PRISMA flowchart template for Word

Updated 2026-10-12

You do not have to draw a PRISMA flowchart in Word by hand. Build the diagram in the generator, then insert it into your document.

Open the free generator

Option 1: Insert as a picture

Export the diagram as PNG from the free PRISMA flow diagram generator. In Word, choose Insert, Pictures, This Device, and pick the file. PNG works everywhere and is the simplest choice for a manuscript figure.

Option 2: Insert as SVG

Export the diagram as SVG and insert it the same way. SVG stays sharp at any size, so you can also restyle or resize it for a poster or thesis figure, not just a manuscript. In recent versions of Word, select the image and use Graphics Format, Convert to Shape to make the boxes and text editable. The same SVG opens in PowerPoint, Illustrator and Inkscape.

Option 3: Use the official template

The PRISMA website also provides the flow diagram template in editable formats. That is fine if you prefer to type into boxes, but you must keep the arrows and box sizes aligned yourself. A generator keeps the layout consistent and updates it as your numbers change.

Which format should you choose?

PNG: the safe default. It looks the same in every version of Word, in Google Docs and in a journal's submission system. The generator exports it at three times screen size, so it stays crisp when printed at normal figure width.
SVG: best when you may need to resize the figure or tweak wording later inside Word. It needs a recent version of Word; older versions cannot insert SVG files.
PDF: useful when a journal asks for the figure as a separate vector file. The PDF button opens your browser's print dialog, where you choose "Save as PDF".

Step by step: from generator to Word

Open the generator, pick your template and enter your numbers.
Check that the counts reconcile from box to box before you export. It is quicker to fix a number in the form than in Word.
Click PNG (or SVG) to download the file.
In Word, place the cursor where the figure should go and choose Insert, Pictures, This Device.
Right-click the picture, choose Wrap Text, and select In Line with Text so it does not drift when the surrounding text changes.
Drag a corner handle to resize. Dragging a side handle stretches the diagram out of proportion.
Add the caption below with References, Insert Caption, so Word numbers the figure for you.

Editing the diagram inside Word

After Convert to Shape, the SVG becomes a group of ordinary Word shapes and text boxes. Click a box to retype a number, or select the group and change the font to match your manuscript. Two cautions: the arrows are no longer attached to the boxes, so moving a box does not move its arrow, and nothing recalculates if you change a number. For anything beyond a small wording fix, it is safer to change the form in the generator and export again. Use Save progress in the generator to keep a file you can reload when reviewers ask for changes.

PowerPoint and Google Docs

The same files work in PowerPoint through Insert, Pictures, and Convert to Shape is available there too, which is handy for a conference slide or poster. Google Docs does not insert SVG files, so use the PNG there through Insert, Image, Upload from computer.

Fixing common problems

The figure looks blurry: Word may have compressed it. Go to File, Options, Advanced, Image Size and Quality, and tick "Do not compress images in file" before inserting the picture again.
The figure jumps to another page: set the wrapping to In Line with Text, and make it slightly smaller so it fits with its caption.
Convert to Shape is missing: your Word version does not support it. Insert the PNG, or make the edit in the generator.
The text is too small in print: give the figure the full page width, or shorten long database names and exclusion reasons in the form so the boxes need less room.

Tips for journal submission

Check your journal's figure guidelines for resolution and file type.
Use a high-resolution PNG or a vector file for print.
Add a caption such as "Figure 1. PRISMA 2020 flow diagram of study selection" and cite the source.

Related guides

See the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram template for the four versions, or how to make a PRISMA flow diagram from scratch.

Quick answers

Can I edit the PRISMA diagram in Word after exporting?

Yes, if you export SVG and use Convert to Shape in a recent version of Word. A PNG is a picture and cannot be edited as text.

Can I use the diagram in Google Docs?

Yes. Export PNG and add it with Insert, Image, Upload from computer. Google Docs does not accept SVG files.

Is the exported PNG good enough for print?

It is exported at three times screen size, which is sharp at normal figure width. If your journal sets a specific resolution or asks for a vector file, send the SVG or PDF.

Source of the flow diagram wording: Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021;372:n71. doi:10.1136/bmj.n71. Licensed CC BY 4.0. This site is independent and not affiliated with the PRISMA or EQUATOR Network groups.