Free Gantt Chart Template For Excel & Google Sheets

Gantt charts are a great tool for project managers. They’re an easy-to-read way to assign tasks, visualize the timeline of the project, and help you keep track of tasks and due dates. However, creating a Gantt chart can be time-consuming. 

That’s why I have put together this easy-to-use Gantt chart template for Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel to make your life easier!

However, I recommend using Gantt chart software for super complex projects. This software can provide more functionality, integrations, and is easier to handle if you are running a large-scale project with many team members and stakeholders.

Free Gantt Chart Template

My free Gantt chart template is an easy-to-use tool that helps you keep track of your project’s timeline.

This Gantt chart template is customizable and can be used for both short and long-term projects. It allows for the visualization of tasks in a simple, organized way and supports effective real-time communication between all stakeholders.

The template includes a stacked bar chart that visualizes the progress of all your project tasks at a glance. It’s easy to set up and beneficial for all project stakeholders, so it’s an essential tool for efficient project management. 

The name of each individual task or group task is located on the vertical axis of the template. The horizontal axis provides a timeline view, whereas the horizontal bar for each task can be divided either into days or weeks, depending on what’s more suitable for your project.

7 Elements I Included In The Template

The Gantt chart template consists of seven components that every Gantt chart should include, which are: 

1. List of tasks: what actions are required to complete this project, along with the task bars that indicate duration
2. Start date and end date for each activity 
3. Status indicator per task: a label that clearly shows if the task is on track, at risk, or delayed
4. Task dependencies: relationship between tasks or task lists
5. The project's start and end date
6. Project milestones with dates
7. Once all the above has been added, the critical path of your project becomes visible

A 3 MINUTE READ, TWICE A WEEK

Wrangle your projects with the latest insights, tips and (if we’re honest) moral support from project pros. Get the newsletter in your inbox twice a week.

Your email*

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Consent

Yes, I want to sign up to receive regular emails filled with tips, expert insights, and more to build my PM practice.

By submitting you agree to receive occasional emails and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. Protected by reCAPTCHA; Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Other Gantt Chart Templates

If you're looking for Gantt charts for specific projects, you can find those through the DPM Membership. There are Gantt chart/timeline templates on offer for website redesign projects and landing page projects, as well as templates that work with more agile delivery styles.

You can also find more templates for other project management processes in the project management templates roundup.

How To Customize The Gantt Chart Template For Your Project

If you've already downloaded my template, you must be wondering how to use it. Well, thankfully, this template is pretty versatile and can be customized using Google Sheets and Excel. Here are some guidelines on using the template on both platforms.

How to Use The Template in Google Sheets

1. Make a copy of the template document, so you can edit it (see the instructions at the top of the template)
2. Change the file name to your project name and delete line 1
3. Add the following details: company name, project title, project's start and end date, your name under ‘project manager’, and today’s date under ‘date’
4. Enter all your project tasks and deliverables into the project schedule along the vertical axis in column B, and add more lines via drag and drop if needed
5. Enter the task owner's name for each task in column C
6. Add the start date and end date for each activity: The task duration gets calculated automatically
7. Update the percentage of completion for each task in column G
8. Based on the percentage of completion, select an appropriate color-coded status indicator from the dropdown menu for each task
9. Add project milestones and enter dates and the owner accordingly—I recommend bolding these entries (see template)
10. Predecessor task dependencies: For tasks that relate to each other, add the work breakdown structure (WBS) number in column I
11. Update the visualization of the tasks: Update the names of the project phases, add calendar weeks, and take into consideration the tasks that need to be completed before another one can begin—this will essentially highlight the critical path of your project

How To Use The Template In Excel

1. Download the Gantt chart template above
2. Open the worksheet in Excel
3. Then follow the instructions above starting from point 2.

Read more about how to create a Gantt chart here, and get detailed instructions on Gantt charts in Excel here.

7 Example Use Cases for the Gantt Chart Template

To give you some inspiration when it comes to putting the Gantt chart template to best use, think about the following possible Gantt chart use cases for your organization:

1. Project management for various applications in projects of all sizes, including:
   • Construction projects
   • Event planning
   • Software development
   • Website creation  
2. Human resource management, including staff management activities such as:
   • Onboarding
   • Offboarding of employees
   • Payroll management 
   • Training schedules 
3. Creating a business plan
4. Visualizing your sales process and different funnel stages 
5. Executing marketing campaigns 
6. Product management activities from planning a product roadmap to launch to ongoing optimization
7. Social media content creation and publication scheduling

Author's Tip

While you can keep track of resources on Gantt charts, they aren’t the best solution for allocating (and reallocating) resources throughout your project. Our specific resource allocation template (compatible with Excel and Google Sheets) is more useful for tracking resources, costs, and overall project budget.

Now that the basic setup of the project plan template is clear, let’s move on to the concrete instructions on how to use it.

8 Benefits Of Using A Gantt Chart Template

You should use a Gantt chart template because it simplifies project planning by visually mapping out tasks, timelines, and dependencies in one clear, easy-to-understand format. This helps ensure nothing falls through the cracks, aligns team members on deadlines and priorities, and allows for quick adjustments when timelines shift.

Gantt charts have helped to accomplish some of the world's greatest achievements, from building the Hoover Dam to laying down America's interstate network.

Fast-forward a century later, and Gantt charts are still one of the most widely used project management tools, although they've gone from paper to contemporary digital applications.

Using a Gantt chart template provides these key benefits to project managers:

1. Enhanced visibility into the timeline of tasks, including subtasks and dependent tasks
2. Improved collaboration among stakeholders
3. More efficient task management 
4. Better oversight to track progress
5. Identification of potential risks before they arise
6. Everyone involved in the project has a clear understanding of when each task needs to be completed
7. Ensuring that the entire project stays on schedule
8. Flexibility to manage larger and smaller projects effectively

How To Create a Gantt Chart

Creating a project Gantt chart involves a structured approach to visually map out project tasks over time.

Begin by defining the scope of your project—decide whether you're outlining a single project, multiple phases, or a portfolio of initiatives.

Next, list all tasks and activities, estimating their durations and identifying dependencies. Organize these tasks in a logical sequence, ensuring that each has a clear start and end date. This process helps in visualizing the project's timeline and understanding the relationships between different tasks.

Once tasks are sequenced, input them into your chosen tool, such as Excel or Google Sheets. Use a stacked bar chart to represent tasks along a timeline, customizing the chart to reflect task durations, dependencies, and milestones. This visual representation aids in tracking project progress and identifying potential bottlenecks.

Learning how to create a Gantt chart the right way enhances clarity and communication among team members and stakeholders.

What's Next?

Want to connect with other digital project managers to share resources and best practices? Join our membership community and get access to 100+ templates, samples, and examples and connect with 100s of other digital project managers in Slack.