Why Should You Make a Gantt Chart In Excel?<\/h2>\n
A Gantt chart is an essential tool in project management, especially for projects that use traditional methodologies, such as waterfall. That\u2019s because the Gantt chart for Excel details the structure of a project that moves forward linearly, phase by phase.<\/p>\n
![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Gantt-Chart-Template-Excel-image.png\")
\t<\/div>Get your free<\/p>\n
Gantt Chart Template<\/h3>\n
\n\tUse this free Gantt Chart Template to manage your projects better.<\/p>\n\tGet the template<\/a>\n<\/div> \n\n <\/p>\n The Gantt chart for Excel organizes tasks, including their start dates and end dates. This duration is then reflected on the timeline as a bar. You can even track the progress of those tasks by shading that bar according to what percentage of the task has been completed.<\/p>\n Gantt charts are an essential tool throughout the project, but especially during the project planning<\/a> phase. It\u2019s ideal to make an Excel Gantt chart while planning the project, using it to make the project schedule. The tool will continue to be used throughout the project to help project managers monitor data.<\/p>\n A Gantt chart for Excel consists of two main elements. On the left-hand side is a normal-looking spreadsheet, commonly referred to as the Gantt chart task list or project table. Here, you can list your tasks, due dates and resources<\/a> needed including the costs related to that line item. The Gantt chart for Excel spreadsheet can capture a large volume of valuable project information.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong>\u00a0Printable Gantt Chart for Excel by ProjectManager<\/a><\/p>\n Here are some of the key elements that an Excel Gantt chart task list or project table should include:<\/p>\n The timeline side of the Gantt chart for Excel can pinpoint milestones<\/a>. These are usually diamond-shaped icons that indicate important project dates, such as the end of one phase and the beginning of another or a deliverable, etc. You can even indicate tasks that are dependent on another task in order for them to start or finish.<\/p>\n As useful as a Gantt chart for Excel can be, there are limitations. Even a digital Gantt chart requires manually updating data, which takes time away from the project. There has been another evolution as Gantt charts on paper moved to Gantt charts for Excel and, now, Gantt charts as part of a larger project management software solution.<\/p>\n ProjectManager<\/a> is award-winning project management software with powerful Gantt charts that go beyond the limitations of Gantt charts for Excel. Define project phases, link tasks, build a WBS, filter for the critical path and set a baseline, which allows you to track actual progress against planned progress. Everything is online, too, so you can collaborate with your team and see data populate in real time. It’s easy to import an Excel file to make your Gantt in minutes. Get started with ProjectManager today for free and build a better Gantt chart.<\/a><\/p>\n Making a Gantt chart in Excel is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process because Microsoft Excel doesn\u2019t have built-in features for making Gantt charts like ProjectManager<\/a>. However, you can still manually create Excel Gantt charts if you\u2019re an advanced Excel user, as complex Excel formulas and formatting is required to shape a spreadsheet into a Gantt chart from scratch. Here\u2019s a quick overview of what this process looks like.<\/p>\n Make a table with four columns as shown in the image to list your project tasks. Then, add a formula to calculate the duration of each task by subtracting the end date from the start date. This is the duration value.<\/p>\n Make a standard stacked bar chart with data from your project table. The first thing you\u2019ll need to do is to select the \u201cStart (Date)\u201d column and then click on insert and select the stacked bar chart from the graph menu, as shown in the image below.<\/p>\n Right-click the stacked bar chart and then click on \u201cselect data\u201d from the dropdown list.<\/p>\n Then click \u201cAdd\u201d under \u201cLegend Entries (Series)\u201d and use the data selection tool to grab values from the \u201cDuration (Days)\u201d column. Select only the \u201cDuration (Days)\u201d cell to set it as the \u201cSeries name.”<\/p>\n Then select the rest of the column as the \u201cSeries Values.”<\/p>\n Right-click your stacked bar chart again and click on \u201cSelect Data,\u201d but this time, click on \u201cEdit,\u201d under \u201cHorizontal (category) Axis Labels.<\/p>\n Next, select all values from the \u201cTask Name\u201d column.<\/p>\n After you\u2019ve taken these steps, your stacked bar chart should look like this.<\/p>\n To turn this stacked bar chart<\/a> into a Gantt chart timeline, you\u2019ll need to format this stacked bar chart to show the task bars like a Gantt chart. To do so, follow these two steps:<\/p>\n Right-click the blue bars, go to format data series and then remove the fill color.<\/p>\n Now right-click the task names, go to the format axis and then check the \u201ccategories in reverse order\u201d checkbox.<\/p>\n Once the Gantt chart timeline<\/a> is formatted properly, it\u2019s time to add another column to assign tasks to team members to ensure tasks are executed by the appropriate team member. This streamlined schedule will act as a reference point for them throughout the project and enable them to plan for what work they\u2019ll need to complete at various points throughout the project.<\/p>\n Resource allocation and cost estimation<\/a> come next. This is an essential step when making a Gantt chart in Excel because it helps prevent overallocation; individuals won\u2019t be overworked and feel burned out. If a resource is underutilized, it can be reallocated to more critical tasks. By assigning costs with each task, it\u2019s also easier to create a more realistic project budget.<\/p>\n The purpose of an Excel Gantt chart is to act as a reference for how the project schedule is evolving so you might want to include details such as the priority level and the percentage of completion for each task. It makes it easy to see at a glance how the project is progressing<\/a> and alerts the project manager if action needs to be taken.<\/p>\n The appearance of the Gantt chart is fully customizable, too. Feel free to color-code it to represent different project stages or assignees. You can also add your brand logo, brand colors or other touches that will make this asset even more appealing to your team and to stakeholders who will be viewing it.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s how you make a Gantt chart in Excel. However, if you\u2019d like to save some time, you can use our Gantt chart template for making an Excel Gantt chart in minutes.<\/p>\n Yes, building a Gantt chart for Excel from scratch is a lot of work. But it\u2019s worth it. Still, there are workarounds. For example, ProjectManager has a free Gantt chart template for Excel<\/a> that you can download and use right now. Our free Gantt chart for Excel is formatted so you can just add your tasks and start and end dates and they’ll automatically populate the timeline to the right. Download your free Gantt chart template for Excel now and save yourself the time and effort of building one from scratch.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve already mentioned some of the advantages of using a Gantt chart for Excel, but there are many more. The most obvious advantage is that a project manager can see everything that\u2019s going on in the project, but also it improves communication with stakeholders<\/a> and the project team. Managers know who’s working on what, when it\u2019s due and whether it\u2019s on track.<\/p>\n A Gantt chart for Excel also helps with avoiding resource overload<\/a>. You can plan your resources efficiently and make sure you have what you need when you need it. Using task dependencies makes it easier to avoid overlapping activities, which can cause bottlenecks that impact your schedule. This also improves time management, which is important for keeping to your project schedule.<\/p>\n You can also build better communication<\/a> with your team and that’ll lead to improved productivity. The work is transparent on a Gantt chart for Excel, which helps teams collaborate. And, if you\u2019re working on more than one project at a time, you can view all those projects on a Gantt chart for Excel to better share resources and get the most value out of the portfolio or program.<\/p>\n All that doesn\u2019t mean Gantt charts for Excel are without their problems. As you can see from the how-to tutorial above, building a Gantt chart in Excel can be difficult. There\u2019s a lot you have to manually add and the more complex the project, the more arduous the task of creating a Gantt chart in Excel. That doesn\u2019t even speak to having to edit the Gantt chart in Excel, which is almost like starting from scratch.<\/p>\n You can try to add formulas to build the bar chart part of the Gantt chart, but Excel isn\u2019t really built for this type of work. It’ll involve coding beyond a simple formula to populate the bar chart from the spreadsheet. While you can get templates that do this, they still require manually inputting the data. Suddenly, the cost in terms of time is trumping whatever savings you might suggest you\u2019re getting from not investing in project management software<\/a>.<\/p>\n The advantages of using a Gantt chart are undisputable, however, a Gantt chart for Excel puts the brakes on the efficiency of the tool to the point many will shy away from using it. That’d be a mistake. Gantt charts don\u2019t have to live in Excel spreadsheets. When part of a project management software they are easy to create, edit and share with the team.<\/p>\n Once you get tired of manually updating your templates, which are always behind the project you\u2019re tracking, then you\u2019ll want to upgrade to project management software. ProjectManager<\/a> is award-winning project management software that delivers real-time data to make more insightful decisions. Our Gantt charts leave Gantt charts for Excel in the dust, automatically updating with live data so you\u2019re seeing the actual project\u2019s progress and performance, not a snapshot of yesterday\u2019s news.<\/p>\n Gantt charts are incredibly useful in Excel, but Excel versions don\u2019t have the same features as award-winning project management software. ProjectManager\u2019s Gantt chart<\/a> is incredibly powerful as it can link all four types of task dependencies. We also have features such as critical path analysis, the ability to compare planned versus actual costs and live data integrations with timesheets, reports and dashboards. Unlike an Excel Gantt chart, ours updates in real time with the most recent data. But the Gantt chart is only one of the multiple project views you get with our software. Gantt charts are great for managers, but teams usually don\u2019t need all that data. They want to focus on their tasks, which is exactly what they can do with robust task lists. Or they can manage their backlog and collaborate with kanban boards<\/a> that visualize workflow and give managers visibility into the process so they can spot bottlenecks early and reallocate resources quickly to keep production moving forward. The calendar view is great for stakeholders who want to make sure milestones are being met. All views update simultaneously so everyone is always on the same page.<\/p>\n You can use the free dashboard template for Excel, but why waste all that time setting it up and manually inputting the data? Our real-time dashboard<\/a> works automatically and captures live data, which is then displayed in easy-to-read graphs and charts that show project metrics such as time, cost and more. Other project management tools have dashboards, but just like an Excel spreadsheet, you\u2019ll have to spend a lot of time configuring them. Ours is ready to give you a high-level overview of the project whenever you want. Just toggle over and it\u2019s ready.<\/p>\n Our software also has risk management features to identify project risks when planning and then track and resolve issues as they arise in the project. Resource management tools make it easy to set the availability of your team to streamline assignments and then monitor their work to balance workload and keep them productive. There\u2019s automated workflow and task approvals and so much more than a Gant chart for Excel can\u2019t even dream of.<\/p>\n Of course, everyone loves free templates. If you\u2019re not ready to upgrade to project management software, ProjectManager has dozens of free project management templates for Excel<\/a> and Word that you can download right now. We have free templates for every phase of your project. Here are a few that work well with the Gantt chart for Excel.<\/p>\n To help make more accurate estimates when budgeting a project, use our free project budget template for Excel. Our free budget template for Excel lists all your tasks, the accompanying labor and material costs and even has columns to track your actual costs against your budget.<\/p>\n Before you can fill in your Gantt chart for Excel you have to have created a thorough project plan. Use our free project plan template for Word to write everything from your project scope, milestones and tasks to budget, risk and change management.<\/p>\n A Gantt chart for Excel can help you plan and even track your work to an extent. But when you need an instant high-level overview use our free dashboard template for Excel. It converts raw data into charts showing costs, workload and much more.<\/p>\n ProjectManager is online project management software that connects teams whether they\u2019re in the next office, at the job site or anywhere in between. We foster collaboration by making it easy to share files, comment at the task level and much more. Join teams from Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Should You Make a Gantt Chart in Excel?<\/h2>\n
What Should Be Included in an Excel Gantt Chart?<\/h2>\n
\n
![\"Excel](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/excel-pm-export-image-1600x627.png\")
<\/a>How to Make a Gantt Chart In Excel<\/h2>\n
1. Make a Project Task List<\/h3>\n
![\"Task](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Gantt-chart-template-project-task-list.png\")
\n2. Make a Stacked Bar Chart<\/h3>\n
![\"Excel](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/insert-stacked-bar-chart-to-your-gantt-chart-600x412.png\")
\n3. Add Data to Your Excel Gantt Chart<\/h3>\n
![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/select-data-pop-up-600x363.png\")
\n![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/duration-1-600x346.png\")
\n![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/duration-2-600x387.png\")
\n4. Edit the Horizontal Axis of Your Excel Gantt Chart<\/h3>\n
![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Select-data-for-Excel-Gantt-chart-600x350.png\")
\n![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/click-edit-and-then-select-the-task-name-column-600x212.png\")
\n![\"Final](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/should-look-like-this-final.png\")
\n5. Format Your Excel Gantt Chart<\/h3>\n
![\"Final](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/REMOVE-THE-FILL-COLOR-600x305.png\")
\n![\"Edited](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Categories-in-reverse-order-final-600x310.png\")
\n6. Assign Tasks to Your Team Members<\/h3>\n
![\"Task](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Gantt-chart-Excel-task-assignees.png\")
\n7. Allocate Resources and Estimate Costs<\/h3>\n
![\"Resources](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Gantt-chart-Excel-resources-and-costs.png\")
\n8. Add More Details to the Project Task List<\/h3>\n
![\"Priority](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Gantt-chart-Excel-priority-and-percentage-of-completion.png\")
\n9. Customize the Appearance of the Excel Gantt Chart<\/h3>\n
Gantt Chart Excel Template<\/h2>\n
![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/gantt-chart-template-stacked-bar-chart.png\")
<\/a>Advantages of an Excel Gantt Chart<\/h2>\n
Disadvantages of an Excel Gantt Chart<\/h2>\n
ProjectManager Is Better Than Making a Gantt Chart In Excel<\/h2>\n
Fully Featured Gantt Chart View<\/h3>\n
\n![\"ProjectManager's](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Gantt-Manufacturing-Light-2554x1372-1-1600x860.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWork on Multiple Project Planning Tools<\/h3>\n
![\"ProjectManager's](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Kanban-task-card-moving-manufacturing-order-management-light-mode-1600x874.png\")
<\/a><\/h3>\nTrack With Real-time Project Dashboards<\/h3>\n
![\"Project](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Dashboard-IT-Light-2554x1372-1-1600x860.png\")
<\/a>\nMore Free Project Management Templates for Excel<\/h2>\n
Project Budget Template<\/a><\/h3>\n
Project Plan Template<\/a><\/h3>\n
Project Dashboard Template<\/a><\/h3>\n
Related Gantt Chart and Excel Content<\/h2>\n
\n