How to Make a Genogram in Google Docs
A free, step-by-step guide to creating genograms in Google Docs using the Drawing tool. Perfect for students on a budget. We also show you a free alternative that's 10x faster.
Why Students Use Google Docs for Genograms
Google Docs is the go-to tool for students because it is completely free, works in any browser, and integrates with Google Classroom. When professors assign a genogram project, students naturally reach for the tool they already use for every other assignment.
The problem is that Google Docs was built for text documents, not clinical diagrams. Its Drawing tool is a basic shape editor that lacks genogram-specific symbols, emotional relationship lines, and medical notation. Below, we walk through how to make the best of it, and then show you a free alternative built specifically for genograms.
How to Make a Genogram in Google Docs: 8 Steps
Follow these steps to create a basic genogram using Google Docs' built-in Drawing tool. No software to install.
Open a Google Docs Document
Navigate to docs.google.com and create a new blank document. Google Docs is free with any Google account, making it popular for student assignments.
- Go to docs.google.com and click Blank (+ icon)
- Set the page to landscape: File > Page setup > Landscape
- Reduce margins: File > Page setup > Margins > 0.5" on all sides
- Name your document (e.g., "Family Genogram Assignment")
- Tip: You can also use Google Slides for more canvas freedom
Tip: Google Docs has limited canvas space compared to desktop tools. For genograms with more than 3 generations, you may need to split across multiple pages or use Google Slides instead.
Open the Drawing Tool
Google Docs has a built-in drawing canvas where you can create shapes and lines. This is the primary tool you will use for your genogram.
- Go to Insert > Drawing > + New
- A drawing canvas will open in a pop-up window
- This canvas supports shapes, text boxes, lines, and connectors
- You can resize the canvas by dragging the borders
- The drawing will be embedded in your document when you click Save and Close
Tip: The drawing canvas is the only place in Google Docs where you can freely position shapes. Work entirely within this canvas, not in the document body.
Draw Shapes for Family Members
Use the shape tool to create squares for males and circles for females. These are the building blocks of your genogram.
- Click the Shape icon in the toolbar and select Rectangle for males
- Select Ellipse and hold Shift while dragging for perfect circles (females)
- Make shapes approximately the same size for consistency
- For deceased persons, draw two diagonal lines (X) over the shape
- For the index person, increase the border weight to 3px (right-click > Border weight)
Tip: Hold Shift while dragging to create perfect squares and circles. Use Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V (Cmd on Mac) to copy shapes and maintain consistent sizing.
Arrange Shapes into Generational Rows
Position your shapes in horizontal rows, with each row representing one generation of the family.
- Place grandparents in the top row of the canvas
- Place parents in the middle row, centered below their respective parents
- Place the index person and siblings in the bottom row
- Space shapes evenly across each row
- Use the built-in alignment guides (blue lines) that appear when dragging shapes
Tip: Google Docs Drawing shows snap guidelines when shapes align. Use these to keep your rows straight. If guidelines do not appear, try moving shapes more slowly.
Add Text to Each Person
Label each family member with their name, birth year, and relevant information.
- Double-click a shape to add text inside it
- Type the person's name and birth/death years (e.g., "John b.1955")
- Use a small font size (9-10pt) to fit text without overflowing
- For additional info, add a separate text box (Insert > Text box) below the shape
- Center-align text for a cleaner appearance
Tip: Keep text minimal inside shapes. If you need to add medical conditions, occupation, or notes, use a separate text box below or beside the shape to avoid clutter.
Connect Family Members with Lines
Draw lines to show relationships between partners and between parents and children.
- Click the Line tool and select Line or Connector
- Draw a horizontal line between married/partnered pairs
- Draw a vertical line from the center of the partnership line down toward children
- Connect all siblings to a shared horizontal line before dropping down to each child
- Use the Connector line type to auto-attach to shape edges (recommended)
Tip: Use the Elbow Connector or Arrow Connector for lines that need to turn corners. These snap to shape connection points and adjust automatically when you move shapes.
Indicate Relationship Types
Modify line styles to represent different relationship statuses: marriage, divorce, separation, and more.
- Solid line = married (default style)
- For divorce: draw two short diagonal lines crossing the marriage line
- For separation: draw one diagonal slash across the line
- Dashed line = cohabitation (right-click line > select dashed style)
- Dotted line = dating/engagement (right-click > line style options)
Tip: Google Docs Drawing only supports solid, dashed, and dotted line styles. Complex genogram relationship lines like zigzag (conflict) or wavy (distant) are not available.
Save, Close, and Export
Save your drawing to embed it in the Google Docs document, then share or download it.
- Click "Save and Close" to embed the drawing in your document
- To edit later, click the drawing and select Edit
- Share via Google Docs sharing (Share button in top right)
- Download as PDF: File > Download > PDF Document
- For an image: open the drawing, then right-click the canvas > Save as image (limited quality)
Tip: Google Docs does not offer high-quality image export of drawings. For a clean PNG, you will need to take a screenshot or use a tool like GenogramAI that has built-in export.
Where Google Docs Falls Short for Genograms
Google Docs is great for essays. It was never designed for clinical family diagrams.
Tiny Drawing Canvas
The Google Docs drawing canvas is a small pop-up window, not a full-page editor. This makes it incredibly difficult to work on genograms with more than 10-15 family members. You cannot zoom in/out or pan across a large diagram.
No Genogram Symbols
Google Docs Drawing only offers basic geometric shapes. There are no McGoldrick-standard genogram symbols, no medical quadrant fills, no pregnancy or miscarriage symbols, and no twin/triplet indicators.
No Emotional Relationship Lines
Clinical genograms require 24 emotional relationship types (close, conflicted, enmeshed, distant, cut-off, abusive, etc.) with specific line styles. Google Docs only supports solid, dashed, and dotted lines.
No Medical History Support
Standard genograms use quadrant fills inside person shapes to track medical conditions across a family. Google Docs shapes cannot be divided into quadrants or partially filled, making medical genograms impossible.
Tedious Manual Layout
Every shape, line, and text label must be manually positioned. There is no auto-layout, no smart connectors that maintain connections when shapes move, and no way to restructure the diagram without starting over.
Poor Export Options
Google Docs cannot export drawings as standalone PNG or SVG files. Your only options are downloading the entire document as a PDF, taking a screenshot, or copying the image into another tool, all of which lose quality.
A Free Alternative That Actually Works
You chose Google Docs because it's free. GenogramAI is also free, and it's built specifically for creating genograms.
Also Free, But Purpose-Built
GenogramAI has a free plan with 2 genograms, all clinical symbols, AI generation, and PNG export. It is free like Google Docs, but built specifically for genograms instead of word processing.
AI Creates It from Text
Describe your family in plain English and GenogramAI builds the entire genogram automatically. No dragging shapes, no manual connections. Perfect for students short on time.
48 Clinical Relationship Types
Every McGoldrick-standard symbol is built in: 17 structural relationships, 24 emotional overlays, 7 child connection types, medical quadrants, and cultural patterns. No approximations.
For Students:
GenogramAI's free plan gives you 2 professional genograms with all clinical symbols, AI generation, and PNG export. That's enough for most class assignments, and the output looks significantly better than a Google Docs drawing.
Try it free, no sign-up neededGoogle Docs vs. GenogramAI: Feature Comparison
Both are free. Only one was built for genograms.
Your Assignment, Done in 2 Minutes
Describe your family or your case study in plain English. GenogramAI's AI creates the entire genogram with proper symbols, relationships, and layout.
Paste this into GenogramAI:
"Maria and Carlos married in 1978 in Mexico. They have three children: Ana (married to David, two kids), Pedro (single), and Sofia (engaged). Carlos has diabetes. Maria's mother had breast cancer. Ana and Carlos have a conflicted relationship. Maria and Sofia are very close."
Best Workflow for Google Docs Assignments
If your professor requires a Google Docs submission, here is the most efficient workflow:
Create your genogram in GenogramAI
Use the AI feature or manual editor. Takes 5-15 minutes.
Export as PNG
Click the export button in GenogramAI to download a high-resolution PNG image.
Insert the PNG into your Google Doc
Go to Insert > Image > Upload from computer. Add your analysis text around it.
Genogram in Google Docs: FAQs
Can you make a genogram in Google Docs for free?
Yes, you can make a basic genogram in Google Docs for free using the Insert > Drawing tool. However, Google Docs lacks genogram-specific symbols, emotional relationship lines, and medical quadrant support. For a free genogram that includes clinical symbols and AI generation, GenogramAI offers a free plan with 2 genograms and all features included.
Is there a genogram template for Google Docs?
Google Docs does not include genogram templates in its template gallery. Some users share basic genogram templates via Google Drive links, but these are typically just pre-drawn shapes without proper genogram notation. GenogramAI is a better free option because it provides all standard genogram symbols and can generate a complete genogram from a text description.
How do students make genograms in Google Docs?
Students typically use Insert > Drawing > New in Google Docs, then manually draw squares (males), circles (females), and lines (relationships) on the drawing canvas. For a class assignment, this can take 2-3 hours. Many students are switching to GenogramAI because it is also free, much faster (AI creates the genogram from a family description), and produces professional output with proper notation.
Can I make a genogram in Google Slides instead of Google Docs?
Google Slides offers a larger canvas than Google Docs drawings, making it somewhat better for genograms. You can use the same shape and line tools. However, Slides still lacks genogram-specific symbols, emotional relationship lines, and medical quadrants. For presentations specifically, the best workflow is to create the genogram in GenogramAI, export as PNG, and embed the image in your Google Slides presentation.
How do I export a genogram from Google Docs as an image?
Google Docs does not support exporting drawings as standalone images. Your options are: (1) take a screenshot of the drawing, (2) download the document as PDF, or (3) open the drawing editor, select all elements, copy, and paste into another tool. None of these produce high-quality results. GenogramAI exports genograms as high-resolution PNG files with one click.
What free tool is better than Google Docs for genograms?
GenogramAI is the best free alternative to Google Docs for genograms. It is purpose-built for clinical genograms with McGoldrick-standard symbols, 48 relationship types, medical quadrants, and AI-powered generation from text descriptions. The free plan includes 2 genograms with all features. Unlike Google Docs, it produces professional-quality output that meets academic and clinical standards.
Free Genograms, Without the Google Docs Headache
Create professional genograms in minutes. Free to start. No Google account required. Works in any browser.
Create Free Genogram