Sankey Diagrams, Built Instantly
Visualize any flow — energy, money, traffic, or materials — in seconds.
Our interactive Sankey diagram maker transforms raw flow data into proportional, color-coded diagrams. Describe your data or paste it in, and AI handles the rest.
Everything You Need in a Sankey Diagram Maker
Purpose-built for flow visualization — not a generic chart tool.
Proportional Flow Widths
Link widths automatically scale to match your flow values, making relative magnitudes immediately obvious to any viewer.
Drag-and-Drop Node Editor
Add, rename, reorder, and color nodes through a visual editor — no need to touch raw data tables.
Custom Color Schemes
Choose per-node colors or gradient flows to highlight sources, targets, or categories that matter most in your analysis.
AI Flow Generation
Describe your process in plain language and the AI creates a structured Sankey diagram with nodes, links, and values already mapped.
Instant Live Preview
Every edit — adding a node, changing a value, adjusting spacing — updates the diagram in real time so you always see the result.
Smooth Animation Controls
Set animation speed for entry transitions so your Sankey diagrams feel polished when presenting or embedding on a website.
Add Your Flow Data Your Way
Type It In
Manually define nodes and link values using the simple flow editor — no code required.
Paste From Spreadsheet
Copy rows from Excel or Google Sheets and paste them directly into the diagram builder.
Describe With AI
Tell the AI what flows you want to map and it generates a complete Sankey diagram for you.
Upload a File (Pro)
Import CSV or Excel files with source, target, and value columns to auto-build your diagram.
Share Your Sankey Diagram Anywhere
Download as PNG or SVG
Export pixel-perfect images for presentations, reports, and social media posts.
Copy a Share Link
Generate a shareable URL so colleagues can view or remix your Sankey diagram instantly.
Embed on Your Site
Paste a single embed snippet to add a live, interactive Sankey diagram to any webpage.
Drop Into Slides
Export and insert into PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Notion without quality loss.
About MakeCharts Sankey Tool
MakeCharts is a free online chart maker built for clarity and speed. The Sankey diagram maker is designed to turn complex flow data into proportional, easy-to-read visuals in minutes. No installation, no learning curve — just your data and a finished diagram.
- ✓50+ chart types including Sankey, Funnel, Treemap, and more
- ✓AI-powered generation from plain-language descriptions
- ✓Live preview as you edit nodes, links, and styles
- ✓Free download and sharing with no account required
- ✓Embed codes and shareable links for every diagram
- ✓Trusted by analysts, educators, and content creators worldwide
MakeCharts by the Numbers
How to Make a Sankey Diagram
From raw flow data to a finished diagram in three simple steps.
Define Your Nodes
Add the categories or stages in your flow — sources, intermediaries, and destinations. Name and color each one.
e.g. Coal, Natural Gas, Electricity, Heat Loss, Waste
Set Your Flow Links
Connect nodes with directional links and assign a numeric value to each. Link width will reflect the value automatically.
e.g. Coal → Electricity: 40, Coal → Heat Loss: 35, Coal → Waste: 25
Customize and Export
Adjust colors, label sizes, node spacing, and animation speed. Then download, share, or embed your finished Sankey diagram.
e.g. Export as PNG for a report or copy an embed code for your dashboard
Who Uses Sankey Diagrams
Any time quantities flow through a system, a Sankey diagram tells the story.
Visualize Energy Efficiency
Map how energy enters a system and where it is lost or converted, making inefficiencies immediately visible to engineers and stakeholders.
Track Budget and Revenue Flows
Show how money moves through a company — from revenue sources through departments to final expenses or profit — in one clear diagram.
Map User Journeys and Traffic
Illustrate how visitors move through a website or funnel, identifying where users drop off and where they convert.
Chart Material and Product Flows
Trace raw materials from origin through processing and distribution to final delivery, highlighting bottlenecks and waste.
Templates
Start with professionally designed templates
Blank Sankey Diagram Template
Start from a ready-to-edit Sankey diagram and visualize any flow — revenue, energy, budget, or process — in minutes.
Supply Chain Sankey Diagram Template
Visualize the complete flow of goods across your supply chain — from raw materials through suppliers, manufacturing, distribution, and all the way to end consumers.
Water Flow Sankey Diagram Template
Visualize the complete water cycle — from precipitation sources through treatment and distribution to end use and return — in one clear, compelling Sankey diagram.
Energy Flow Sankey Diagram Template
Visualize how energy moves from primary sources through generation to end-use sectors with a clear, interactive Sankey flow chart.
Sankey Diagram Template - Map Flows Clearly
Use this blank Sankey template to visualize how energy, money, or resources move through any system - fully customizable in minutes.
Carbon Circular Flow Sankey: See Where Carbon Goes
This template maps carbon from extraction and manufacturing through product use, energy, recycling, reuse, sequestration, and final sinks.
View All Templates
Browse the full library to find more templates tailored to your chart.
AI Sankey Maker vs. Manual Tools
See why teams replace spreadsheets and legacy diagram tools with MakeCharts.
Traditional Tools
- ✗Hours spent formatting nodes and links by hand
- ✗Flow widths must be calculated and adjusted manually
- ✗No live preview — errors only visible after export
- ✗Steep learning curve for D3.js or specialized tools
- ✗Hard to update when underlying data changes
- ✗Exporting to different formats requires extra steps
MakeCharts AI Sankey Maker
- ✓Describe your flow in plain language — diagram builds itself
- ✓Proportional link widths calculated automatically
- ✓Live preview updates with every change in real time
- ✓No coding or design experience required
- ✓Edit nodes and values instantly and see results immediately
- ✓One-click export to PNG, SVG, link, or embed code
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an interactive Sankey diagram maker?
An interactive Sankey diagram maker is an online tool that lets you build, edit, and visualize flow diagrams where link widths are proportional to flow values. MakeCharts lets you create these diagrams through a live editor or by describing your data to an AI, with no software to install.
Is this Sankey diagram maker really free?
Yes — the core interactive Sankey diagram maker is completely free. You can create, customize, download, and share Sankey diagrams without creating an account. Paid plans add more AI credits, file upload, and advanced export options.
How do I make a Sankey diagram with AI?
Type a plain-language description of the flow you want to visualize — for example, 'Show how a marketing budget of $100k splits between paid ads, content, and events, then maps to leads and conversions.' The AI interprets your description and generates a complete Sankey diagram with nodes, links, and weighted values.
What kinds of data work well in a Sankey diagram?
Sankey diagrams work best when you have a clear source-to-destination flow with numeric quantities — energy usage, budget allocation, website traffic, supply chains, or process efficiency. If your data has stages and measurable transfers between them, a Sankey diagram communicates it clearly.
Can I create a Sankey diagram from a CSV file?
Yes, with a Pro account you can upload a CSV or Excel file with source, target, and value columns to auto-generate your Sankey diagram. Free users can paste data from spreadsheets directly into the editor or use the manual node and link builder.
Built for Everyone
- ✓No design skills or data science background required
- ✓Accessible interface that works on any device or screen size
- ✓Available in 12+ languages so you can work in your own
- ✓Free tier with full chart functionality — no trial period
- ✓Simple controls designed for beginners, with depth for experts
Your Data, Your Control
- •Your chart data is not sold to third parties
- •You decide what diagrams to share or keep private
- •Download your charts and delete your account at any time
- •No tracking of individual flow data for advertising purposes
- •Data you enter stays associated with your session and account only
Start Your Sankey Diagram Now
Free, instant, and no sign-up needed — your flow diagram is one click away.