Family Tree Formats
Once you’ve decided how many generations to include in your family tree, it’s time to choose a format. The standard options are Bracket, Waterfall, Full Ring, and Half Ring. Each one offers a different way to visuallyshowcase your family’s history—whether you're looking for something traditional, modern, or bold.
Not sure what’s right for you? We’ll talk it through during your consultation.
Bracket
Clean, compact, and easy to read, the bracket format works well for showing several generations in a clear left-to-right structure. It’s a great choice if you want a traditional layout that’s straightforward and easy to follow.
Well suited for 4–5 generations.
Waterfall
This vertical format places the youngest generation at the bottom, with ancestors extending upward through the tree. It’s ideal when you want to emphasize a child, a couple, or your present-day family and trace their roots through the generations.
Works best for 5 generations and under.
Full Ring
A circular format that shows symmetrical branches of maternal and paternal lines radiating outward from a central person or couple. It’s a great choice if you want a balanced, decorative display of both sides of the family.
Optimal for 7 generations, easily adapted from 4 up to 8.
Click to see how Ring format varies by generation (Opens in new tab)
Half Ring
A semi-circular layout that offers a bit more breathing room than the full ring, while still maintaining a bold, eye-catching design. It’s a good fit when you want to highlight one side of the family more prominently.
Ideal for 4–5 generations.
Click to see how Half Ring format varies by generation (Opens in new tab)