You start by entering your project's data in an Excel spreadsheet. We will be using Excel 2010 for this Gantt chart example, but you can simulate Gantt diagrams in any version of Excel 2013 through Excel 365 in the same way. Please follow the below steps closely and you will make a simple Gantt chart in under 3 minutes.

However, you can quickly create a Gantt chart in Excel by using the bar graph functionality and a bit of formatting. Regrettably, Microsoft Excel does not have a built-in Gantt chart template as an option. A Gantt chart illustrates the breakdown structure of the project by showing the start and finish dates as well as various relationships between project activities, and in this way helps you track the tasks against their scheduled time or predefined milestones. A Gantt diagram in Excel represents projects or tasks in the form of cascading horizontal bar charts. Microsoft 365 subscription offers premium Gantt chart templates designed to help you track project tasks with visual reminders and color-coded categories.The Gantt chart bears a name of Henry Gantt, American mechanical engineer and management consultant who invented this chart as early as in 1910s. Hold CONTROL and click in the chart, and then select Save as Template. To reuse your customized Gantt chart, save it as a template. To change the colors for the chart, click Change Colors. To fine-tune the design, tab through the design options and select one. To add elements to the chart, click the chart area, and on the Chart Design tab, select Add Chart Element. You can customize the Gantt type chart we created by adding gridlines, labels, changing the bar color, and more. Select Format Axis, and under Axis Position, choose Categories in reverse order. Hold the CONTROL key, and select the vertical axis (Tasks).

Let’s also reverse the task order so that it starts with Task1. If you don’t need the legend or chart title, click it and press DELETE. In the chart, click the first data series (the Start part of the bar in blue) and then on the Format tab, select Shape Fill > No Fill. Next, we’ll format the stacked bar chart to appear like a Gantt chart.

Find out more about selecting data for your chart.Ĭlick Insert > Insert Bar Chart > Stacked Bar chart. Tip: If you don't want to include specific rows or columns of data you can hide them on the worksheet.

Timetable chart design