How to Create a Sankey Diagram in Excel: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

How to Create a Sankey Diagram in Excel: The Complete Guide

Sankey diagrams are one of the most effective ways to visualize flows, transfers, and relationships between categories. Whether you are tracking energy consumption, budget allocation, website traffic, or material flows in a supply chain, a Sankey diagram makes proportional relationships immediately visible through varying-width bands.

The challenge? Excel does not include a built-in Sankey chart type. But that does not mean it is impossible. This guide walks you through every method available — from Excel add-ins and manual stacked chart workarounds to dedicated Sankey diagram tools that handle the complexity for you.

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Why Excel Does Not Have Native Sankey Charts

Before exploring the workarounds, it helps to understand the gap. Excel supports over 20 chart types — bar, line, scatter, pie, waterfall, treemap, sunburst, and more. However, Sankey diagrams require a fundamentally different rendering engine that handles:

• Variable-width curved bands connecting source and target nodes
• Multi-level flows where a single source splits into multiple destinations
• Proportional scaling so band widths match actual data values
• Node positioning that minimizes visual overlap

These requirements go beyond what Excel's charting engine was designed to handle. Microsoft has not added Sankey support to Excel, even though Power BI (a separate Microsoft product) does include a Sankey visual.

This means you have three options:

1. Use an Excel add-in that adds Sankey capability
2. Build a manual approximation using stacked charts (complex but possible)
3. Use a dedicated Sankey diagram tool outside of Excel

Let us explore each approach in detail.

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Method 1: Create a Sankey Diagram in Excel Using Add-Ins

The most practical way to create a Sankey diagram directly within Excel is through a third-party add-in. Several add-ins add Sankey chart functionality to Excel's charting menu.

Popular Excel Add-Ins for Sankey Diagrams

Step-by-Step: Creating a Sankey Diagram with an Add-In

Here is the general workflow that applies to most Excel Sankey add-ins:

Step 1: Prepare your data

Organize your data in three columns:

Each row represents a flow from one category (Source) to another (Target) with a proportional value.

Step 2: Install the add-in

1. Open Excel and go to the Insert tab
2. Click Get Add-ins (or My Add-ins > Store)
3. Search for the Sankey add-in of your choice (e.g., ChartExpo)
4. Click Add and follow the installation prompts
5. Restart Excel if prompted

Step 3: Select your data

1. Highlight all three columns (Source, Target, Value), including headers
2. Make sure there are no blank rows in your selection

Step 4: Insert the Sankey chart

1. Go to the Insert tab
2. Click on the add-in button (e.g., ChartExpo in the ribbon)
3. Select Sankey Chart or Sankey Diagram from the chart type list
4. Click Create Chart or Insert

Step 5: Customize the diagram

Most add-ins allow you to:

• Change band colors to match your brand or data categories
• Edit node labels and positions
• Adjust chart title and subtitle
• Toggle data value labels on or off
• Resize the diagram

Limitations of the Add-In Approach

While add-ins are the easiest path, they come with trade-offs:

• IT restrictions: Corporate environments may block third-party add-ins
• Compatibility: Add-in charts may not render correctly when shared with users who do not have the add-in installed
• Limited customization: Most add-ins offer fewer styling options than dedicated tools
• Performance: Complex multi-level Sankey diagrams can slow down Excel
• Cost: Premium features typically require a subscription

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Method 2: Build a Sankey Diagram Manually in Excel (Stacked Bar Chart Approach)

For users who cannot install add-ins or prefer a native Excel approach, it is possible to approximate a Sankey diagram using stacked area and column charts. This method, originally documented by Excel specialists, is technically impressive but extremely time-consuming.

How the Manual Method Works

The core idea is to:

1. Create 100% stacked area charts to represent the curved flow bands
2. Create 100% stacked column charts to represent the source and target pillars
3. Use invisible spacer series to position each band correctly
4. Overlay all charts on top of each other with precise alignment

Step-by-Step Overview

Step 1: Structure your source data

Start with the same three-column format (Source, Target, Value):

Step 2: Build helper calculation tables

This is where it gets complex. You need to calculate:

• Source pillar values: Sum of all flows from each source
• Target pillar values: Sum of all flows to each target
• Space above each band: Cumulative sum of bands above the current one
• Band width: The actual flow value
• Space below each band: Remaining space below the current band

These calculations use formulas like SUMIF, XLOOKUP, IF, and ISNUMBER to determine the vertical position and width of every band in the diagram.

Step 3: Create individual area charts

For each source category, create a 100% stacked area chart with three series:

1. Space above (formatted as invisible — 100% transparency)
2. Flow band (formatted with 50% transparency in your desired color)
3. Space below (formatted as invisible — 100% transparency)

Step 4: Format each chart

• Remove all chart elements (axes, gridlines, legends, titles)
• Reverse the vertical axis
• Set the plot area background to transparent
• Adjust the area fill colors and transparency

Step 5: Create pillar charts

Create 100% stacked column charts for source and destination pillars:

• Each segment represents one category
• Use solid colors matching the flow bands

Step 6: Assemble the final diagram

1. Select all individual area charts while holding Ctrl
2. Go to Shape Format > Align Center and Align Middle
3. Position the pillar charts at the left and right edges
4. Adjust sizing until everything lines up

Should You Use the Manual Method?

Honestly, this method is a learning exercise, not a practical workflow. Here is why:

If you are building Sankey diagrams regularly, the manual Excel method is not sustainable. It is better suited as a one-time academic exercise to understand how Sankey charts work visually.

A professional Sankey diagram showing material flow analysis — this level of polish is difficult to achieve with Excel alone

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Method 3: Use Power BI with Excel Data

If you are in the Microsoft ecosystem, Power BI offers a native Sankey visual that can connect directly to your Excel data.

Steps to Create a Sankey Diagram in Power BI from Excel

1. Open Power BI Desktop (free download from Microsoft)
2. Click Get Data > Excel Workbook
3. Select your Excel file and import the three-column data table
4. Go to Visualizations > Get more visuals > search for Sankey
5. Install the Sankey visual by Microsoft or a third-party provider
6. Drag your fields: Source to Source, Target to Destination, Value to Weight
7. Customize colors, labels, and formatting

Pros and Cons of the Power BI Approach

Advantages:

• Native Microsoft product with reliable rendering
• Interactive — users can hover and filter
• Connects live to your Excel data source
• Free desktop version available

Disadvantages:

• Requires learning a separate application
• The Sankey visual is a custom visual, not built into the default set
• Sharing requires Power BI service (paid for collaboration)
• Less suitable for static report or publication use

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Method 4: Use a Dedicated Sankey Diagram Tool

For most users, the fastest and most reliable way to create Sankey diagrams from Excel data is to use a dedicated diagramming tool. These tools are purpose-built for flow visualization and handle all the complexity that Excel struggles with.

Top Dedicated Sankey Diagram Tools

Workflow: Excel to Dedicated Tool

The typical process takes less than 5 minutes:

1. Prepare your data in Excel using the three-column format (Source, Target, Value)
2. Copy the data from Excel (Ctrl+C)
3. Open the Sankey tool in your browser
4. Paste or upload your data
5. Customize colors, labels, fonts, and layout
6. Export as PNG, SVG, or PDF

This workflow preserves your Excel data as the source of truth while using a specialized tool for the visualization layer.

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Practical Sankey Diagram Examples and Use Cases

Understanding when to use a Sankey diagram helps you decide whether it is worth the effort in Excel or if a dedicated tool makes more sense.

1. Energy Flow Analysis

Sankey diagrams were originally invented by Captain Matthew Sankey in 1898 to visualize the energy efficiency of steam engines. Today, energy flow Sankey diagrams are used to show how energy is generated, distributed, and consumed across sectors.

Example data:

2. Website Traffic and User Journey

Digital marketers use Sankey diagrams to visualize how users flow through a website — from traffic sources to landing pages to conversion actions.

3. Budget and Financial Allocation

Finance teams use Sankey diagrams to show how revenue flows from income sources through departments to specific expenditure categories.

4. Supply Chain and Logistics

Manufacturing companies visualize material flows from raw material suppliers through production stages to final customers.

5. Survey and Research Data

Researchers use Sankey diagrams (also called alluvial plots in academic contexts) to show how respondent characteristics flow across multiple categorical variables.

Sankey diagrams are widely used in academic research to visualize funding allocation and resource distribution

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Best Practices for Sankey Diagrams

Regardless of which tool you use, follow these design principles to create effective Sankey diagrams:

Data Preparation

• Limit categories to 5-8 per level — too many nodes create visual clutter
• Use consistent naming — "Dept A" and "Department A" will be treated as separate nodes
• Verify data sums — values should balance between source and target levels
• Order categories logically — by size (largest at top) or by natural grouping

Visual Design

• Use distinct colors for each source category to trace flows across levels
• Keep transparency at 40-60% for flow bands so overlapping flows remain visible
• Add data labels selectively — label only the largest flows to avoid clutter
• Left-to-right orientation is standard for Western audiences

Common Mistakes to Avoid

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Sankey Diagram Data Format for Excel

To make your Excel data compatible with any Sankey diagram tool, follow this universal format:

Three-Column Format (Standard)

Multi-Level Format (Advanced)

For Sankey diagrams with three or more levels, add additional rows for each stage of the flow:

This format creates a two-level Sankey diagram: Revenue splits into Product Sales and Services, which then split into geographic or functional subcategories.

Tips for Data Preparation in Excel

1. Remove blank rows — Sankey tools will error on empty data
2. Use text for categories, numbers for values — do not mix data types in a column
3. Avoid circular flows — Source A to Target B and Target B back to Source A will cause rendering issues in most tools
4. Handle zero values — remove rows with zero values rather than including them

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Excel Sankey Diagram Templates

While Excel does not ship with Sankey templates, you can find downloadable templates from various sources:

What Templates Typically Include

• Pre-built helper calculation tables with formulas
• Formatted stacked area charts for flow bands
• Stacked column charts for source and target pillars
• Instructions for customizing the data

Where to Find Templates

• Excel community forums — Microsoft Tech Community often has shared templates
• GitHub — Search for "excel sankey template" to find open-source spreadsheets
• Add-in galleries — ChartExpo and similar tools offer template presets
• Tutorial blogs — Sites like ExcelOffTheGrid and Spreadsheeto offer downloadable workbooks

Template Limitations

Templates can save initial setup time, but they are rigid. If your data has a different number of categories or levels than the template was designed for, you will need to modify the formulas and add or remove chart series — which often takes as long as building from scratch.

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Comparing Methods: Which Approach Should You Choose?

Here is a side-by-side comparison to help you decide:

Recommendation by Use Case

• Quick one-time diagram: Use a dedicated Sankey diagram tool — fastest from start to finish
• Regular business reports: Use Power BI with Excel data connection for repeatable, interactive reports
• Corporate Excel environment: Use an add-in if IT allows, otherwise export data to an external tool
• Academic or learning purpose: Try the manual method once to understand the mechanics, then switch to a dedicated tool

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Conclusion

Creating a Sankey diagram in Excel is possible, but it requires workarounds. The native charting engine does not support the variable-width flow bands that define Sankey diagrams. Your three practical options are:

1. Install an add-in like ChartExpo or ChartEngine for the simplest in-Excel experience
2. Export your data to Power BI for interactive Sankey diagrams within the Microsoft ecosystem
3. Use a dedicated tool like Figviz Sankey Diagram Generator for the fastest, highest-quality results

The manual stacked-chart method, while technically fascinating, is too time-consuming and fragile for regular use.

For most users, the best workflow is to keep your data in Excel (where it is easy to manage and update) and use a specialized tool for the visualization (where it is easy to create and export professional diagrams).

Ready to create a Sankey diagram from your Excel data? Try Figviz Sankey Diagram Generator — paste your data and get a publication-ready Sankey diagram in seconds, no formulas or add-ins required.

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Want to explore more data visualization techniques? Read our research data visualization best practices guide for comprehensive tips, or learn how to create circuit diagrams online for technical documentation.