What is an org chart?
An org chart (organizational chart) is a diagram of an organization's people and reporting lines. Each box is a person or a role; each line connects a manager to someone who reports to them. Read top to bottom, it answers the questions every new hire asks in their first week: who does what, who decides, and who do I go to.
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Open the editor and list your people one per row. The org chart draws itself as you type. Your work is saved automatically in your browser.
Create Your Org Chart FreeWhat an org chart shows
Every org chart carries the same three layers of information, whatever it looks like:
- People or positions: a box per person, usually with their name and job title.
- Reporting lines: a solid line from each manager down to their direct reports. A dotted line marks a secondary or interim reporting relationship.
- Grouping: departments or teams, shown by colour, by position on the page, or both.
The common org chart structures
A hierarchical (or functional) structure groups people by function (Sales, Operations, Product), each with its own head reporting to the top. It is the default for most companies and the easiest to read as a tree.
A flat structure has few layers: many people report directly to a small number of leaders. It reads as a wide, shallow tree, typical of startups and small agencies.
A divisional structure groups by product line, market, or region, with each division mirroring its own functions. A matrix structure adds a second reporting line (a project or regional lead) on top of the functional one, usually drawn as dotted lines.
Org chart vs org tree
The terms are used interchangeably. "Org tree" emphasizes the shape: one root at the top, branches for each manager, leaves for individual contributors. Any org chart where each person has exactly one primary manager is a tree, which is also what makes it possible to lay the chart out automatically instead of drawing it.
How to make one without drawing
An org chart is a list in disguise: every person has a name, a role, and a manager. OrgTree.app takes that list (typed in, or pasted from Excel or Google Sheets) and draws the tree for you, re-laying it out whenever someone joins, leaves, or changes manager.
Frequently asked questions
What is the purpose of an org chart?
To make an organization's structure visible: who works there, what each person does, and who reports to whom. It is used for onboarding, headcount planning, reorganizations, and simply finding the right person.
What should an org chart include?
At minimum, each person's name and job title, and a line to their manager. Most also show departments; many add open roles, photos, or contact details.
What does a dotted line mean on an org chart?
A secondary reporting relationship: an interim manager, a project lead in a matrix structure, or a functional advisor. The solid line still shows the primary manager.
Is an org chart the same as an org tree?
Yes, in practice. "Org tree" describes the shape of a hierarchical org chart: one root, branching down through managers to individual contributors.
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The editor opens with a starter org chart. List your people one per row, and the chart rebuilds itself as you type. No signup required to get started.
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