Create a Sankey diagram from Excel data or a CSV export

Use one flow per line

Write each connection in the form Source -> Target: value. In this fictional example, 500 visits split into 100 sign-ups and 400 visits without a sign-up. The 100 sign-ups then split into 60 trials and 40 people who did not start a trial:

Website visits -> Signups: 100
Website visits -> No signup: 400
Signups -> Trial started: 60
Signups -> No trial: 40

Each stage balances: 500 visits leave the first stage, and 100 sign-ups leave the next. “No signup” and “No trial” make the remaining amounts explicit; without them, the chart would hide where part of the total went.

You can paste these lines directly, or upload a small TXT, CSV, TSV, Markdown, or JSON file up to the current 256 KB limit. Keep labels consistent so the same category is not split into several nodes by spelling differences.

Export Excel data as CSV

This example is fictional. Make three columns headed source, target and value; use one row per flow. The values below match the balanced funnel example above.

Download the sample CSV to follow the same data through the workflow.

1. Keep only the three flow columns on the worksheet you will export. Use plain numeric values and one consistent unit.
2. In Excel, choose File → Save As or Save a Copy, then select CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited). Save the active flow worksheet; a CSV does not preserve other workbook sheets or formulas.
3. Open Sankey Studio’s generator, select Upload and choose the CSV. Native .xlsx and .xls workbooks are not accepted; export them first. Text files must be non-empty and no larger than 256 KB.
4. Choose Generate Sankey and inspect the source, target and amounts in the preview. Uploaded text is sent to the normalizer; its configured AI service may process it. Use a fictional or non-sensitive example if you are trying the workflow.
5. Check that the first stage totals 500 visits and that the 100 sign-ups split into 60 trials and 40 without a trial. Then export SVG or PNG.

If the CSV cannot be normalized, copy the equivalent Source -> Target: value lines above into Describe. Check decimal separators, empty rows and label spelling before retrying.

Use Google Sheets data

Put the same three columns on one sheet, then choose File → Download → Comma Separated Values (.csv) for the current sheet. Upload that CSV using the same steps. This is a spreadsheet-export workflow, not a native Excel or Google Sheets add-in.

Prepare the spreadsheet

• Use one row for each source-to-target relationship.
• Keep numeric values in one column and remove thousands separators where possible.
• Use the same unit throughout a diagram, such as dollars, users, tonnes, or GWh.
• Check that totals and direction make sense before sharing the result.

Review and export

Sankey Studio renders a preview in the browser and lets you adjust spacing, sorting, colour, and zoom. Export SVG when you want an editable vector for a report or slide deck, and PNG when you need a quick image.