Create a Diagram

Budget Sankey Chart

Enter your income and where it goes. We'll generate a flow diagram you can download and share.

Total expenses $0
Your Budget Flow

What is a budget Sankey diagram?

A Sankey diagram is a flow chart where the width of each ribbon is proportional to the amount flowing through it. Applied to a budget, your income enters on the left and fans out into your spending categories on the right, like rent, food, debt payments, and savings. The biggest drains on your money become visually obvious in a way a spreadsheet never is. If one ribbon dwarfs the rest, you know exactly where to look first.

How to make your budget Sankey

Enter your take-home income (add a second source if you have one), then list your monthly expenses by category. The chart generates instantly, and anything you haven't allocated shows up as an Unallocated flow. That is often the most revealing part, since it's money leaking out of your plan. When it looks right, download it as a PNG or copy it straight to your clipboard.

Keep the diagram readable

The best budget Sankeys use 6 to 10 categories. Group small line items ("streaming," "music," "apps") into one bucket like Subscriptions, and keep savings and investing as their own flows so progress is visible. If you're posting publicly, a common trick is to enter percentages of income instead of dollars. The shape of the chart stays honest without revealing your salary.

Why people share these

Monthly budget flow charts are a staple format in personal finance communities because they invite specific, useful feedback. Commenters can point at a ribbon and say "that's high for your income." Post yours, compare it against others in your income range, and regenerate it each month to watch the savings ribbon widen.

Common Questions

What is a budget Sankey diagram?
A budget Sankey diagram is a flow chart that shows your income on the left and your spending categories on the right, with ribbon widths proportional to dollar amounts. It makes it obvious at a glance where your money goes each month and which categories dominate your budget.
Is this Sankey chart maker free?
Yes. The tool is completely free, with no account, no signup, and no paid upsells. You can generate, download, and share as many diagrams as you like.
Is my financial data saved anywhere?
No. The diagram is drawn entirely in your browser. The income and expense numbers you enter are never sent to a server, and nothing is stored after you close the page.
How do I share my budget Sankey on Reddit?
Click Download Image to save the diagram as a PNG, then attach it to your post. Monthly budget Sankey posts are a popular format in communities like r/personalfinance, r/MiddleClassFinance, and r/Fire. Round your numbers or use percentages if you prefer not to share exact figures.
How is this different from SankeyMATIC?
SankeyMATIC is a general-purpose Sankey builder where you write flows in a text syntax. This tool is purpose-built for budgets: type income and expense amounts into a simple form and get a styled, share-ready chart with percentages. There is no syntax to learn and no styling work.