Method 1: draw it with Google Docs' Drawing tool
This uses only Google Docs and works on a computer. The menu names below come from Google's own help page on drawings.
- Open the drawing canvas. In your document, click where the flowchart should go, then choose Insert > Drawing > New.
- Add the start shape. Click Shape, choose a shape (an oval or rounded rectangle for start and end), then click and drag on the canvas.
- Add steps and decisions. Use rectangles for steps and a diamond for each yes/no decision. Double-click a shape to type its label.
- Connect the shapes. Click Select line, choose Arrow, click where the arrow starts and drag to the next shape. Add a text box next to each arrow leaving a diamond to label it Yes or No.
- Insert it into the document. Click Save and close. To change the flowchart later, select it in the document and choose Edit.
Expect to place and line up every shape yourself. That is fine for a flowchart of five to ten steps; for larger processes, plan the layout on paper first, because moving a branch means moving every shape below it.
Method 2: generate the flowchart, then insert it
If the process is longer, or already written down, generate the diagram from a description and place it in the document as an image.
- Describe the process. Paste the steps into the box below. The free preview needs no sign-up.
- Refine it. Open it in the editor to add branches, rename steps or move shapes.
- Download a PNG. PNG downloads at 2× or 4× resolution are part of Pro. On the free plan you can instead share a read-only link and paste that link into your document.
- Insert the image. In Google Docs choose Insert > Image > Upload from computer and pick the PNG.
- Update it when the process changes. Edit the diagram in flow-chart.io, download again and replace the image in the document.
Example flowchart to build
A document review loop is a good first flowchart in Docs: eight shapes, two decisions and two loops.
Which method should you use?
| Google Docs Drawing | Generate, then insert | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free with a Google account | Free preview and read-only links; PNG download on Pro |
| Editing inside the doc | Yes, select the drawing and choose Edit | No; edit the source diagram and replace the image |
| Effort for 20+ steps | High: every shape and arrow is placed by hand | Low: the layout is generated |
| Flowchart symbols | Draw them from basic shapes | Generated, with optional ISO 5807 flowchart notation |
Tips for flowcharts in documents
- Keep the chart narrow enough for a portrait page; top-to-bottom flows fit better than left-to-right.
- Label both exits of every diamond.
- Put long explanations in the document text, not inside the shapes.
- Use the same symbols everywhere: see the flowchart symbols reference.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you make a flowchart in Google Docs for free?
- Yes. The Drawing tool (Insert > Drawing > New) is part of Google Docs and has shapes and arrows you can use to draw a flowchart.
- Can I edit a flowchart after inserting it in Google Docs?
- A flowchart drawn with the Drawing tool can be edited: select it and choose Edit. A flowchart inserted as an image cannot be edited inside Docs; edit the original and replace the image.
- Which image format should I use in Google Docs?
- PNG keeps lines and text sharp. Download at 2× or 4× so the chart stays readable when printed. See SVG, PNG or PDF? for when each format fits.
- Does this work in Google Slides too?
- Yes. Slides also lets you insert an image, so the same PNG works in a presentation.
Source: Google Docs menu names from Google's help page on drawings (support.google.com/docs/answer/179740). Plans and features change; check the vendor's page before deciding.
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Last reviewed 9 November 2026.