw arrows from one step to the next to show the flow. Arrows stay attached to their boxes, so you can drag a step to a better spot and the connections come with it. Once it’s all linked, nudge the boxes around until the chart reads cleanly from start to finish.

Export and share

Open the menu and export to PNG to drop the flowchart into a document or chat, or SVG if you want it to stay sharp at any size. Nothing is uploaded along the way; the chart lives on your device until you choose to share it.

Frequently asked questions

What do the different shapes mean?
By convention a rectangle is a step or action, a diamond is a decision with two or more answers, and a rounded box marks the start or end. You don't have to follow this strictly, but sticking to it makes a flowchart easier for other people to read.
How do I show a yes/no decision?
Use a diamond for the question, then draw an arrow out of it for each answer and label the arrows (for example "yes" and "no"). Each arrow leads to the next step for that path.

Ready to try it?

Map a process with boxes, decisions and arrows. Free, in-browser, and 100% private — your data never leaves your device.

Open the Flowchart Maker