How to Create Mermaid Diagrams in Confluence — Flowcharts, Sequence Diagrams & More

Need to add flowcharts, sequence diagrams, or Gantt charts to your Confluence pages? Mermaid Plus brings 26 diagram types directly into Confluence with live preview, one-click templates, and a built-in syntax guide — no external tools required.

Why Teams Need Diagrams in Confluence

Confluence is where teams document processes, design systems, and plan projects. But when you need a flowchart for an approval workflow or a sequence diagram for a service architecture, you typically have to:

1. Open an external tool (draw.io, Lucidchart, Mermaid Live)
2. Create the diagram
3. Export it as an image
4. Upload and embed it back into your page

That workflow breaks every time the diagram needs an update. You have to redo the whole process — and soon your diagrams are out of sync with your documentation.

What if you could write diagrams directly in Confluence, version them with your page history, and update them inline?

Enter Mermaid Plus for Confluence

Mermaid Plus is a Confluence macro that lets you create diagrams using Mermaid.js syntax — a simple text-based language that renders into beautiful diagrams. It combines:

• 26 diagram types — flowcharts, sequence diagrams, Gantt charts, class diagrams, mind maps, and more
• Live preview — see your diagram render in real-time as you type
• One-click templates — start with a working example for every diagram type
• Built-in syntax guide — browse all diagram types with code examples without leaving the editor
• Custom themes and colors — match your brand or Confluence theme

How to Get Started

Step 1: Install the App

1. Go to the Mermaid Plus for Confluence page on Atlassian Marketplace
2. Click Get app or Try it free
3. Follow the installation wizard

Step 2: Insert the Macro

You have two options:

• Slash command: Type /mermaid in the Confluence editor and press Enter
• Toolbar: Click the + button, search for "Mermaid Plus", and click to insert

Step 3: Write Your Diagram

The configuration panel opens with a three-column layout:

• Left: Live preview — your diagram renders as you type
• Middle: Quick templates — click any of the 26 diagram types to load a working example
• Right: Code editor and settings — write your Mermaid code, pick a theme, set colors

Step 4: Save and Publish

Click Save to insert the diagram. It renders instantly when anyone views the page — no external service dependencies.

What Can You Diagram?

Mermaid Plus supports 26 diagram types. Here are the most popular ones teams use every day:

Flowcharts

Map out processes, decision trees, and approval workflows.

graph TD
    A[Submit Request] --> B{Manager Approval}
    B -->|Approved| C[Process Order]
    B -->|Rejected| D[Send Notification]
    C --> E[Ship Product]

Sequence Diagrams

Document service interactions, API calls, and message flows.

sequenceDiagram
    participant Client
    participant API
    participant DB
    Client->>API: POST /order
    API->>DB: Insert record
    DB-->>API: Confirmation
    API-->>Client: 201 Created

Gantt Charts

Plan project timelines with tasks, dependencies, and milestones.

gantt
    title Product Launch
    section Design
        Wireframes :a1, 2026-01-01, 10d
        Mockups :after a1, 7d
    section Development
        Frontend :after a1, 20d
        Backend :after a1, 20d

Class Diagrams

Model object-oriented structures with inheritance and composition.

Entity Relationship Diagrams

Visualize database schemas and table relationships.

Mind Maps

Brainstorm ideas with hierarchical tree structures.

And 20 More

Git graphs, pie charts, Kanban boards, architecture diagrams, radar charts, Sankey diagrams, timelines, Venn diagrams, requirement diagrams, C4 diagrams, quadrant charts, XY charts, block diagrams, packet diagrams, tree views, treemaps, Ishikawa fishbone diagrams, state diagrams, user journeys, and ZenUML sequence diagrams.

Customization Options

Themes

Choose from four built-in Mermaid themes:

Theme	Best For
Default	Clean look with custom color support
Dark	Dark-themed Confluence spaces
Forest	Natural green palette
Neutral	Minimal grayscale

Colors

Customize five color slots — node background, text, border, lines, and diagram background — with visual color pickers. No need to edit CSS.

Font

Pick from five font families and five sizes to match your documentation style.

Output Size

Control how large the diagram appears on the page: Small (0.5x), Medium (1x), Large (1.5x), or X-Large (2x).

Dark Mode Support

The macro automatically adapts to Confluence's dark/light mode. When the page loads, text and background colors are adjusted for readability — no manual configuration needed.

Mermaid Plus vs External Tools

	Mermaid Plus	External Tools
Location	Inline in Confluence	Separate tab or app
Updates	Edit inline, instant preview	Edit, export, re-upload
Versioning	Page history tracks changes	Manual screenshot updates
Learning curve	Quick templates + syntax guide	Learn tool UI from scratch
Performance	Cached SVG, no external JS on view	External embed or image
Data privacy	Everything stays in Confluence	Diagrams stored on third-party servers

Why Teams Choose Mermaid Plus

• 26 diagram types — the most comprehensive Mermaid app for Confluence
• Live preview — see results instantly, no guesswork
• Built-in syntax guide — 26 diagram references with copy-paste examples, no need to leave the editor
• Zero external dependencies — your data never leaves Confluence
• Fast page loads — diagrams render from cached SVG, the Mermaid.js library only loads during editing

Get Started Today

Ready to add professional diagrams to your Confluence pages?

• Install Mermaid Plus from Atlassian Marketplace
• Read the full documentation

Have questions or feedback? Reach out to us at service@ngpilot.com — we'd love to hear from you.