We\u2019ll also show you how to make a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets in six simple steps or, if you prefer, you can simply use our free Excel or Google Sheets Gantt chart template.<\/p>\n
Why Use a Gantt Chart Template for Google Sheets?<\/h2>\n
Google Sheets is Google\u2019s version of a spreadsheet which makes it a competitor of Microsoft Excel. The major difference between the two is that Google\u2019s software is a cloud-based free tool that\u2019s much better suited for team collaboration.<\/p>\n
While Excel Gantt chart templates are popular, sharing them among your team members is time-consuming as Excel files must be downloaded and shared every time someone makes changes to the Gantt chart.<\/p>\n
Google Sheet Gantt charts on the other hand, allow team members to collaborate in real-time without having to download any files. This means all your team members can access the same Gantt chart, leave comments and make changes to it at the same time.<\/p>\n
However, while a Google Sheets Gantt chart is better than Excel when it comes to collaboration, it still falls short when compared to project management software like ProjectManager. ProjectManager offers fully featured Gantt charts that allow you to allocate resources, track projects in real-time, find the critical path and much more.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve created a free Gantt chart template for Google Sheets<\/a> to help you plan and schedule projects with your team. Once you click on the link, you\u2019ll access the template in a view-only mode.<\/p>\n Then, you\u2019ll need to make a copy of your own so you can edit and share. You can then select who to share the Gantt chart Google Sheets template with and the permissions for each team member. You can share it as a view-only or as an editable Google Sheets spreadsheet.<\/p>\n Making a Gantt chart in Google Sheets is a great free alternative to Excel or more robust project management software.<\/a> There are some downsides, however, which can possibly make Google Sheets a less-than-ideal solution for your needs.<\/p>\n Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of creating a Gantt chart in Google Sheets:<\/p>\n Making a Gantt chart on Google Sheets is fine if you\u2019re managing a simple project and already using other Google tools. However, if you\u2019re managing a more complicated project or just want to have integrated features to track<\/a>, monitor and report on your progress and performance, you\u2019ll have to use a real Gantt chart tool.<\/p>\n Related:<\/b> Project Management Templates for Google Sheets<\/a><\/p>\n Google Sheets isn’t Gantt chart software and will only get you so far. You can\u2019t link dependencies, set milestones, assign your team from the Gantt, monitor<\/a> their progress and easily share and collaborate to the extent that you can with ProjectManager.<\/p>\n If you find that you’ve run into a wall, it’s time to try ProjectManager<\/a> and see what a Gantt chart tool can do without giving you a headache. Our award-winning project management software organizes all your tasks, your team and your project for greater efficiency. Our project management software offers a powerful Gantt chart maker<\/a> that was designed for project managers and has features that make it a much superior alternative to Excel and Google Gantt chart templates.<\/p>\n Google spreadsheets weren’t designed for making Gantt charts. If you\u2019re looking for a Gantt chart that\u2019s easy to make, update and works with all the features you need to manage your project, you need project management software. ProjectManager<\/a> is award-winning project management software that has interactive Gantt charts to help you plan and schedule your project.<\/p>\n Creating a Gantt chart in our tool is simple and free for 30 days when you take our trial. It’s far more dynamic than what a Google spreadsheet offers. To follow along, try ProjectManager for free by clicking here,<\/a> and if you like it, there are three tiers to subscribe to after your 30-day trial is over. Let\u2019s learn how to create a Gantt chart with ProjectManager step by step.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Export your Google Sheet Gantt chart as an Excel spreadsheet<\/a>\u00a0and import it into our tool. You can also use one of our industry-specific templates, or just add tasks to the Gantt chart tool manually. These features make it easy to make a Gantt chart in minutes.<\/p>\n Set the start and end dates for each of the tasks and they\u2019ll populate the Gantt timeline. The start and end dates are connected by a color-coded duration bar, which indicates progress by its shading. The percent complete column allows team members to update their task status<\/a> and allows project managers to track progress with the bar graph in real time.<\/p>\n Connect project tasks that are dependent on other tasks<\/a> to start or end to avoid bottlenecks. Then break the project into more manageable phases, or note important dates by setting milestones.<\/p>\n Start assigning tasks to your team so they know exactly what they need to work on. Plus, as they complete their tasks, progress is updated in real time on the percent complete column so you can track your schedule. Save your Gantt as a PDF and email it to project stakeholders<\/a> to keep them in the loop or you can print out a copy to use in presentations. You now have a fully functioning Gantt chart!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Like any other Gantt chart, a Google Sheets Gantt chart has two main parts: a table in which you\u2019ll list your tasks, their duration and due dates and a stacked bar chart, which is a visual representation of the project schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here are the steps you\u2019ll need to follow to make a Gantt chart in Google Sheets. The final result should look like the free Google Sheets Gantt chart template referenced above.<\/p>\n The first thing that you\u2019ll need to do to create your Gantt chart in Google Sheets is to create three columns. Start by listing your project tasks in the first column along with their start date and end date to define your project timeline<\/a>. Make sure to follow the format below (month\/day\/year).<\/p>\n Now, type \u201cstart on day\u201d as the title for the column that will go beside the end (date) column as shown below. Then, enter the formula \u201c=B2-$B$2.\u201d This column will be necessary when creating the stacked bar chart of your Gantt chart.<\/p>\n Once you enter the formula on the first row, Google Sheets will suggest you autofill the rest of the column.<\/p>\n Create a column to calculate the duration of each task. To do so, repeat the process from step two, type duration as the column title, and then enter the formula \u201c=C2-B2.\u201d<\/p>\n Google Sheets will again suggest you use the autofill feature to populate the rest of the column. This is the last column you\u2019ll need to make your Gantt chart in Google Sheets.<\/p>\n Now, select all the values in column \u201cA.\u201d Then hold the \u201cControl\u201d key on your Windows PC keyboard or the \u201cCommand\u201d key if you\u2019re using a Mac<\/a>. While you press on that key, select all values in columns \u201cD\u201d and \u201cE\u201d as well.<\/p>\n Then, while the columns are selected, click \u201cInsert\u201d at the top of your screen as shown below, and then click \u201cChart.\u201d<\/p>\n Once you complete step four, a chart<\/a> will appear on your Google Sheets spreadsheet. However, this isn’t the right type of chart you\u2019ll need to create a Google Sheets Gantt chart. Now click on the \u201cChart type\u201d dropdown menu on the right side of your screen.<\/p>\n Scroll down through the chart options and select the stacked bar chart. This is the type of chart used for creating a Google Sheets Gantt chart.<\/p>\n Once you complete step five, your chart should look like the image below.<\/p>\n You may want to keep the chart title and legend, but for this Google Sheets Gantt chart, we\u2019ve decided to remove the title and legend. If you wish to do so, simply double-click them and then once they\u2019re selected press the \u201cdelete\u201d key on your keyboard.<\/p>\n Now double-click your stacked bar chart and click “customize” on the right side of your screen. Then select \u201cGridlines and ticks\u201d to format the horizontal axis values.<\/p>\n These values measure your project timeline in days. Set up your Gantt chart as shown below to set a scale that works for you. In this case, we\u2019ve selected \u201cstep\u201d as the \u201cmajor spacing type\u201d and an interval of five days for the horizontal axis.<\/p>\n Now, double-click the blue bars. Once they\u2019re all selected, a menu will appear on the right. On that menu, click fill color and select theme color white as shown in the image below. This will make the blue bars disappear to make your stacked bar chart look like a Gantt chart<\/a>.<\/p>\n Congratulations! You\u2019ve created a Google Sheets Gantt chart.<\/p>\n Now, you might want to change the color of each individual bar of your Gantt chart to better distinguish each task. If you wish to do so, simply double-click a red bar. This will select all your Google Sheets Gantt chart bars. Then click once again to select an individual bar and choose a unique fill color for each.<\/p>\n Join the thousands of teams that already succeeded with our tool. See why NASA, Bank of America and Ralph Lauren have chosen to use us when managing their projects. Don\u2019t bother with Google or Excel, upload that file and get productive. Take our free 30-day trial<\/a> today.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-CTA.png\")
<\/a>Free Gantt Chart Template for Google Sheets<\/h2>\n
![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-template-Google-Sheets.webp\")
\nGoogle Sheet Gantt Chart Template: Pros & Cons<\/h2>\n
Pros of Making a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets<\/h3>\n
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Cons of Making a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets<\/h3>\n
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ProjectManager\u2019s Gantt Chart Is Better than a Google Sheets Gantt Chart<\/h2>\n
Importing a Google Sheets Gantt Chart in ProjectManager<\/h2>\n
![\"Import](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/sheets-pm-integration-1600x627.png\")
<\/a>\n1. Import Your Google Sheet Gantt Chart<\/h3>\n
![\"Import](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/import-button-on-gantt.png\")
\n2. Add Task Duration to the Gantt Chart<\/h3>\n
![\"ProjectManager's](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Gantt_Construction_Wide_Zoom-175.jpg\")
\n3. Link Task Dependencies & Set Milestones on the Timeline<\/h3>\n
![\"dependencies](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GanttChart-CLOSEUP-CAR-dependencies.jpg\")
\n4. Assign Work and Share With Stakeholders<\/h3>\n
![\"ProjectManager's](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Gantt_Construction_Wide_Zoom-150_Assign-People.jpg\")
\nHow to Make a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets<\/h2>\n
1. List Your Tasks & Due Dates on the Left Hand Side of the Google Sheets Gantt Chart<\/h3>\n
![\"step](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-Task-list-and-dates.png\")
\n2. Create a \u201cStart on Day\u201d Column in Google Sheets<\/h3>\n
![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-task-formula.png\")
\n![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-autofill.png\")
\n3. Calculate the Duration of Each Task in the Google Sheets Gantt Template<\/h3>\n
![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-task-duration-formula.png\")
\n4. Insert a Chart in Google Sheets<\/h3>\n
![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-select-chart-columns.png\")
\n![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-insert-chart.png\")
\n5. Select the Stacked Bar Chart to Get the Gantt Chart Look<\/h3>\n
![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-bar-chart-e1699552368411.png\")
\n![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-stacked-bar-chart.png\")
\n6. Format the Stacked Bar Chart to Look like a Timeline in Google Sheets<\/h3>\n
![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-stacked-bar-chart-with-title-and-legend.png\")
\n![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-no-title-no-legend.png\")
\n![\"Google](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Google-Sheets-Gantt-chart-Gridlines.png\")
\n![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-bars-fill-color.png\")
\n![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-completed-table-and-stacked-bar-chart.png\")
\n![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-final-result.png\")
\nRelated Google Sheets Content<\/h2>\n
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