How to Make a Family Tree: Step-by-Step Methods for Charts, Diagrams, and Posters

Last Updated: 2026-02-25 09:59:26

A family tree - it's more than just a chart on a page, it's the visual history of all the people who shaped who we are today. It's a map of where our family has been and who helped create the people we've become. Whether you're whipping one up for a school project, because tracking down your ancestry is something that really matters to you, or just because you want to knock up a presentation or some sort of poster that'll look nice hanging in a hallway, one thing is certain - you need to know how to create a proper family tree if you want to keep your family's history - and that sense of connection to your forebears - alive and well.

These days, family trees come in all shapes and sizes: simple spreadsheets in Google Docs, slick presentation slides in PowerPoint, or the sort of snazzy tools like HitPaw FotorPea AI Canvas that let you build a bona fide photo-based family tree to wow your friends and family.

Part 1 - What is a Family Tree and why is it worth doing

A family tree is basically a visual way of showing how every generation of your family fits together. How complicated you want to make it is entirely up to you - just remember, it's for your use, not theirs.

You can represent a family tree in loads of different ways:

Family tree charts - the old-fashioned, structured layouts with people and dates neatly arranged in rows and columns
Family tree diagrams - a bit more freeform, these use branches to show how everyone is connected through the generations
Family tree posters - the decorative, visual ones that make great keepsakes or gifts for people you love

People make family trees for all sorts of reasons. Some people:

Do it to preserve some family records before they get lost forever
To teach their kids where they came from
To sort out some genealogy research they've been working on
To create a bit of a beautiful keepsake or gift

Thinking about what you want to use your family tree for will help you figure out what to do with it

Part 2 - How to Create a Family Tree Chart or Diagram

Before you start choosing a tool, it's a good idea to think a bit about the structure you want to use

Family Tree Chart

A chart is basically a list of names in a hierarchical order, with the oldest generation at the top and the younger ones below. You'll have names, birth dates, and relationships clearly labelled.

Family Tree Diagram

A diagram is more flexible and allows you to show family connections using branches. It's great for big families or if you want to do some really creative visual storytelling.

Knowing whether you want a chart or a diagram will help you decide which tool is best for you.

Part 3 - How to Create a Family Tree in Google Docs

If you just want a simple document that's easy to share, Google Docs is a good choice.

Open up a blank document in Google Docs
Go to the Insertmenu and select Drawing
Use the shapes in the drawing tool to create family members
Use lines or arrows to connect the shapes
Add in names, relationships, and any other notes you need

This approach is good for:

Small families
Collaborative editing
Text-focused layouts

A lot of people search for how to create a family tree in Google Docs and how to make a family tree on Google Docs - and the two are basically the same thing, just with a slight difference in wording.

Part 4 - How to Create a Family Tree in Excel

If you want a really structured, data-heavy family tree that you can print out, Excel is the way to go.

How to Create a Family Tree in Excel

Use cells to represent each family member

Merge cells to line up the generations

Add borders to show connections

If you need some extra visual flair, you can use shapes to help illustrate the connections

Excel is good for:

Tracking generations and dates
Managing really big families
Creating printable charts

This approach answers both how to make a family tree in Excel and how to make a family tree in Excel - yes, another one of those duplicate questions.

Part 5 - How to Make a Family Tree in PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a top-notch tool for presentations and really brings a visual flow to life.

Just fire up a blank slide
Insert some shapes to represent each family member
If you're feeling fancy - use SmartArt (Hierarchy layouts) - but only if it makes sense for your tree
Add some connecting lines and a bit of text to bring it all together

This is the way to go for:

School presentations - it's a real crowd-pleaser
Storytelling slides - to really make the family history come alive
Visual explanations - to help your audience understand the family connections

It's basically the best way to tackle how to create a family tree on PowerPoint - and also how to make a family tree in PowerPoint - not that you need a choice, but there you go...

Part 6 - Creating A Family Tree Poster In PowerPoint

A poster-style family tree is all about looking good - so, let's talk about the really important stuff.

The key things to focus on are:

Using some fun, decorative fonts
Adding in some images or illustrations to bring it all to life
Making sure you've got some balanced spacing to keep it all looking tidy
And using a large enough canvas size to print your masterpiece

The more traditional tools just don't cut it in this case, which is why many users turn to design-focused or AI-assisted platforms for how to make a family tree poster.

Part 7 - Adding Photos to Your Family Tree Maker Tools

There's nothing like a good family photo to really add some emotion to your family tree.

Just insert your images inside the shape frames
Crop them to circles or squares to keep it looking neat
Make sure you keep the image sizes all consistent so it doesn't look messy
Place them right alongside the names so it all makes sense

Most standard tools will let you insert a photo, but when it comes to getting it looking just right, you'll probably need to do some manual fiddling with alignment and styling.

Part 8 - How to Make a Family Tree in HitPaw FotorPea AI Canvas (The Ultimate Guide)

If you really care about visuals - especially posters, keepsakes, or anything with a bit of flair - then HitPaw FotorPea AI Canvas has got you covered.

Why FotorPea is the Perfect Tool for Family Trees

You get a huge, free-form canvas to play with
Easy peasy when it comes to photo placement and resizing
Clean text and layout options to really make your design shine
Perfect for anyone who wants a family tree that's a real work of art - and looks great in print.

Step-by-Step: Creating A Family Tree in FotorPea AI Canvas

Fire up HitPaw FotorPeaand get yourself into the AI Canvas workspace
Start with a blank canvas and go for a poster size or something totally custom
Add in some text elements for the family member names and generations - keep it looking tidy
Upload those family photos and place them right next to the names
Use some shapes or lines to help show the relationships - it all helps make sense
Get the spacing and alignment just right - so it looks balanced and easy to follow
Tweak the colour schemes and themes to really bring it all together
Add a title like "Our Family Tree" or some generation labels to really make it pop
Export it all when you're done, and you can share it digitally or print it out

By using this method, you can get the perfect blend of structure and creativity - something your good old spreadsheet or document just can't compete with.

Conclusion

Learning how to create a family tree all comes down to what you want to do with it. Google Docs and Excel are perfect for keeping things simple and structured - but if you want something that really pops visually and includes photos and design flair, then HitPaw FotorPea AI Canvas is the way to go. By choosing the right tool and layout, a family tree can be more than just a boring old diagram - it becomes a real, lasting story.