Free Excel Project Gantt Chart Template

As a project manager, creating a Gantt chart can be a crucial step in visualizing and planning your project timeline. In this article, we will show you how to use formulas and formatting in Microsoft Excel to create a free project Gantt chart template.

To start, open a new Excel worksheet and enter the following formula into the top-left cell: `=WORKDAY(previous date, 1)`. This formula calculates the next working day from the previous one. Copy this formula down for the remaining dates to calculate the entire timeline.

Next, use the `MIN` function to calculate the earliest project start date by entering `=MIN(plan)` into a cell. This will help you determine the starting point of your Gantt chart.

Now that we have our timeline and start date calculated, let's focus on completing the grid for our Gantt chart. Divide the worksheet into two sections: the left side and the right side.

The Left Side of the Gantt Chart

For the left side, use the following steps:

1. Create a new worksheet and set up an empty outline as shown below.

2. Use the `WORKDAY` formula to calculate the dates for your project timeline.

3. Copy this formula down for the remaining dates.

The Right Side of the Gantt Chart

For the right side, use the following steps:

1. Calculate the duration using the `NETWORKDAYS` function: `=NETWORKDAYS(start, finish)`.

2. Add conditional formatting and data bars to highlight activities that take too long to complete.

3. Refer to your Pivot Table values to populate the first three columns (Activity, Start, and Finish).

Tips and Variations

Feel free to adjust the number of columns based on your specific project needs. You can also add additional columns or rows as needed.

By following these steps, you can create a comprehensive and easy-to-use Gantt chart template in Microsoft Excel. With this template, you'll be able to visualize your project timeline and track progress with ease.

Additional Resources

If you're new to creating Pivot Tables in Excel, we recommend checking out our related article on how to get started with Pivot Tables.

Excel project gantt chart template free