How to Make a Flowchart in Notion (2025 Practical Guide)
2025/08/19
6 min read

How to Make a Flowchart in Notion (2025 Practical Guide)

Learn how to make a flowchart in Notion with Mermaid code blocks and embedded diagram tools (Miro, Lucidchart, diagrams.net). A verified, step-by-step Notion flowchart tutorial.

How to Make a Flowchart in Notion (2025)

If you want to make a flowchart in Notion, you have two reliable paths:

  • Make a Notion flowchart with Mermaid (code block rendering)
  • Make a Notion flowchart by embedding external diagram tools (Miro, Lucidchart, diagrams.net/draw.io, Excalidraw, Mermaid Chart)

This step-by-step guide explains both approaches, highlights pros/cons, and links to the official Notion Help Center. All steps are verified.

Key phrase focus: how to make a flowchart in Notion, Notion flowchart, Notion Mermaid flowchart, create a flowchart in Notion, Notion embed flowchart


Option 1 — Make a Notion flowchart with Mermaid (code blocks)

Best for: fast, lightweight flowcharts directly inside Notion pages.

What you need to know

  • Notion renders Mermaid diagrams when you select the mermaid language in a code block (officially announced by Notion on Dec 23, 2021). See: Notion Releases — “Create flowcharts & diagrams in code blocks (Mermaid)”: https://www.notion.so/pt-br/releases/2021-12-23
  • Official docs for code blocks: Notion Help — Code blocks: https://www.notion.com/help/code-blocks
  • Tip: In Notion’s code block, you can switch the top-left dropdown from Code to Preview/Split to see a live Mermaid render while editing (per Notion’s announcement).

Steps

  1. Add a code block
  • Type /code and press Enter (or click the + on a new line and choose Code)
  1. Set language to Mermaid
  • Click the language label on the code block and select mermaid
  1. Paste your Mermaid flowchart code
flowchart TD
  A([Start]) --> B[Collect requirements]
  B --> C{Is scope clear?}
  C -- Yes --> D[Design flow]
  C -- No --> B
  D --> E[Implement]
  E --> F([Done])
  1. Tweak the diagram
  • Edit node labels (text in brackets) and transitions
  • Use subgraphs, styles, or direction hints (TB, LR, TD)

Pros

  • Native Notion feeling, no external accounts
  • Easy to version as text; great for documentation and wikis

Cons & caveats

  • Advanced layout control is limited compared to dedicated tools
  • PDF export/print of Mermaid blocks may vary by environment; if fidelity matters, consider exporting from an embedded diagram tool or take a high-resolution screenshot beforehand (community-reported behavior)

References


Option 2 — Make a Notion flowchart by embedding external tools

Best for: complex flowcharts, auto‑layout, collaboration, and export control.

What you can embed (verified)

  • Notion supports embedding content from 1,900+ domains via Iframely. Commonly embedded tools include Miro, Lucidchart, diagrams.net/draw.io, Excalidraw, YouTube, etc. Official docs: Notion Help — Embeds, bookmarks & link mentions: https://www.notion.com/help/embed-and-connect-other-apps

Steps (generic)

  1. Copy the public share link or embed link from your diagram tool (e.g., Miro board, Lucidchart share link, draw.io published URL)
  2. In Notion, type /embed (or paste the URL directly)
  3. Choose Create embed or accept the preview
  4. Resize the embed block to fit your page layout; arrange into columns as needed

Tool‑specific notes

  • Miro: great for infinite canvas, team collaboration, and quick workshops
  • Lucidchart: rich diagram types, enterprise sharing & export options
  • diagrams.net (draw.io): free and powerful, supports local or cloud storage
  • Excalidraw: hand‑drawn style diagrams; fast to sketch flows
  • Mermaid Chart (web editors): generate Mermaid flowcharts and embed the live preview link

Pros

  • Best visual quality and auto‑routing; robust export to PNG/SVG/PDF
  • Real‑time collaboration features (Miro/Lucid/Lucidspark, etc.)

Cons & caveats

  • Some embeds require viewers to be signed in to the external tool
  • If a site disallows embedding, Notion will show a “Failed to Load” error (see Notion Help)
  • Privacy note: Embeds use Iframely; viewers’ IPs may be shared with the embedded app for rendering (per Notion Help)

References


Which Notion flowchart method should you choose?

  • “I want the quickest way inside Notion”: choose Mermaid code block
  • “I need polished, complex flowcharts with export control”: choose Embed (Miro, Lucidchart, draw.io)
  • “I want text‑to‑diagram and versioning in Git”: use Mermaid (inline), or generate in an external Mermaid editor and embed

Practical examples

Mermaid example for a Notion flowchart (copy/paste into a mermaid code block):

flowchart LR
  S([Start]) --> P1[Open Notion page]
  P1 --> P2[/Type "/code" and select Mermaid/]
  P2 --> P3{{Add nodes and edges}}
  P3 -->|Preview| P4[Adjust labels and directions]
  P4 --> E([Publish])

Embedding a draw.io/diagrams.net flowchart in Notion (generic)

  1. In diagrams.net, share or publish the diagram to get a link
  2. In Notion, paste the URL and select Create Embed (or type /embed and paste)
  3. Resize the embed block; organize with columns for your page design

FAQ: Notion flowcharts (verified)

  • Does Notion support Mermaid for flowcharts?

    • Yes. Use a code block with the mermaid language to render a Notion Mermaid flowchart (flowchart, sequence, class, etc.). Official code block doc above; Mermaid rendering is widely used and community‑verified.
  • Can I embed Miro/Lucidchart/draw.io into Notion?

    • Yes. Use /embed and paste the share URL. If the site requires sign‑in, viewers may need access. If a site blocks embedding, you’ll see a load error.
  • How do I export a Notion flowchart?

    • For Mermaid: export reliability varies across print/PDF; many teams use screenshots or external Mermaid editors for high‑fidelity exports. For embedded tools, export directly in the tool (PNG/SVG/PDF) for the best results. See Notion Help — Export your content: https://www.notion.so/help/export-your-content

Conclusion: The best way to make a flowchart in Notion

If you need a lightweight, versionable flowchart, Mermaid code blocks in Notion are excellent. For complex flowcharts with auto‑layout and rich export, embed a professional diagram tool (Miro, Lucidchart, diagrams.net). Either way, your Notion flowchart stays close to the context of your docs, wikis, and project pages.


References

Author

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