AI diagram prompts: nine diagram types, ready to copy

How to use these

Send any prompt below to the AI assistant you use and replace the parts in [brackets]. Copy the whole reply and paste it into the editor; the text around the code is ignored and the diagram appears.

Three rules that apply to every prompt

1. Name Mermaid and the diagram type: say "with Mermaid flowchart syntax" so you do not get a prose description or another diagram language.
2. Give the content: steps, roles, dates and data. The more specific you are, the less you edit afterwards.
3. End with "Output only the mermaid code block": fewer explanations, and less chance the code is split into pieces.

Flowchart

Draw a flowchart of [an expense claim process] with Mermaid flowchart TD syntax. The steps are: [submit claim → manager approval → finance review → payment]. [Manager approval] is a decision drawn as a diamond: approved goes on, rejected goes back for changes. Use letters for node ids. Output only the mermaid code block.

flowchart TD
    A[Submit claim] --> B{Manager approval}
    B -- Approved --> C[Finance review]
    B -- Rejected --> D[Return for changes]
    D --> A
    C --> E[Payment]

Mind map

Draw a mind map of [reading notes for a book] with Mermaid mindmap syntax. The central topic is [the title], with four branches: [main ideas, key concepts, quotes, actions], three points each. Use indentation only for levels, with no arrows or list markers. Output only the mermaid code block.

Sequence diagram

Draw a sequence diagram of [checkout and payment] with Mermaid sequenceDiagram syntax. The participants from left to right are: [user, shop, payment provider, inventory]. Write each step in order with who sends what to whom, ->> for requests and -->> for replies, and separate payment success and failure with alt … else … end. Output only the mermaid code block.

Gantt chart

Draw a Gantt chart of [a thesis schedule] with Mermaid gantt syntax, from [2026-09-15] to [2027-05-20]. Add dateFormat YYYY-MM-DD and todayMarker off, use section for the stages [proposal, research, writing, defense] with two or three tasks each, and chain later tasks with after. Output only the mermaid code block.

ER diagram

Draw an ER diagram of [a course enrollment system] with Mermaid erDiagram syntax. The entities are [student, course, teacher, enrollment]. List the main fields of each with PK and FK marked, and show relationships with cardinality symbols such as ||--o{. Output only the mermaid code block.

Org chart

Draw an org chart with Mermaid flowchart TD syntax: under [the CEO] there are [engineering, marketing, finance], and the teams in each are [...]. Put several reports of one manager on one line with &, with the display name in square brackets. Output only the mermaid code block.

Swimlane diagram

Draw a swimlane diagram of [leave approval] with Mermaid flowchart TB syntax. The roles are [employee, manager, HR], one subgraph each. The steps for each role are: [...]. Write links between roles outside every subgraph. Output only the mermaid code block.

Fishbone diagram

Draw a fishbone diagram with Mermaid ishikawa-beta syntax that analyzes the causes of [the problem]. Put the problem, indented, on the second line; below it add one line each for [people, methods, machines, materials, environment] with two or three causes indented under each. Indent with spaces only and write plain text. Output only the mermaid code block.

Radar chart

Draw a radar chart with Mermaid radar-beta syntax with the axes [...]. Define every axis on one axis line, write one curve line per series as curve id["Name"]{number, ...} with one number per axis, and end with max and min. Output only the mermaid code block.

When the reply does not render

Look for "Fix it" in the status row first. If it is not there, use AI fix or check Common errors. Each diagram type has a longer guide under Guides, and ready-made structures are in the template library.