Hourglass family tree template
Short answerAn hourglass chart centers on one person, with their ancestors fanning out above and their descendants below, like the two halves of an hourglass. This template covers five generations: grandparents, parents, you and a partner, children and grandchildren. Family Trees has an Hourglass view that draws this from your data.
The template
Open the file in your browser and print it (choose landscape and “fit to page”), or open it in any app that reads SVG to type into it. Free to print, copy and share.
How to fill it in
- Write the center person, often a grandparent being celebrated, in the You box.
- Parents and grandparents go above, paired as couples.
- Children go in the row below, grandchildren beneath each child.
- Add more grandchild boxes by hand if the family is bigger.
Who it suits
Milestone birthdays and anniversaries, and grandparents who want both directions on one page.
Make it online instead
Paper fills up and can’t be shared with cousins. In Family Trees, add each person once with a photo and the Hourglass view draws this chart for you, with round portraits, and keeps it up to date as relatives fill in their branches. Switch to any of the five views at any time. Free for up to 100 people; posters of any view, from Letter size up to 36 × 24 inches, come with Plus.
Questions
How many people fit on a hourglass chart?
This template has 17 boxes across 5 generations.
Is the template free?
Yes. Download it, print as many copies as you like and share it.
Can I fill it in on a computer?
Open the SVG file in a drawing or design app that reads SVG, or build the same chart in the Family Trees web app, which draws it from your family automatically.