Matches by cluster organizes your DNA matches based on how they’re related to each other, not just to you. Instead of viewing your matches one by one, matches by cluster organizes them into color-coded clusters, each likely representing a shared family line. This can make it easier to spot unknown ancestors, break through “brick walls,” and explore new family connections faster.

Requirements for matches by cluster

Matches by cluster is part of Ancestry Pro Tools*.

To use matches by cluster, you need:

• An active Ancestry Pro Tools Membership.
• DNA results on the account or shared with the account. 
  
  

Viewing your matches by cluster

There are two ways to access matches by cluster:

From your matches

1. From any Ancestry page, click the DNA tab and select Matches.
2. Click the By cluster tab
3. Wait while your matches are clustered. This may take up to 30 minutes.
   • You can leave the page and come back later. You don’t need to leave the page open.
   • If it’s been more than 30 minutes, try refreshing the page.
     
     

From the homepage

1. Under Pro Tools shortcuts (right side), click More Pro Tools.
2. In the Matches by cluster card, select View clusters.
   
   

Exploring your clusters

We have two types of clusters: standard clusters and custom clusters. Custom clusters can show you not just matches you share with a match, but also who’s related to those matches. Custom clusters can help you answer specific family history questions.

This article addresses standard clusters, which group your matches generally. Each cluster can reveal a family line, point to a common ancestor, or help you spot matches who might belong to a missing branch of your tree. You’ll see a visual chart, a list of clusters, and a list of matches within each cluster.

Cluster chart

Matches by cluster can chart and display up to 100 matches at a time.

If you have more than 100 matches across all clusters, the chart won’t appear automatically.

To see your clusters charted, try the following:

• View clusters individually. Select a cluster from the list to view its chart, as long as it includes fewer than 100 matches.
• Filter by parental side. One side may include fewer than 100 matches, allowing multiple clusters to be charted and displayed.
  
  

In the chart

• Each cluster is randomly assigned a color to help you tell them apart.
• Match names appear along the left side. The same people are shown across the top as initials, listed in the same order. They're arranged based on how much DNA they share with you, starting with the highest.
  • To see how much DNA you share with a specific match, click their square along the darker diagonal line.
• Click any square in the chart to see how much DNA (if any) two matches share and what their predicted relationship is. 
  
  

What the squares mean:

• Dark squares on the diagonal line show how much DNA each match shares with you.
• Uncolored squares mean the two matches don’t share at least 20 cM of DNA.
  • Within a cluster, it means they share enough DNA with others in the cluster, but not with that other specific match.
• Gray squares show matches who share DNA with people in multiple clusters. They’re gray where they share DNA with someone outside of their cluster and colored where they share DNA with someone in their cluster.
  
  

List of clusters

Below the cluster chart, you’ll see a list of clusters, arranged from largest to smallest, that is, from the most to the fewest matches.

Select any cluster to view its chart and see the full list of matches included in that group. These matches are called cluster members.

Cluster members

Cluster members are DNA matches grouped together based on how much DNA they share with each other. A cluster usually includes people who descend from common ancestors and often represent a single family line.

Not all matches will be clustered. Some are too close, too distant, or don’t have enough shared connections. For example, close matches, like grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, or half-siblings, are excluded because they’re related through multiple lines and including them could affect how other matches are grouped.

You can add cluster members to match groups you’ve already created or start new ones. Adding clustered matches to custom groups lets you filter your match list by group and keep track of research across your tree.

Making the most of your clusters

A few strategies can help you get the most out of your clusters:

• Start with clusters that include matches you haven’t already added to your family tree
• Use common ancestors (when available) to confirm known lines and explore new ones.
• Look for shared surnames, locations, or tree hints in a cluster
• Use a known 1st, 2nd, or 3rd cousin in an unfamiliar cluster to explore unknown lines

Over time, these connections can help reveal new branches of your family tree.

Frequently asked questions

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*This DNA feature may requires an Ancestry Pro Tools membership. Some members will not be able to access this feature until December 2025.