Excalidraw Design Guide

Excalidraw Diagram Design Guide

Color Palette

Stroke Colors (borders & text)

Fill Colors (backgroundColor — pastel)

Sizing Rules

• Minimum shape: width >= 120px, height >= 60px
• Shape width formula: max(160, charCount * 11 + 40) — the +40 is mandatory padding, never skip it
• Multi-word labels: measure the longest single word: max(160, longestWord * 11 + 80)
• Shape height: 60px single-line, 80px two-line, 100px three-line labels
• Font sizes: body text >= 16, titles/headers >= 20, small labels >= 14
• Padding: at least 20px inside shapes for text breathing room
• Arrow gap: minimum 80px between connected shapes — closer = arrows overdraw the border
• Consistent sizing: same-role shapes = same dimensions

Layout Patterns

• Grid snap: align to 20px grid for clean layouts
• Spacing: 40–80px gap between adjacent shapes
• Flow direction: top-to-bottom (vertical) or left-to-right (horizontal)
• Hierarchy: important nodes larger or higher; left-to-right = temporal order
• Grouping: cluster related elements; use background rectangles as zones
• Tier layout:
  • Tier 1 (y=50–130): Client apps / entry points
  • Tier 2 (y=200–280): Gateway / edge layer
  • Tier 3 (y=350–440): Services (spread wide: 160–200px apart)
  • Tier 4 (y=510–590): Data stores
  • Side panels: x < 0 or x > mainDiagramRight + 80

Arrow Best Practices

Binding (always use element IDs, not raw coordinates)

{"type": "arrow", "x": 0, "y": 0, "start": {"id": "svc-a"}, "end": {"id": "svc-b"}}

Server auto-routes arrows to element edges using precise geometry.

Line styles

• Solid: synchronous calls, direct dependencies
• Dashed ("strokeStyle": "dashed"): async flows, optional paths, events
• Dotted ("strokeStyle": "dotted"): weak dependencies, annotations

Arrowheads

• "endArrowhead": "arrow" — default directed flow
• "endArrowhead": "dot" — data stores / database relationships
• "endArrowhead": "bar" — cardinality (ER diagrams)
• "endArrowhead": "triangle" — filled triangle (UML)
• "endArrowhead": null — plain line (undirected)
• "startArrowhead" mirrors the same options for bidirectional arrows

Labels on arrows

Use "label": {"text": "HTTP"} — keep to 1–2 words. Long labels overlap shapes.

Routing complex arrows (avoid crossings)

Elbowed arrow (right-angle routing — cleanest for architecture diagrams):

{
  "type": "arrow", "x": 0, "y": 0,
  "start": {"id": "svc-a"},
  "end": {"id": "svc-b"},
  "elbowed": true
}

Curved arc (for arrows that need to arc over elements):

{
  "type": "arrow", "x": 100, "y": 100,
  "points": [[0,0],[50,-40],[200,0]],
  "roundness": {"type": 2},
  "strokeColor": "#1971c2"
}

Fill Styles (fillStyle)

Controls how shape interiors are rendered. Default is "hachure" (Excalidraw's signature sketchy look).

Use "solid" for any diagram meant to look professional. Only use "hachure" if you want the hand-drawn aesthetic intentionally.

{"type": "rectangle", "fillStyle": "solid", "backgroundColor": "#a5d8ff", ...}

Rounded Corners (roundness)

Add "roundness": {"type": 3} to rectangle and ellipse elements for rounded corners.

{"type": "rectangle", "roundness": {"type": 3}, ...}

Omit roundness (or set to null) for sharp corners.

Diagram Type Templates

Architecture Diagram

{
  "elements": [
    {
      "id": "zone-backend",
      "type": "rectangle",
      "x": 40, "y": 40, "width": 600, "height": 400,
      "backgroundColor": "#e9ecef", "strokeColor": "#868e96",
      "opacity": 40,
      "label": {"text": "Backend", "fontSize": 20}
    },
    {
      "id": "api-gw",
      "type": "rectangle",
      "x": 80, "y": 100, "width": 180, "height": 70,
      "strokeColor": "#9c36b5", "backgroundColor": "#eebefa",
      "label": {"text": "API Gateway"}
    },
    {
      "id": "auth-svc",
      "type": "rectangle",
      "x": 80, "y": 240, "width": 180, "height": 70,
      "strokeColor": "#1971c2", "backgroundColor": "#a5d8ff",
      "label": {"text": "Auth Service"}
    },
    {
      "id": "db",
      "type": "rectangle",
      "x": 80, "y": 380, "width": 180, "height": 70,
      "strokeColor": "#0c8599", "backgroundColor": "#99e9f2",
      "label": {"text": "Postgres"}
    },
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"api-gw"},"end":{"id":"auth-svc"},"label":{"text":"JWT verify"}},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"auth-svc"},"end":{"id":"db"},"label":{"text":"SQL"},"strokeStyle":"dashed"}
  ]
}

Flowchart

{
  "elements": [
    {"id":"start","type":"ellipse","x":160,"y":40,"width":120,"height":60,
     "strokeColor":"#2f9e44","backgroundColor":"#b2f2bb","label":{"text":"Start"}},
    {"id":"step1","type":"rectangle","x":140,"y":160,"width":160,"height":60,
     "strokeColor":"#1971c2","backgroundColor":"#a5d8ff","label":{"text":"Validate Input"}},
    {"id":"decide","type":"diamond","x":140,"y":280,"width":160,"height":80,
     "strokeColor":"#e8590c","backgroundColor":"#ffd8a8","label":{"text":"Valid?"}},
    {"id":"end-ok","type":"ellipse","x":340,"y":290,"width":100,"height":60,
     "strokeColor":"#2f9e44","backgroundColor":"#b2f2bb","label":{"text":"Success"}},
    {"id":"end-err","type":"ellipse","x":0,"y":290,"width":100,"height":60,
     "strokeColor":"#e03131","backgroundColor":"#ffc9c9","label":{"text":"Error"}},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"start"},"end":{"id":"step1"}},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"step1"},"end":{"id":"decide"}},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"decide"},"end":{"id":"end-ok"},"label":{"text":"Yes"}},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"decide"},"end":{"id":"end-err"},"label":{"text":"No"}}
  ]
}

ER Diagram

{
  "elements": [
    {"id":"users","type":"rectangle","x":40,"y":100,"width":180,"height":120,
     "strokeColor":"#1971c2","backgroundColor":"#a5d8ff",
     "label":{"text":"users\n─────\nid: UUID\nname: text\nemail: text"}},
    {"id":"orders","type":"rectangle","x":300,"y":100,"width":180,"height":120,
     "strokeColor":"#9c36b5","backgroundColor":"#eebefa",
     "label":{"text":"orders\n──────\nid: UUID\nuser_id: UUID\ntotal: decimal"}},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"users"},"end":{"id":"orders"},
     "label":{"text":"1..N"},"endArrowhead":"arrow","startArrowhead":"dot"}
  ]
}

Mindmap (Clean Radial, 5 Branches)

Use this when a user asks for a minimal mindmap with directional branches.

Rules:

• Keep one center node and place first-level branches radially around it (not in a loose grid).
• Keep all labels inside shape text; never leave branch words floating outside boxes.
• Use bound arrows with start/end IDs only.
• Keep branch lengths similar unless direction intentionally emphasizes a topic.

Reference coordinates (centered canvas):

• Center: (560, 320)
• Branch vectors: up (0,-180), right (240,-40), down-right (220,190), down-left (-220,190), left (-240,-40)
• Child vectors from each branch: continue same direction by 160-220px.

Coordinate note:

• Element x/y values are top-left anchors; evaluate radial balance using node centers, not top-left corners.

{
  "elements": [
    {"id":"center","type":"ellipse","x":560,"y":320,"width":220,"height":100,
     "strokeColor":"#374151","backgroundColor":"#f3f4f6","fillStyle":"solid","roundness":{"type":3},
     "label":{"text":"Focus Topic"}},

    {"id":"b1","type":"rectangle","x":560,"y":140,"width":190,"height":60,
     "strokeColor":"#1f2937","backgroundColor":"#ffffff","fillStyle":"solid","roundness":{"type":3},
     "label":{"text":"Branch 1"}},
    {"id":"b2","type":"rectangle","x":800,"y":280,"width":190,"height":60,
     "strokeColor":"#1f2937","backgroundColor":"#ffffff","fillStyle":"solid","roundness":{"type":3},
     "label":{"text":"Branch 2"}},
    {"id":"b3","type":"rectangle","x":780,"y":510,"width":190,"height":60,
     "strokeColor":"#1f2937","backgroundColor":"#ffffff","fillStyle":"solid","roundness":{"type":3},
     "label":{"text":"Branch 3"}},
    {"id":"b4","type":"rectangle","x":340,"y":510,"width":190,"height":60,
     "strokeColor":"#1f2937","backgroundColor":"#ffffff","fillStyle":"solid","roundness":{"type":3},
     "label":{"text":"Branch 4"}},
    {"id":"b5","type":"rectangle","x":320,"y":280,"width":190,"height":60,
     "strokeColor":"#1f2937","backgroundColor":"#ffffff","fillStyle":"solid","roundness":{"type":3},
     "label":{"text":"Branch 5"}},

    {"id":"c1","type":"rectangle","x":560,"y":-30,"width":180,"height":52,
     "strokeColor":"#6b7280","backgroundColor":"#ffffff","fillStyle":"solid","roundness":{"type":3},
     "label":{"text":"Detail 1"}},
    {"id":"c2","type":"rectangle","x":1060,"y":240,"width":180,"height":52,
     "strokeColor":"#6b7280","backgroundColor":"#ffffff","fillStyle":"solid","roundness":{"type":3},
     "label":{"text":"Detail 2"}},
    {"id":"c3","type":"rectangle","x":1030,"y":640,"width":180,"height":52,
     "strokeColor":"#6b7280","backgroundColor":"#ffffff","fillStyle":"solid","roundness":{"type":3},
     "label":{"text":"Detail 3"}},
    {"id":"c4","type":"rectangle","x":100,"y":640,"width":180,"height":52,
     "strokeColor":"#6b7280","backgroundColor":"#ffffff","fillStyle":"solid","roundness":{"type":3},
     "label":{"text":"Detail 4"}},
    {"id":"c5","type":"rectangle","x":40,"y":240,"width":180,"height":52,
     "strokeColor":"#6b7280","backgroundColor":"#ffffff","fillStyle":"solid","roundness":{"type":3},
     "label":{"text":"Detail 5"}},

    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"center"},"end":{"id":"b1"},"strokeColor":"#9ca3af","endArrowhead":"arrow"},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"center"},"end":{"id":"b2"},"strokeColor":"#9ca3af","endArrowhead":"arrow"},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"center"},"end":{"id":"b3"},"strokeColor":"#9ca3af","endArrowhead":"arrow"},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"center"},"end":{"id":"b4"},"strokeColor":"#9ca3af","endArrowhead":"arrow"},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"center"},"end":{"id":"b5"},"strokeColor":"#9ca3af","endArrowhead":"arrow"},

    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"b1"},"end":{"id":"c1"},"strokeColor":"#9ca3af","endArrowhead":"arrow"},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"b2"},"end":{"id":"c2"},"strokeColor":"#9ca3af","endArrowhead":"arrow"},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"b3"},"end":{"id":"c3"},"strokeColor":"#9ca3af","endArrowhead":"arrow"},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"b4"},"end":{"id":"c4"},"strokeColor":"#9ca3af","endArrowhead":"arrow"},
    {"type":"arrow","x":0,"y":0,"start":{"id":"b5"},"end":{"id":"c5"},"strokeColor":"#9ca3af","endArrowhead":"arrow"}
  ]
}

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

1. Overlapping elements — always leave gaps; use excalidraw distribute
2. Cramped spacing — minimum 40px between shapes; 60px between diagram tiers
3. Tiny fonts — never below 14px; prefer 16+ for readability
4. Raw arrow coordinates — always use start/end binding to connect to shapes
5. Too many colors — limit to 3–4 fill colors per diagram
6. Inconsistent sizes — same-role shapes should have identical width/height
7. No labels — every shape and meaningful arrow needs descriptive text
8. Flat layouts — use background zones/groups to show hierarchy
9. Side panels overlapping main diagram — place at x < 0 or x > mainRight + 80
10. Unchecked arrow crossings — use "elbowed": true or route with waypoints
11. Forgetting fillStyle: "solid" — default is "hachure" (sketchy); always set "fillStyle": "solid" for clean diagrams
12. Mindmap drift — avoid random placement; use radial vectors from center and continue each branch in the same direction
13. Detached labels — if text appears outside a node, fix node label and remove loose text elements

Pre-Drawing Checklist

Before writing any JSON:

• Plan coordinate grid (tiers, x-positions, spacing)
• Calculate shape widths: max(160, charCount * 11 + 40)
• Assign IDs to all shapes that arrows will reference
• Choose 2–3 fill colors for semantic grouping
• Add "fillStyle": "solid" to every shape for a clean look
• Decide flow direction (vertical or horizontal)
• Run excalidraw guide for quick color/sizing reference