Free printable fan chart templates
Blank family tree fan charts to print and fill in by hand. They're free for family, classroom and genealogy society use.
A fan chart puts you in the center, your parents in the first ring, your grandparents in the next, and so on outward. Your father's side is on the left and your mother's side is on the right. Pick a template, print it, and start filling in what you know.
5 generations · color
You plus 30 ancestors, back to your 2× great-grandparents. US Letter, landscape.
Download PDF (Letter)
5 generations · black & white
The same chart in crisp black and white. Saves ink and photocopies well for a class.
Download PDF (Letter)
4 generations · color
You plus 14 ancestors, with bigger spaces. A good start, and great for younger children.
Download PDF (Letter)
5 generations · A4
The 5-generation color chart sized for A4 paper (UK, Europe, Australia and most of the world).
Download PDF (A4)Rather type the names in?
Fill in a simple form and get the same chart with every name neatly set in type, ready to print or frame. Free up to 5 generations, and nothing to sign up for.
Type names insteadHow to fill in a fan chart
- Start in the center with your own name (or your child's, for a school project).
- First ring: your father on the left, your mother on the right.
- Each ring after that splits every slice in two: that person's father on the left, mother on the right. The labels under the fan tell you which generation each ring is.
- In each space write the name, and the years of birth and death if you know them, like 1871–1950. For women, genealogists usually use the maiden (birth) surname.
- In the outer rings, write along the slice, from the center outward, so the names fit.
Tips: fill it in with pencil first, then go over it with a fine-tip pen. Leave unknown spaces blank. They show where to research next, which is half the fun.
How many people fit?
| Template | Rings | Spaces to fill |
|---|---|---|
| 4 generations | you, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents | 15 |
| 5 generations | … plus 2× great-grandparents | 31 |
Need more generations? The studio makes charts up to 10 generations and lays out the names for you. Find out more about how many ancestors you have.
Questions
Are these really free?
Yes. Print as many as you like for your family, a classroom, a reunion or a genealogy society meeting. Please don't sell them or post the files elsewhere; link to this page instead.
Can I print them bigger?
Yes. They're vector PDFs, so they stay sharp at any size. For 11 × 17 inches or A3, choose “Fit to page” in the print settings, or ask a copy shop.
Is there a version for a school family tree project?
The 4-generation template is ideal: big spaces, with grandparents and great-grandparents. Children can also type names into the studio and print a colorful chart in the Rainbow style.