Sankey charts, often known as “flow diagrams” or “sankey diagrams,” are a type of diagram that visually represents how different elements are exchanged between flowways in a system. They are commonly used to analyze and summarize data, compare and contrast different systems or processes, and visualize the flow of resources or information between different entities or sources.
Creating a sankey chart is a relatively simple process, and once the components of your chart are organized and labeled, you can easily add more flow elements to explore complex systems. This article will cover the basics of sankey chart creation, including the different elements you need to include, as well as several examples of sankey charts of varying complexity.
Creating your sankey chart:
One of the first things you will need to do when creating a sankey chart is to determine what data you want to include. Typically, you will want to include:
1. Data elements: These are the different elements that you want to represent in your flow diagram. These elements could include anything from individuals, buildings, vehicles, or products, to processes, technologies, and geographic regions.
2. In flows: This refers to the direction that each flow element in your flow diagram flows. Typically, flows are represented by arrows, and they will be added to your chart in the correct order to clearly demonstrate the flow of information or resources between different elements.
3. Sankey lines (or nodes): Nodes are the points around which each flow line is directed. These represent the different sources and destinations of flow elements, and they are often represented by letters, numbers, or symbols.
Once you have your data elements, flows, and lines ready, you can start using software or a spreadsheet to create your sankey chart. Microsoft Excel is a popular choice for this task, as it is relatively easy to learn and has powerful charting capabilities.
Once you have all of the data elements and lines ready to go, it will be time to create your sankey chart. Here is an overview of the basic steps involved:
1. Add data elements: You will need to list each data element that you want to represent in your flow diagram. This can include anything from individuals, buildings, or vehicles to processes, technologies, and geographic regions.
2. Add flows: You will need to create the lines that indicate the flow of information or resources between different elements. Typically, flows are represented by arrows, and they will be added to your chart in the correct order to clearly demonstrate the flow of information or resources between different elements.
3. Make sure that your Sankey lines are consistent: Each flow line should use the same color to help distinguish between different flows.
4. Add title and legends: You will want to give your sankey chart a title, and you will also want to add a legend that explains the different flows and sankey lines.
What you need:
Creating a sankey chart can be a bit of a trial-and-error process, as you may need to tweak the layout a few times before you get it right. But with a little patience, you can create a beautiful and informative sankey chart that will help you understand complex systems and processes.
Here are some examples of sankey charts of varying complexity:
1. Basic sankey chart:
2. Complex sankey chart:
3. Sankey chart with additional sankey lines:
As you can see, sankey charts can get quite involved, but they offer a unique and powerful way to visualize and understand flow diagrams. If you are interested in creating sankey charts, give it a try and see what you can come up with. And remember, the key to creating a successful sankey chart is to be patient and consistent with your design, and to practice until you get it right.

SankeyMaster

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