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Printable family tree templates
Free, blank family tree charts to fill in by hand. Pick a layout, add a title, then print it or save it as a PDF. Every template fits on one sheet of A4 or US Letter paper.
Tip: in the print dialog choose “Save as PDF” as the printer to get a PDF file. Keep the scale at 100% or “Fit to page”.
Which template should I choose?
| Template | Shows | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 3-generation chart | You, 2 parents, 4 grandparents | Young children, a first try, small gifts and cards |
| 4-generation chart | Adds 8 great-grandparents (15 people) | Most families — usually what relatives can remember |
| 5-generation chart | Adds 16 great-great-grandparents (31 people) | Research using census and civil records; print in portrait |
| Tree with siblings | Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, you and your brothers and sisters | School projects and family reunions |
| Family group sheet | One couple, their parents, and up to 8 children with dates and places | Recording each household in detail as you research |
How to fill in a family tree template
- Start with yourself in the box marked “Me” (number 1). If the tree is for someone else — a child, a parent, a grandparent — put their name there instead.
- Add parents, then grandparents. On the ancestor charts, fathers are always on the upper line and mothers on the lower line of each pair.
- Write women under their maiden name (the surname they were born with). That is the name used in birth records and it keeps the two family lines clear.
- Use a consistent date style, such as 12 Mar 1931. Writing the month as a word avoids confusion between day-month and month-day order.
- Use pencil for anything uncertain, or write “abt.” (about) in front of an estimated year. Ink it in once you have confirmed it.
What the numbers mean
The small numbers on the ancestor charts are Ahnentafel numbers, a numbering system genealogists have used for centuries. You are 1, your father is 2 and your mother is 3. To find anyone's father, double their number; for their mother, double it and add one. So your mother's father is 6 and her mother is 7. Every father is an even number and every mother an odd number, which makes it easy to match the chart to notes and files.
Tips for a chart you will keep
- Print a working copy and a final copy. Fill in the working copy as you research, then copy the confirmed facts neatly onto the second.
- Use a family group sheet for each couple on your ancestor chart. It holds the detail — children, places, sources — that will not fit in a small box.
- Note your sources on the back: “Grandma Rose, phone call”, “1921 census”, “marriage certificate”.
- Need a bigger chart? Download the SVG. It is a vector file, so it stays sharp when enlarged to A3 or poster size.
- Out of room? Large families with many cousins rarely fit a fixed template. Our online family tree maker grows in every direction and still prints on one page.
Frequently asked questions
Are these family tree templates free?
Yes. Every template is free to print, save as PDF or download as an SVG file, for personal, school or family use. No sign-up is needed.
How do I print a family tree template on one page?
Choose a template and orientation, click Print / Save as PDF, and keep the scale at 100% or “Fit to page”. Only the chart is printed, sized for A4 or US Letter paper.
What paper size should I use?
The templates fit both A4 and US Letter. For a larger wall chart, download the SVG file — it is a vector image, so a print shop can enlarge it to A3, Tabloid or poster size without losing sharpness.
What do the numbers on the ancestor chart mean?
They are Ahnentafel numbers. You are 1, your father is 2 and your mother is 3; any person's father is double their number and their mother is double plus one. See what the numbers mean.
Which template should I use for a school project?
The family tree with siblings is usually best, because it shows brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles as well as parents and grandparents. Younger children may find the 3-generation chart easier. Our family tree project guide for kids has more ideas, including options for adopted and blended families.
Prefer to type it? Build a tree of any size online, free.
Open the family tree maker