Free Organizational Chart Template
What This Includes
- Hierarchical org chart layout with 4 levels pre formatted (executive, director, manager, individual contributor)
- Matrix org chart layout with functional columns and project or product rows for dual reporting
- Flat org chart layout with minimal layers for teams under 30 people
- Role cards with fields for name, title, department, location, direct report count, and hire date
- Open position formatting with dashed borders and placeholder text
- Dotted line connectors for secondary reporting relationships
- Color coding guide for departments or divisions
Who This Is For
Maintain an accurate visual representation of the organizational structure for onboarding and workforce planning
Communicate organizational structure changes to the board, investors, or the full company
Visualize team structure, spans of control, and reporting relationships for departmental planning
Understand who reports to whom and where to find the right person for any question
How to Use This Template
Choose Your Layout
Select the structure that matches your organization. Use hierarchical for traditional reporting structures, matrix for organizations with project or product based cross functional teams, and flat for small teams or startups with minimal management layers. You can combine layouts: hierarchical for the overall company with a matrix section for a specific division.
Fill In Role Cards
Replace placeholder text with actual names, titles, and departments. Include the direct report count for each manager position so span of control is visible. Mark open positions with the dashed border formatting to make staffing gaps immediately apparent.
Add Reporting Lines
Connect role cards with solid lines for primary reporting relationships and dotted lines for secondary or matrix reporting relationships. Ensure every position connects to either a manager above or the leadership team. Orphaned role cards without reporting lines indicate a structural gap.
Apply Department Colors and Share
Use the color coding guide to assign colors by department or division. This makes the visual structure immediately scannable. Save the completed chart in a shared location (company wiki or knowledge base) and assign an owner responsible for keeping it updated after every structural change.
What This Organizational Chart Template Covers
This template provides three pre formatted org chart structures: a hierarchical (top down) layout for traditional organizations, a matrix layout for dual reporting environments, and a flat layout for startups and small teams. Each structure includes pre built role cards with fields for name, title, department, location, and direct report count.
The template works for organizations of any size. Small teams can use the flat layout as is. Mid size organizations typically use the hierarchical layout. Enterprises with cross functional project teams use the matrix layout. All three include formatting for open positions (dashed borders) and dotted line reporting relationships.
Common Questions About Free Organizational Chart Template
Which org chart layout should I use?
Hierarchical is the default for organizations with clear reporting lines and traditional management layers. Use matrix if employees frequently report to both a functional manager and a project or product manager. Use flat for teams under 30 people where everyone reports to one or two leaders. When unsure, start with hierarchical and add dotted line matrix relationships where they exist.
How do I show open positions on the org chart?
Use the dashed border formatting included in the template. Fill in the title, department, and reporting line but leave the name field as "Open" or "Hiring." Including open positions makes the intended structure visible alongside the current staffing reality, which is essential for workforce planning.
How often should the org chart be updated?
Update immediately after any structural change: new hires, departures, promotions, reorganizations, or reporting line changes. Assign a single owner (typically in HR or People Ops) who receives notifications of personnel changes and updates the chart as part of their workflow. Conduct a full accuracy review quarterly.