An **organizational chart** helps you visually represent team structure and reporting relationships. While Excel isn’t primarily a design tool, it has built-in features like **SmartArt** and **shapes** that make it easy to create professional-looking org charts.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to **build an organizational chart in Excel** step by step. And to save you time, grab our **two ready-to-use templates** at the end.
💡 Why Use Excel for Organizational Charts?
An org chart in Excel can help you:
- Visualize **team hierarchy and roles**
- Quickly **update structure** as teams grow
- Integrate with other data (e.g., employee lists, departments)
- Use familiar Excel tools for **easy editing**
🛠 Step-by-Step: Create an Organizational Chart in Excel
1. Prepare Your Data
Create a table with columns like:
- Name
- Position
- Manager
This will help you outline the hierarchy before designing.
2. Insert a SmartArt Organizational Chart
- Go to Insert → SmartArt
- Select Hierarchy and choose a layout (e.g., “Organization Chart”)
- Click OK
3. Add Team Members
- Click on the [Text] placeholders inside SmartArt
- Enter employee names and positions
- Use the SmartArt Text Pane to manage hierarchy (promote/demote team members)
4. Customize the Chart
- Use the **SmartArt Design** tab to change colors and styles
- Resize and rearrange boxes for better readability
- Add pictures (optional) by right-clicking a box → **Add Picture**
5. (Optional) Build a Custom Chart with Shapes
If you prefer more flexibility:
- Go to Insert → Shapes → Select a rectangle
- Create boxes for each team member
- Connect boxes with **lines/arrows** to show reporting relationships
📥 Download the Free Organizational Chart Templates
We’ve created **two ready-to-use templates**:
- Basic Organizational Chart: A SmartArt-based chart that’s easy to edit.
- Advanced Organizational Chart: A custom shape-based chart for more flexibility.
📥 Download Basic Organizational Chart Template
📥 Download Advanced Organizational Chart Template
🚀 Final Thoughts
Excel offers a simple way to create and maintain organizational charts. Use SmartArt for quick setup or custom shapes for more flexibility.
Need a **dynamic org chart linked to your employee database**? We can build a custom automated solution for you.
💡 Also read: How to Create an Excel Dashboard in Excel
💡 Related: How to Add Drop-Down Options in Excel