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How to create a gantt chart in microsoft powerpoint.

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A Gantt chart is a bar chart that shows the schedule of a project. Thankfully, Microsoft PowerPoint provides several Gantt chart templates for you to choose from. Here's how to select a template and customize your Gantt chart.

To get started, open the Microsoft PowerPoint application and select the "New" tab in the left-hand pane.

In the template search box, type "Gantt Chart" and press the "Enter" button.

Five Gantt chart templates will appear in the search results. Select the Gantt chart that most closely aligns with your project timeline by clicking it. We'll use the "Blue Two Year Gantt Chart" in this example.

A window will appear, showing you a preview of the selected template. Click "Create."

Once selected, you can begin customizing your Gantt chart which appears on the first slide of the PowerPoint presentation.

The first thing you'll want to do is edit the content placeholders to reflect the content of your project. That is, edit the years and tasks. To do so, just click the text box and type your content.

The icons in the top-left and bottom-right corners of the Gantt chart represent the (1) kickoff and (2) project release dates. You can edit the dates by clicking the dates and entering your project's kickoff and release dates, respectively.

Once you've edited the content, you can then adjust the length (which represents the duration of the task) of the taskbars. To do so, click the taskbar to select it, and click and drag to adjust the length appropriately. You can also adjust the start/stop markers by clicking and dragging them to the respective position, as well.

If you want to change the colors to match your corporate design, select the item you'd like to change the color of by clicking it, and then click "Shape Fill" in the "Shape Styles" group of the "Format" tab. From the drop-down menu that appears, select the color you'd like to use.

There are also other style customization options, such as changing the color of the shape's outline by selecting a color under "Shape Outline" or even adding effects to the shape, such as giving it a shadow, by choosing an effect under "Shape Effect."

That's all there is to creating a Gantt chart in PowerPoint. How you design the chart is up to you, but the general rule of thumb is to follow the corporate style guide and keep the chart as distraction-free as possible by only adding what's necessary.

• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint

How to Make a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint (Plus Free Templates)

An essential part of project management is ensuring everyone stays organized and on the same page, with clear knowledge of who does what, when, and all the resources involved. One of the most effective tools for this purpose is the Gantt Chart.

In this easy-to-follow guide, we'll show you how to make a Gantt chart in PowerPoint . You’ll master the art of project planning in no time!

We’ll cover the following topics:

What is a Gantt Chart?

What is a gantt chart used for, can i do a gantt chart on powerpoint.

• How to Make a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint: Step-by-step

Option 1: How to Create a Gantt Chart Using a Template in PowerPoint 

Option 2: how to make a gantt chart using the table function in powerpoint .

• Option 3: How to Make a Gantt Chart Using the Chart Function in PowerPoint

How to Import a Gantt Chart in Excel to PowerPoint 

Gantt chart in powerpoint template [free download].

• Expert Advice: Tips and Tricks for Better Gantt Charts

The Gantt Chart is among the most common tools in project management . It is a chart that shows all of the project’s tasks on a timeline, making it easy for everyone involved to see what needs to be done and when.

Visually, the Gantt Chart has two main axes. The vertical axis shows the list of tasks, and the horizontal axis represents the timeline. This way, each task is represented by a bar, with the bar's length indicating when the task starts and finishes. Here's an example:

Each Gantt chart will look different depending on the project and team involved, but there are some components you should always include:

• Dates: Dates are the primary purpose of Gantt Charts since they serve as project schedules. Therefore, consider each task's approximate start and end dates and reflect them in the chart.
• Tasks and taskbars: If you haven't already, break down your project into smaller tasks and arrange them in the order they need to be completed. Then, represent them as taskbars according to their scheduled dates.
• Dependencies: You can make the Gantt Chart as detailed as necessary. To provide a comprehensive view, include lines that indicate task dependencies. This visually illustrates which tasks must be completed before others can begin.
• Milestones: Gantt chart milestones are significant points within your project's timeline, they show which tasks mean substantial progress.
• Vertical line markers: You can add vertical line markers to indicate your project's current status and the remaining work. This way, everyone involved knows where the project is at. 

Gantt charts are widely used in project management because they excel at presenting data , allowing you to visualize key aspects clearly and practically. For example, in these charts, you can see:

• The breakdown of a project into smaller tasks
• The dates and duration of each task
• The participants involved in each task
• The way tasks are related to each other
• The project’s progression

You certainly can! Although there are many programs available for this purpose, using PowerPoint is a great choice because it's easy to use, works well with other tools, and lets you customize your charts however you want.

Continue reading to learn how to create them!

How to Make a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint: Step-by-step 

Making a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint is quite simple. You can create them in four ways: using templates, the table or chart function, or importing the Chart from Excel . Let's take a look at each one of these ways:

Looking for a fast way to create a Gantt Chart? Easy, use a template! At 24Slides , you can choose from many PowerPoint Gantt Chart templates. And the best part is, you can download them for free!

Check out: Gantt Chart in PowerPoint Template [FREE]

Now, let’s check out the step-by-step of editing a Gantt chart in PowerPoint template:

• Sign up for free on Templates by 24Slides to access and download all templates.
• Choose the Gantt chart template that best suits your needs and download it.
• Incorporate all your content in the placeholders, and add your branding elements.

And that's it! You get a professional yet creative Gantt chart . The best part? It was easy and quick to create! Sounds like something you'd enjoy, right? We've gathered the best Gantt chart templates for you. Check them out!

Creating a Gantt Chart using the table function in PowerPoint is really easy! You only need to follow these steps: 

Go to the Insert Tab, click Table, and select Insert Table . When the Insert Table Window opens, set 13 columns (12 for the months and 1 for the tasks) and 1 row. Then, click Ok to insert the table.

Format the chart according to your preferences: color, border thickness, effects, etc.

Next, select the Chart and drag the button at the bottom of the Chart downward to increase its height to fill the entire slide.  

Then, adjust the width of the first column: Select the first column, go to the Layout tab, and, under Width , increase the value until it appears wide enough for your tasks.

Split the first column into the number of tasks you have. To do this, go to the Layout Tab and select Split Cells . When the Split Cells Window opens, set Number of columns to "1" and Number of rows to match the number of tasks you have. Finally, click Ok .

Now, you can enter your tasks in each row and customize the font.

The following step is to add the months at the top of each column. To achieve this, go to Insert , choose Text Box , and type the name of the month, an abbreviation, or a letter to represent it. Adjust them to align neatly above a column.

To replicate this for the rest, you can press Ctrl+D and copy it, writing the name of the months accordingly. It should look like this:

Now, it's time to add the tasks. To do this, go to Insert, Shapes , and choose a Rectangle . Place a rectangle per task based on its duration. Customize it with your preferred color and border.

You can also incorporate dependencies between tasks. To do this, go to Insert, Shapes , select your preferred shape from Lines , and place them between activities that depend on one another.

Finally, add a vertical rectangle to indicate the project's progress. And that's it! You now have a Gantt chart created from scratch.

Option 3: How to Make a Gantt Chart Using the Chart Function in PowerPoint 

Go to the Insert Tab and click Chart . When the Insert Chart window opens, go to Bar and select Stacked Bar .

A Stacked Bar will now open in your PowerPoint slide with predetermined data. Also, an Excel window will appear , displaying the data behind the chart.

Now, replace the predefined data in the Excel window with your own. Start by entering your task descriptions in Column A . Keep in mind that they will be organized vertically on the chart, so the first task you enter will appear at the bottom, and the last one you enter will be at the top.

Next, change Column B's title to "Start Date," Column C’s to "End Date," and Column D’s to "Duration.”

Before entering the actual dates, you need to make sure that the Excel table is in the correct format. To do this, select columns B and C, right-click, and choose Format Cells from the menu.

When the Format Cells window opens, go to Date and choose 3/14 as the Type. To save these changes, click Ok .

Now, insert the dates for each of your tasks. To calculate their duration, type the formula =$C2-$B2 in cell D2 , or where the duration for the first task appears.

Afterward, use your mouse to go to the lower right corner. When the mouse pointer looks like a cross, click and drag so the formula applies to all tasks' duration.

It won't look like a Gantt chart just yet, but we're getting closer. The next step is to select the chart, go to the Filter , uncheck the End date , and then click Apply .

You'll notice the gray bars appearing; those are your tasks. Now, you need to remove the blue bars. 

To do this, select the blue bars, right-click, and choose No Fill . You'll be left with only the bars for your tasks.

And that's it! Your Gantt chart is ready. You'll see your task descriptions on the y-axis and the dates on the x-axis. The final step is to customize it as you prefer —you can change the bar colors, background, grid, labels, and more.

Importing a Gantt Chart is actually quite simple. Just follow these instructions:

Go to the sheet with your Gantt chart, select it, right-click and choose Copy .

Then, return to your PowerPoint presentation, right-click, and choose Paste. You will see the exact Gantt chart you had in Excel.

Remember, the information in the Chart is not static. You can still make changes even though you created it in Excel and not PowerPoint. Simply select the Chart, right-click, and choose Edit Data.

A small Excel window will appear on top of your Gantt chart, it will have the same information as the chart's source. You can edit anything there and see it immediately reflected on your Gantt chart.

And that's all! The final step is to customize it as you prefer—you can change the bar colors, background, grid, labels, and more directly from PowerPoint.

Are you looking to create a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint? You already know the step-by-step process if you want to create your own, but we are here to help you save time! 

Here are 6 of the best Gantt Chart PowerPoint Templates for your next project. And the best part is, you can download (and customize) them for free! 

#1 PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template [FREE]

Check out this Corporate Gantt Chart Template. If you want to use a professional yet creative visual tool, this design could be the perfect fit for your next project.

#2 PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template [FREE]

This Gantt Chart template comes with 3 different slides you can choose from. You can use the Simple Gantt Chart Slide, Project Gantt Chart Slide, or a Progress Gantt Chart Slide to create a visual project schedule and monitor the development of the project tasks over time. 

Don’t be misled by their simplicity, remember, you can always customize them as you want!

#3 PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template [FREE]

Explore our Real Estate Gantt Chart Template – a powerful and visually appealing tool designed to help you keep track of all your project tasks. This professional yet creatively crafted template is the ideal companion for your next property venture.

#4 PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template [FREE]

The Pharmaceutical Gantt Chart template is ideal for pharmaceutical representatives , pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. 

Whether managing, overseeing clinical trials, or coordinating regulatory processes, this template provides a comprehensive framework to visualize, organize, and communicate your project's components.

#5 PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template [FREE]

For projects that start and finish within 3 months , you can use this template to describe the most important events within this time period. And that's not all; the horizontal bars are color-coded, and you can add a short description at the bottom center of the slide. 

#6 PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template [FREE]

The yearly Gantt chart is suitable when you need to do a lot of planning for an extended period. The Chart will show a comprehensible schedule of when each task is set to start and end. It even includes a bar chart to reflect your results, everything in one slide!

Want to see more? Check out more Free Gantt Chart PowerPoint Templates :

Expert Advice: Tips and Tricks for Better Gantt Charts 

Now that you've learned how to create Gantt Charts in PowerPoint, let's see how to get the most out of them . Let's explore some insights from expert designers.

Tip #1: Go step-by-step

Create your Gantt chart only when you have a clear vision of tasks, subtasks, and important deadlines, so you don’t need to redo the entire chart if there are significant changes. I recommend you have a solid idea of key deliverables and an estimated timeline before starting to create one.

Tip #2: Clarity is Key

More than focusing on the visual appeal of the Gantt chart, prioritize clarity. Use symbols or colors that intuitively convey the chart elements , making it easier for team members and stakeholders to understand all the information.

To achieve this, keep it simple and use colors consistently. For instance, if you use different colors for tasks, statuses (to do, in progress, done), departments, or teams, always stick to those colors. Alternatively, include a legend explaining the meanings of colors and symbols in your chart. 

Tip # 3: Allow Breathing Space

Considering the abundance of information in a Gantt chart—bars, symbols, visual cues, grids, date lines, indentations for grouping levels— they can be visually overwhelming . 

So, it's advisable to use a white background to keep a balance between all the information and the background, ensuring the reader doesn't feel overwhelmed. Remember that this chart should be a useful tool, not one that creates more confusion!

Tip #4: Consider professional design

While this article is incredibly helpful for crafting a Gantt Chart for smaller or internal projects, when it comes to long-term or critical ones, don't leave it to chance— consider seeking professional design assistance.

At 24Slides , our team of skilled designers is ready to assist you. Simply provide them with the necessary information for your chart, share your design preferences, and any other considerations you may have. Prepare to be amazed by the time you save and the outstanding results they deliver!

And, if you’re not convinced yet…We have an irresistible offer for you: Why not try out our services and have your Gantt Chart slide designed for just $1 ? It's an opportunity to experience the wonders that professional design can make in your presentations. And it gets better: You’ll receive your slide in less than 24 hours!

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Gantt Charts

How to make a gantt chart in powerpoint.

Senior Content Marketing Manager

April 2, 2024

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If you’ve ever had a project with multiple deadlines, you know having a visual aid for understanding how all tasks will fit together is invaluable.

One project management tool for demonstrating this is called a Gantt chart. In this post, we’ll show you how to create a Gantt chart in PowerPoint while pointing out that PowerPoint may not be the best tool for this purpose— other Gantt chart platforms do it much better. 

Regardless of your tool, Gantt charts are an excellent method for visually depicting the status of your project!

Step 1: Choose your Gantt chart template

Step 2: customize your gantt chart template, step 3: add milestones to your gantt chart, step 4: add bars to your gantt chart, step 5: add labels to your gantt chart, step 6: top it off your gantt chart with graphics, how to edit your powerpoint gantt chart, how to import data into powerpoint gantt chart templates.

What is a Gantt Chart?

A Gantt chart is a bar chart showing a project’s progress over time. They can be used for projects of any size and scope, from small tasks to large-scale endeavors. Project managers use Gantt charts to help them plan and track their projects more effectively. They can also help communicate with others involved in the project, such as team members and clients.

Some project managers make PowerPoint Gantt charts. If you’re considering this, read on to find out how to do it!

How to Make a Powerpoint Gantt Chart in 6 Steps

First, you’ll need to have your data filled into Excel. Once you have your Excel data, import it into PowerPoint. Click on the insert tab and choose “Chart” from the drop-down menu. You will then see options for charts.

Select the stacked bar chart as your desired chart type and click OK to confirm.

Next, click Border Color at the bottom left corner of the same window where you just edited colors used within borders around each rectangle shape created earlier; highlight the border color option with the cursor – it’ll turn blue once highlighted – then click “More Options” button beside “Border Style” drop-down list box containing four different types: Dashed Line (default), Dotted Line (default), Double Border (no effect)and None (no border).

To change line weight between individual cells within larger areas like columns or rows with lots of small boxes placed inside intersecting lines forming an overall grid pattern shape, make sure no lines intersecting each other are selected first before choosing another line style such as dashed style instead so lines don’t overlap when trying changing its thickness level via the Properties Bar options. 

Now that you’ve created your chart, here are the steps you need to take to complete it. 

You must decide which Gantt chart template you would like to use. The Gantt chart templates come in numerous varieties: you can choose one that has been designed specifically for a project management application or create your own from scratch. Whichever option you select, the template must have the right amount of detail and information on each bar so that everyone who views the chart understands what is happening.

Once you have chosen your Gantt chart template, customize it if necessary. For example, if tasks or milestones are missing from your project plan, add them into empty cells using PowerPoint’s drawing tools. You could also change the font color for certain elements to make it easier for people to view the slide show on different screens.

The Gantt chart template allows you to access many formatting options, including fonts and colors. You can also use the Smart Guide feature to align items on your Gantt chart quickly. In addition, there are plenty of tools for customizing your template.

The Format tab allows you to change font styles, colors, alignment, and borders for textboxes or shape fills/outlines. The Insert tab has an extensive gallery of elements that can be used in your project including images and shapes like arrows and calendars.

Finally, there’s a built-in textbox tool if you want to add text without using PowerPoint’s default fonts. 

Milestones are a critical component of your Gantt chart, as they allow you to monitor your progress. You can add milestones in two ways:

• By right-clicking on the bar or taskbar, select Insert Task, then choose “Milestone.” This will create a new task with a default name like “Task 2 Milestone” or “Project Milestone,” depending on how you want it named. If you want something different, change this in Project > Settings > General tab and click OK
• To add additional information about the milestone bar, for example, items such as when, where, and why work is occurring, click into it (it will highlight), type over any existing text, and click outside once done editing it—PowerPoint saves automatically, so don’t worry about losing anything

To add bars to your Gantt chart, click on the Bars tab in the Ribbon. You will see two types of bars: Task (or Start) and Duration (or Finish). Click on one of these options, and you will see a drop-down list with all the bar styles available for this type of bar.

This list includes predefined styles and custom ones you can create using PowerPoint’s artistic tools. If you want to change an existing bar’s color, thickness, or style, click inside its shape, and select Format Shape from the contextual menu.

There you can make changes in the Format Shape dialog box that appears on the screen.

The labels on your Gantt chart should be short and descriptive. They should also be in the same font as your text, in the same color, and the same size. This will help ensure that the information is easy to read and understand at a glance.

It’s time to complete your Gantt chart with some graphics. Try using images of people to represent tasks, equipment for resources, supplies for Milestones, and animals for delayed tasks.

This makes it more visually appealing and helps you convey the project better. Remember that above all else, the Gantt chart is a communication tool. You’ll want it to communicate integral aspects of your project in a way that’s easy to understand.

Related Resources:

• How to Make a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets
• How to Make a Gantt Chart in Word
• How to Make a Gantt Chart in Excel

To edit your Gantt chart in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

• Click the “Format” tab and choose “Chart Tools”
• Select the drop-down arrow next to “Chart Layouts,” then click ” Insert Blank Chart”
• Click on the “Format Axis” button (the one with a horizontal line) and choose an axis type from the menu that appears (e.g., linear or logarithmic). Then click on each of your tasks to change their colors so that they match up with those in other worksheets or presentations (i.e., do this if you have multiple versions of the same project)

Now that you understand the steps for building a Gantt chart using PowerPoint, here are a few tips you can use to strengthen your chart.  

Tip 1: Use the Format tab frequently

To change the font, size, color, and line style of your text:

• Go to the Home tab
• Select the Format option in the Layout group on the right side of your screen
• Select a font from this list of options that pop up on your screen
• Choose what to do with your text by selecting any one of these options: Font Style, Font Size, Font Color, and Text Effects (i.e., Bold)
• Click OK when done

While these tips will help with basic usage, Powerpoint still has some limitations compared to other tools. If you need a more powerful Gantt chart solution, try ClickUp. 

Tip 2: Use Smart Guides for faster editing

Smart Guides are available in the View tab and can be turned on or off. They’re very useful for aligning labels with tasks and bars. Keeping your Gantt chart organized helps your audience better understand it, which is where Smart Guides help.

Smart Guides are helpful because as soon as you start dragging that task around with your mouse cursor, it will snap right into place right where it belongs as needed until you change them manually. 

Tip 3: Use an image for your taskbar (optional)

You can add an image to the taskbar that provides additional visual context to your Gantt chart. The image should be relevant to the project and use a contrasting color that stands out against the background so it is always easy to see.

Now that we’ve covered how to build a Gantt chart as well as tips for how to improve it, let’s address one of the most critical components of building a Gantt chart in PowerPoint: importing data. 

Once you have created your Powerpoint Gantt chart, you will need to import data into it. For this, you can use the Paste option. This will allow you to paste the data into the cells of your Gantt chart. You can also copy data from another source directly into your Gantt chart or use an Import function if no other option is available.

Finally, if none of these methods work for what you’re trying to do with your Gantt chart, then try using an Import As Feature instead. 

Option 1: Use the Microsoft Excel Connector for PowerPoint

If you want to pull data into PowerPoint, you can do this in one of two ways: use the Excel connector for PowerPoint, a free add-in for PowerPoint, or export data from Project and import it into PowerPoint. The Excel connector makes it easier to pull data because it allows you to connect directly with Excel—you don’t have to export from Project first. 

Option 2: Copy and paste a Gantt chart

The first option is to copy and paste either a single row or column at a time. This can be done by selecting the rows, columns, or both and selecting Copy from the Home tab on the Ribbon. Next, select your presentation and paste it onto the Ribbon Home tab. You will now have a duplicate set of data in your PowerPoint file.

If you need to do this for multiple rows or columns, it may be easier to use Excel or Word (or even Google Sheets from Google Docs ) as an intermediary step. First, select all desired rows or columns in Excel, then select File > Save As… Enter a name for your new File (you can keep .xlsx) and click Save.

Option 3: Extract columns from your spreadsheet and paste them one at a time

Once you have all of your data in one spreadsheet, you can use the ‘Select Data’ tool to select a single column. You can then copy this column into PowerPoint.

You’ll need to repeat this process for each row in your File—one at a time.

Option 4: Convert an Excel Sheet into images and insert them into a PowerPoint presentation

If your Gantt chart is already created in Excel, then you can use the following steps to convert it into individual images and insert them into PowerPoint.

• Save the Excel sheet as an image file (Microsoft Office > Save As > Browse)
• Select the Insert tab > Picture option from the ribbon bar at the top of the window > From the File button > Browse for the first image file you want to insert in your PowerPoint presentation. Open PowerPoint, create a blank presentation, and add a slide

Customize Your Gantt Charts in ClickUp for Free

If all of this sounds complicated, you’re right. Even if you understand how to make a Gantt chart in PowerPoint, it’s not intuitive software to manage the ongoing needs of a project. If you want something more powerful and flexible, a better alternative is ClickUp.

The ClickUp Simple Gantt Chart Template makes it easy to bring all of your tasks, deadlines, and project details into one place—without the need for advanced setup or customization.

Check out the video below to see what a Gantt chart in ClickUp looks like in action!

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How to Make a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint: 5 Methods & PPT Templates

What is a gantt chart, method 1. in powerpoint, method 2. in microsoft project, method 3. in excel, method 4. office timeline add-in, method 5. smartsheet, useful tips.

• Collection of Free Gantt Chart Template for PowerPoint

Choose Some of Our Premium PPT Templates for the Showcase

Gantt Chart template Powerpoint. Do you need to create a Gantt chart? There are many options. In this article, I’ll show you how to create a Gantt chart presentation and provide you with a set of quality ready-made Gantt chart templates for PowerPoint. Choose the best method for you.

A Gantt chart is a popular type of bar chart that is used to illustrate a plan or a schedule for a project. In the picture, we see a Gantt chart for project planning. Each segment can correspond to a separate project, task, or subtask.

You can visualize the total time spent by the project, the resources involved, as well as the order and dependencies of the tasks.

In a nutshell, Gantt charts are project maps that illustrate what needs to be done, in what order, and at what time .

To display a Gantt chart, it usually requires at least a start date and an end date. For more complex Gantt charts, you must enter a percentage of completion and/or dependence on another task.

How to Create a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint

Surprisingly, the Gantt chart, which is one of the most well-known and used types of charts for management planning, is not represented in PowerPoint. We can create a similar timeline chart but not a Gantt chart, specifically. Microsoft Office does include it in the Microsoft Project program .

You can use a program such as Microsoft Project to create a Gantt chart and then take a screenshot of the chart and paste it into PowerPoint. In some cases, this is a perfectly acceptable option; however, editing the chart information in PowerPoint will be impossible.

In addition, presentations usually require a very small amount of data. Otherwise, there is a risk of overloading the slide with information and it will be difficult for participants in the presentation to perceive it. Accordingly, it is also quite possible to make a Gantt chart in PowerPoint using Excel .

You can change the chart information at any time because it will be a separate media file that you can simply update. But the fastest and most universal way is a ready-to-use PowerPoint template . This is extremely convenient.

I will give you five popular methods to build a Gantt chart from scratch.

This presentation tool from Microsoft allows you to not only insert ready-made photo diagrams but also create them yourself. This process is quite simple and does not require the user to have any skills to work with tables. I will show you how using Microsoft PowerPoint 2016. Follow these steps:

• Create a new presentation File>Create>Blank Presentation .
• Next, go to the Insert tab and select Chart .

• Click Bar>3-D Stacked Bar .
• A pop-up window will appear, which is an environment for working with Excel tables .

• Enter the necessary information and the result is the following schedule:

• After you enter all necessary data, move the cursor and click on the Chart Filters icon.
• In the Values block, uncheck all checkboxes except Series 1 , click Apply .

The program was created to manage various projects. Microsoft Project has built-in tools to work with tables, presentations, charts, etc. Microsoft’s familiar tools, such as Excel, PowerPoint, and even Skype for Business, are integrated here. There are additional add-ons. It is important to know that the template is built into this software, so users should not have any difficulties. Follow these steps:

• Go to File .
• Open Options and Customize Ribbon .
• Select a box Project and click New Group .
• In the left column in Ribbon Settings click Commands Not on the Ribbon .
• Scroll through the list and look for the item Gantt Chart Wizard .
• Select the item, click Add .
• Go to the Project tab, where a new block will appear.
• To create a graph, click on the Gantt Chart Wizard button and follow the prompts.

Here is a video tutorial for more details.

This method involves inserting a Gantt chart from Excel into PowerPoint. The most difficult part is to create the table with information in Excel. I am not a fan of Excel and it may take some people a lot of time. I prefer PowerPoint Gantt chart templates . But, if you have plenty of time, here is a video tutorial on how to create a Gantt chart in Excel .

• In empty columns write the headings: Task, Start Date, End Date, and Duration.
• Select the column Start Date along with the heading and other information.
• Click on the Insert tab, go to the Charts module, and select Bar.
• For better visualization, we will use 3-D Stacked Bar .
• After that, next to the table, a block with a histogram will be displayed.
• Select the resulting chart, go to the “Home” tab and select the “Copy” item.
• Open PowerPoint, select Paste and Keep Source Formatting .

This method is convenient in that it allows you to insert both a table and its chart inextricably.

Office Timeline is a PowerPoint add-on that helps you quickly and beautifully draw timelines and Gantt charts. This PowerPoint Gantt chart plugin comes in both free and pro editions. Typically, creating a timeline is one of the most time-consuming processes in presentation design, and Office Timeline will help speed up. According to the developers, their product allows you to create timelines of varying complexity. As for the Gantt chart, they promise that you can handle this within just a couple of minutes. They offer nine timeline templates for PowerPoint at the moment.

The scale created in PowerPoint can be transferred to another office program such as Word.

Smartsheet is a premium tool for managing collaboration. You can use project templates and recurring tasks. There is integration with office applications from Microsoft, Google, and others.

It is suitable for large companies with large-scale projects and freelancers who are ready to join other people's projects.

Creating a project is similar to creating a list of tasks in tables. You can import tables from your documents. The Gantt chart is built by clicking on the corresponding icon in the Views section . They also provide video instructions.

• Color. It’s best to select matching but distinct colors for the chart. The standard requirements for a stylistic image are applicable here. The colors should not be acid-bright shades, or difficult to read. Have a look at some ready Gantt chart templates for PowerPoint for inspiration.
• Animation. I wouldn't recommend applying animation effects to charts. This can distort them both in the process of playing the effect, and at the end of it. In other professional presentations, you can often see various graphs that appear animatedly and demonstrate their performance. Most often these are media files with automatic scrolling created separately in GIF or video format; they are not diagrams as such.
• Weight. Charts also add weight to the presentation. So, if there are regulations or restrictions, it’s best not to make too many timeline charts.

Collection of Free Gantt Chart template Powerpoint

The free Gantt chart template is a better way to communicate your project. Since they were invented, Gantt charts have been complicated, complex, and difficult for non-project audiences to read. So, when your boss wants to receive a great report in a presentation form in a short time, the free Gantt chart template helps you save time. Download a free template, insert it into your PowerPoint presentation, edit the information, and it's ready to go.

2 Weeks Simple Gantt Chart for PowerPoint

Gantt Chart for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Corporate Gantt Chart

Gantt Chart for PowerPoint

Gantt PowerPoint Template

Free Gantt chart templates are great ideas, but it's not always a quality choice. They are usually created by project management applications for Microsoft Excel. Such templates can be complicated and uninteresting for non-project target groups. They are also difficult to adapt to your style of presentations and cannot be easily edited.

The non-project audience expects an overview of the project and no complicated Gantt diagram. The premium templates allow you to create a Gantt chart in PowerPoint easily. They can be easily presented or included in the project documentation. As I already mentioned, it's a native PowerPoint Gantt chart template. You can edit, share, or reuse the slide for your communications, scorecards, and presentations.

Each of the presented templates has a description and screenshot , as well as demonstration slides .

The demonstration slides show thematic or abstract images with texts, diagrams, and infographics. Thus, I present you with a comprehensive set of visual tools for a holistic and harmonious disclosure of any topic, object, process, and event .

Main features of premium Gantt chart templates below are:

• Universal design
• Huge variety of slides
• Tons of infographics
• Hundreds of icons
• Various themes
• Free font used
• Easy to customize
• Color schemes
• 16:9 HD Aspect ratio
• Retina-ready
• Fully resizable (vector)

Gantt Charts and Project Calendar PowerPoint Template

Gantt Chart PowerPoint Template

Entorum - Business PowerPoint template with customizable infographics

Business Pack PowerPoint Template

Infographic Pack - Presentation Asset v2.1 PowerPoint Template

Company Report PowerPoint Template

Multipurpose Business Infographic Presentation - PowerPoint Template

Project Timelines and Roadmaps PowerPoint Template

Business Plan PPT - Multipurpose PowerPoint Template

Charts are created to display specific data or indicators. But a purely technical role is assigned to them only in the documentation. In a visual form–in this case, in a presentation–any schedule must also be beautiful and made to standards. It’s important to approach the creative process with the utmost care.

I hope this article was useful to you. Please share it with friends if you liked it.

If you have any questions, ask them in the comments below. Our experts will try to answer as quickly as possible.

FAQ : Gantt Chart template powerpoint

Gantt charts were devised by Karol Adamiecki in 1896. The name comes from its inventor, Henry Gantt, who independently adapted this type of histogram much later in the 1910s.

Gantt charts are useful for presenting scheduling and planning projects. Such timeline charts help you to understand how long a project should take, and plan which tasks you'll complete first. They're also helpful for managing and combining tasks for better time management.

To export the project to a PowerPoint Presentation: - Open the Export tab > select Microsoft PowerPoint. - This opens the Export to Microsoft PowerPoint dialog containing options for exporting.

The most important in Gantt Charts PPT templates are:  - Easy to customize - High-quality design - User-friendly layout–easy to understand, clear representation of time frames

100 Best Business Presentation Templates 2020. Cool! Great! Awesome!

The Magnificent 50 Free PowerPoint Templates

Top 10 Cool PowerPoint Templates 2020

How to Make a Poster in PowerPoint

Julia Green is a TemplateMonster author and technology enthusiast in general. She likes to learn and write about web design and e-commerce. She is also interested in psychology, marketing and everything digital. Julia prioritizes the customer experience from start to finish and likes to present information in such a way that the tone and style correspond to the target group. LinkedIn

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How to Make a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint

Audio version:

Whether you manage a project or are just involved in its implementation, you might have probably heard about or used a Gantt chart , a bar chart that visually represents a project.

A Gantt chart is usually applied in project management for task scheduling, identifying milestones, keeping track of progress and deadlines, and other similar purposes. And on many occasions, there is a need to present this chart, while reporting on the status quo of the project to the stakeholders.

Even though there is a multitude of programs to create and demonstrate presentations, the product of Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, remains one of the most commonly used worldwide.

Therefore, it is quite a recurrent question on how to create a Gantt chart in PowerPoint. To that end, we’ve compiled a small guide that addresses this issue and covers the following aspects:

How to create a Gantt chart in PowerPoint

Powerpoint gantt chart template, how to insert a gantt chart in a powerpoint presentation, how to create and work with gantt charts faster and more effectively.

If you want to work with Gantt charts in other tools, we have also explained in our previous step-by-step guides how to make a Gantt chart in MS Project , how to create a Gantt chart in Excel , how to do it in Google Sheets , and even Word .  

So, let’s see how to make a Gantt chart in PowerPoint.

To start with, add a new slide in your PPT and choose the background color that will be contrasting with your chart. In my case, I’ve chosen a plain dark one from PowerPoint, but you can also use predesigned PowerPoint background templates .

Then go to Insert → Table and select Insert table . Let’s set 13 columns (12 for the months and 1 for the tasks) and 1 row, and click OK.

Once you see 13 columns on your slide, increase their height for the full screen and the width for the first column. To do that, you can go to Layout and then select Width and insert the value. In my case, it will be 7,6 cm.

Now that we have the table, let’s work with the visual appeal of the table. Here, you may select all the columns and go to Design and select the smallest width for the borders, grey color in the Pen color and select All borders for showing all the borders.

You can also select Shading and choose No fill so that your table does not have a background color.

Now, let’s go back to the technical aspects of the chart. Here we have to split the first column into multiple rows. For that, select the first column and go to Layout → Split Cells and choose the number of rows depending on the number of tasks you have. In my case, I choose 1 column and 12 rows.

Now you can insert tasks into these rows. You can change the text color, alignment, and other attributes according to your preferences.

Once we have filled all the rows, we need to add months on top of the table. For that, go to Insert → Text Box and just insert the abbreviation of the first month ‘January’ above the first column, adjusting the font size and alignment to your table. Then you can press Ctrl+D and copy this for the rest of the rows, changing the abbreviated months accordingly.

You have to get a table like this: 

Now it’s time to start adding the timelines. To do that, you have to go to Insert → Shapes → Rectangles .

Here you can add rectangles for each task considering the duration, end and start dates of the tasks. You can also select different colors for the tasks to differentiate them somehow. Besides, you can take the same steps to show dependencies between the tasks.

Go to Insert → Shapes → Lines and choose the connector you want.

If necessary, you can also add the title to your Gantt Chart. For that, go to Insert → Text Box and add the title.

For your convenience, you can also add some formatting to differentiate the months’ columns. For example, you may select the column, do right click and choose Format Shape . Choose a white color and set 98% transparency.

For now, you will have something like this: 

Here is also what you can do to track and show the progress on the Gantt chart. Let’s suppose you are in March, you have already started working on some tasks and want to show them on your Gantt Chart.

To do that, go to Insert → Shapes → Rectangles and select a Rounded corner rectangle. Insert it below the Chart and give it a name (e.g. Current progress).

Then, again, go to Insert → Shapes → Rectangles and choose a Rectangle. Select the same color for it and place it in the center of the Rounded corner rectangle. Then select both rectangles and press Ctrl+G to group them.

After that, you will be able to slide it depending on the progress you’ve made so far. This is it. Your PowerPoint Gantt Chart is ready.

Lastly, if you want to add animation to your PowerPoint Gantt chart, go to Animations , select Wipe , and choose From left in Effect options . Apply this formatting for each row and set Start → After previous for each timeline, so that they appear in sequence.

For those who do not want to create their own Gantt chart in PowerPoint, there are plenty of free Gantt chart PowerPoint templates publicly available on the internet.

For example, you can find:

• Simple Gantt chart templates Powerpoint.
• PowerPoint Gantt chart template.
• Gantt Chart for PowerPoint ;
• Gantt Chart PowerPoint Template.
• PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template with Dependencies.
• PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template for Software Development.
• PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template for Project Status Report.
• PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template for Project Outline.
• PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template for Project Management Plan.
• PowerPoint Gantt Chart Template for Project Timeline .

It may be the case that despite making your presentation in PowerPoint, you don’t want to have a PowerPoint Gantt chart and prefer to insert a more professional complex Gantt chart.

So, if you are looking for a perfect external source that can help to create such a Gantt chart, a good fit for you may be GanttPRO , online project management software based on Gantt charts.

The whole process is simple and will take just a few minutes. First of all, create your account in GanttPRO. There you would be able to create a Gantt chart for free and enjoy 14 days of trial with all the software functions enabled.

Once you enter the app, you’ll see a ‘+’ sign at the top-left corner of the screen. Press it and select Create new project . A window like this will appear.

There you may introduce your Project name, start date of the project, customize working days and working hours if applicable, and then press Create a new project. There’s also an option to import a project in .xlsx, .csv, and .mpp formats or from Jira Cloud.

When you create a new project, by default it will be empty. So, how do you create a Gantt chart? All you need to do is to follow these four easy steps:

• Define dates for tasks and the entire calendar.
• Connect tasks with dependencies.
• Assign tasks.

Once you’re done with that, go to the upper right corner and select Export . There you can choose PNG format and your project’s details that should be included in the chart.

Finally, open your PPT and insert the exported Gantt chart.

One of the truly useful functions of GanttPRO, which is relevant for presentations, is that it provides advanced and convenient options for sharing the project’s progress with a Gantt chart that can include any information related to the project. Apart from the method discussed above, there are two more options to share a Gantt chart via public URL that will show:

• a dynamic state; or
• a static state.

For a dynamic state that is set by default, you’ll share a current state of a plan where all the following changes will be also reflected.

For a static state of the project, you’ll make a snapshot of a current state of a project (ticking the box “Snapshot” in the “Public URL” window). Thus, you will share a static picture of your project taken at the moment you’ve created this public URL. In this case, all the following changes will not be reflected.

At the same time, if we are talking about complex ongoing projects, there is also a possibility to insert a URL of your project’s Gantt chart into your PowerPoint presentation. In this case, whenever you’re going to present, your audience will get the most up-to-date state of the project, since it is synchronized in real-time mode.

This, indeed, is not the only great feature of GanttPRO. A great variety of functions of this cloud-based project management software will not only make your work with Gantt charts simple and quick, but also significantly facilitate the management of your projects.

GanttPRO features will help you in:

You can establish dependencies and task hierarchies and set milestones; set project calendar and enable auto scheduling that will recalculate everything when dependent tasks are modified.

• Task management.

The app provides you with customizable options to work with tasks; introduce bulk changes and set priorities. 

• Project management.

You have options like critical path, baselines, and history changes that allow you to track the state of the project and carry it out as fluidly as it can be.

• Team and resource management.

GanttPRO embraces features that let you assign tasks, log actions, invite team members or add virtual resources and set personal values and personal calendar for each of them; and manage their workloads

• Time management.

This category includes features for keeping track of deadlines, defining the duration for your tasks or setting the estimated time; tracking time spent on tasks by team members; creating time log reports to track efficiency.

On top of that, GanttPRO provides plenty of advanced functions for costs and budget management, thus, cost management won’t be a problem either. Its elaborate collaboration functions will improve the whole team interaction, making everyone aware of things that happen in the project. Whilst the export function will let you save the charts in popular formats such as PNG and PDF, and share them instantly.

The tool’s intuitive interface and a short learning curve will allow you to create your first project in a matter of minutes. GanttPRO offers plenty of Gantt chart templates to suit most professional areas and teams to make this process as easy as it can be.

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How to Create Gantt Charts in PowerPoint With PPT Templates

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You might not think of Microsoft PowerPoint as a project management tool. But there's a reason it's used for project updates and by project teams.

The ease-of-use and flexibility of PowerPoint work for any project management professional.  It's easy to create a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint (PPT) once you know how.

When it comes to managing projects, you need tools to make them manageable. That includes process charts to help your team collaborate efficiently. Project management professionals often turn to  Gantt charts  to visualize the parts of the project.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a Gantt chart in PowerPoint . You'll learn how to use an impressive template to build a Gantt chart that ensures that every member of your project team knows how their part in the project fits into the bigger picture. Let's dive in!

What's a Gantt Chart?

Imagine you're building something that requires collaboration with others. That could be a website, new product launch, or even starting your own company. Regardless of what you're starting, there are  always many moving parts to make it all come together.

It certainly slows you down if you simply wait for one task to complete to start another. Working on many tasks at the same time so that you don't hit show-stopping bottlenecks is crucial for keeping a project on time and on track.

That's where  Gantt charts  come into play. Gantt charts help you understand not just the  list  of tasks that need to get done, but the sequence and relation of those tasks. In reality, managing a project of any size comes down to juggling many tasks.

As you can see in the screenshot above, the defining feature of a Gantt chart is that they show many tasks running at the same time. Assign different lines to different members of a team so that everyone can work on their part of the project without encountering bottlenecks.

Interestingly enough, Gantt charts were first used prominently while the  Hoover Dam was being built.  With so many people working on the project and so many steps needed to finish, Gantt charts were crucial. Whether you're working on something by yourself or with a team, Gantt charts help keep everything balanced and collaborative.

Project management exists to bring sanity to the execution of big ideas. While small tasks don't require systems, you need a way to organize and strategize your next big project.

Even if you aren't building a major construction project, you'll see examples in this tutorial of how helpful Gantt charts in PowerPoint. And, you'll learn how to make Gantt charts in PowerPoint so that you don't have to learn yet another piece of project management software.

If you're looking for other illustrative ways to showcase data and process, it might be time to learn a bit about infographics. Thanks to the broad library of templates on Envato Elements, you can build amazing graphics in PowerPoint as you can see in the round-up below:

The Best Premium Templates for PowerPoint Gantt Charts in 2020

When you know the essential form factor of a Gantt chart, it's possible to create them in Microsoft PowerPoint using shapes and text boxes. But, it's time-consuming, and the result isn't as flexible as it could be.

It's possible to  kind of  create a Gantt chart using SmartArt in PowerPoint, but it's far from the best method. The ideal approach to creating a Gantt chart in PowerPoint (PPT) is to start with a pre-made template that you can grab from Envato Elements.

Instead of constantly updating and tweaking those lines and shapes, use PowerPoint templates from Elements that are specifically designed with Gantt charts that you need only add your own details to.

If you've not had a chance to check out Envato Elements, it's an all-you-can-download service that every creative should have in their arsenal. Particularly for presentations, there are so many assets and files that you can benefit from and save a ton of money by using.

For a single flat rate monthly fee, you get access to all the following:

• Presentation templates . Many templates are far better than PowerPoint's built-in templates. All included as a part of an Elements subscription.
• Graphics and icons . Need an illustrative icon or graphic, but can't hire an illustrator? Graphics and icons are included and available for use in your presentation for a single flat rate.
• Stock photos . Stock photography isn't cheap, and sourcing random images from the web carries with it the risk of violating the image's copyright.

There's plenty more included like website templates and video. These assets are extremely useful if you prepare presentations often.

Gantt Chart Templates for PowerPoint

In this tutorial, we're going to use the appropriately named Gantt Chart PowerPoint Template from Envato Elements. This amazing template features 19 different styles and designs, but each of them embodies the usefulness and utility of the Gantt chart.

As you can see in the screenshot below, Gantt charts for presentations can take on a variety of styles and designs that you can choose from as a part of the included template. 

One more note before we jump into using this template for a Gantt chart: y ou can also grab premium Gantt PowerPoint templates from GraphicRiver .  All these templates include their own renditions of the Gantt style, but all share in common the ease-of-use and customization.

For other types of presentations, don't miss out on the Envato Market top-selling presentation templates.

How to Quickly Build a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint in 2020

In this section of the tutorial, we're going to walk through using PowerPoint to build a Gantt chart. We'll take the template I just showed you and customize it to create a project chart for our own scenario.

I'm going to create a fictitious example of a new product to launch for this article. We'll build out a Gantt that walks through every step of a project.

1. Choose a Slide Design

With so many slide designs to choose from, let's start by selecting a slide to use for an example Gantt chart. 

For our walk-through, I'm going to use slide design 6, the "Gantt Chart - 1 month", for example. The main reasons I prefer this slide template are:

• For many product sprints, a single month is usually a reasonable amount of time to add a major feature or implement something new. This is a good type of project to test out using a Gantt chart if your team hasn't used them before.
• The slide design also breaks the month down into an easy-to-monitor set of weeks that ensure a project is still on track.
• It's easy to assign tasks to different team members thanks to the variations in color bars.

Now that we've selected the slide design, let's move onto the next step to continue building out the Gantt chart.

2. List all Tasks for the Gantt Chart

Before you start moving around all the lines on the Gantt chart and trying to estimate how much time each task will take, take inventory of all the functions that are needed to complete the project. 

At this point, don't worry about lining up the tasks on the Gantt. Just make sure you've captured all the key dates.

It's important to note that a Gantt chart likely isn't the  only  tool you use when planning and coordinating a project. You don't have to list every detail along the left side of the chart. Keep it high level and bracket the significant tasks on a project, but not the granular detail.

3. Set a Schedule for the Tasks

Now, it's time to start re-positioning the lines on the Gantt chart so that they follow the schedule you've set for the project. 

In this step, I simply drag and drop the lines on the Gantt chart to match the calendar dates at the top of the chart. Notice that on the template we chose, there are separate weeks and days. You want the lines next to the project description to align with the time of the month that the task should be completed.

You might also need to adjust the size of the line depending on how long a task will take to complete. Grab the edge of a rectangle to resize it to match the amount of time a task takes, sizing it to the number of days at the top of the chart.

4. Assign Tasks

Now that we've set up all the tasks in a Gantt chart, it's time to assign them to teams or specific members of a team. My preferred approach here is to use the key at the bottom to assign tasks to a team or individual, each one of them occupying a separate color.

Remember that if you need to re-assign tasks, you can click on one of the lines and choose a new shape color on the ribbon at the top of PowerPoint. Changing this or the key at the bottom of the chart to show who's on point for a task at any given time.

More importantly, this becomes your document that you can use to monitor the progress of a project. Use this chart to keep an eye for who really has the lead on the project at any given moment.

We've just walked through one example of building a Gantt chart. Keep in mind that there are plenty of other styles and designs included with the Gantt template. Each of the 19 slide designs is a different approach to the Gantt chart.

5 Awesome Gantt Chart PowerPoint PPT Templates for 2020

If you’re looking for the best place to download Gantt Chart PowerPoint templates, Envato Elements is the best place to start. Envato Elements has thousands of modern PowerPoint templates with Gantt charts . Download as many as you want for a low monthly fee. 

That’s right. Envato Elements allows you to download an unlimited number of Gantt charts PowerPoint templates and other design assets. So, you've got the ultimate creative freedom as you’re building your PowerPoint presentation.

What’s more, customize these templates to match your style. Use amazing, attention-grabbing layouts to convey the key concepts of your presentation with ease.

Another great place to find Gantt charts templates for PowerPoint is GraphicRiver. GraphicRiver allows you to buy single-use PowerPoint templates with stunning and modern Gantt charts designs.

Take a look at some of the best Gantt charts PPT templates from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver:

1. Gantt Chart PowerPoint Template

The first template on the list comes with 10 premade color schemes and 27 unique Gantt chart templates. Easily customize the colors and adjust the charts to your specific data. The template was designed in widescreen resolution.

2. Minimal Gantt Chart PowerPoint Template Design

The Minimal Gantt chart PPT template has a simple yet visually appealing design. The template includes 19 various Gantt chart templates. So, you can easily incorporate the one that suits your needs into your presentation. The template was designed in widescreen resolution and is easy to edit.

3. Business Plan Gantt Chart PPT Template

This template is a great choice if you want a powerful business plan presentation with Gantt charts included. The template includes a total of 20 premade color schemes and over 100 unique slides including Gantt chart slides. This template was designed in widescreen resolution.

4. Gantt Charts PowerPoint Template

This Gantt chart PPT template has 50 unique slides and five premade color schemes. Quickly add the desired Gantt chart to your presentation. The template includes both animated and non-animated slides. It comes in widescreen and standard resolution.

5. Animated Gantt Chart PowerPoint Template

If you’re looking for an animated Gantt chart PPT template, check this template out. It includes various Gantt chart layouts that are easy to edit and come with image placeholders. The template was designed in widescreen and standard resolution.

More Awesome PowerPoint Templates

Gantt chart templates for PowerPoint make it easy to present your data in a presentation. To see even more examples of awesome PowerPoint templates be sure to check out the roundups below: 

5 Quick Tips for Better Gantt Charts in PowerPoint

A great Gantt chart PPT template gives you a starting point for your presentation. To make sure your Gantt charts are easy to understand and make an impact, here are five quick tips: 

1. Use Meaningful Task Names

Your Gantt chart will be easier to understand if you use descriptive task names that everyone on your team can understand. Avoid using names such as Development Stage 1 or Testing Phase 3.

2. Show Milestones

Milestones make it easy to ensure your project is on track. Be sure to include them in your Gantt chart. Spread them out so you and your team have plenty of time to execute the tasks and meet the designated milestone.

3. Link Your Tasks

No matter how big your project is, chances are your tasks will be interlinked with one another. A great Gantt chart shows the link between tasks. So, each team knows how the work flows through the project and which dependencies may delay the project.

4. Take It a Step Further With Allocated Resources

Adding a team member’s name or a team name to your Gantt chart makes it easy to see who’s responsible for what at a glance.

5. Group Tasks Together

Lastly, if you’re dealing with a long or complicated project, consider grouping tasks together. This makes it easier to manage the project on a Gantt chart without making your chart look overwhelming.

Learn More About Making Great Gantt Charts

In this tutorial, you learned more about the power of Gantt charts and how you can use them to manage a project. You've seen how easy it is to build one in an app like PowerPoint when you start with a pre-made template.

To learn more about designing a great looking PowerPoint presentation, I always recommend starting with our top resource, the Ultimate Guide to the Best PPT.

Want to find out more? Learn more creating Gantt charts in other applications, and other charts you can build in PowerPoint, in the articles below:

Get a  Free PDF eBook Download on Presentations

Our presentation eBook will walk you through the complete presentation process. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully. Download our eBook:  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It's available for free with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter.

Create Gantt Charts Quickly With PowerPoint Templates

If you need a Gantt chart for your presentation, a template is a good place to start. You can find some  great Gantt charts PowerPoint templates  on Envato Elements or GraphicRiver . Why not download one today?

Have you ever used a Gantt chart for a presentation? How do you leverage them to ensure a project stays on track and on time? Let me know in the comments section below if you've got a favorite tip to share.

Editorial Note: This post was originally published in October of 2018. It's been revised to make it current, accurate, and up to date by our staff—with special help from Brenda Barron .

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Gantt Chart Presentation Templates

Streamline your project presentations with our free gantt chart powerpoint templates and google slides. boasting exceptional design and loaded with powerful features, our templates are a project manager's best companion. now, presenting complex timelines, tasks, and dependencies becomes an effortless task with the power of our gantt charts infographics..

• Crystal Clear Visuals: Tasks, milestones, dependencies – everything gets laid out in an easy-to-understand format. The visual layout helps teams to grasp project flow seamlessly.
• Maximized Resource Utilization: It brings to light concurrent tasks and dependencies, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and bottlenecks are minimized.
• Real-time Progress Monitoring: It offers a dynamic overview of the project, highlighting completed tasks, upcoming deadlines, and potential delays.
• Versatility: Our slides cater to varied project needs – be it simple or complex timelines, weekly or yearly schedules, or even business-specific Gantt charts.
• Diverse Tools for Comprehensive Overviews: Our range isn’t limited to Gantt charts alone. Incorporate timeline charts for sequential tracking, dashboards for a bird's-eye view, and much more.

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How To Make A Gantt Chart In PowerPoint

We're here to help you, what is a gantt chart.

A Gantt chart is a popular tool for displaying a project schedule graphically. It is a style of bar chart that shows a project's beginning and ending dates.

What are Gantt Chart Presentation templates?

Gantt chart templates provide a simple way to list your project's tasks, chart each task's time, allocate tasks to team members, and keep track of important milestones.

Where can we use these Gantt Chart Slides?

Presentations on project planning and management use these Gantt Chart templates. They assist you in estimating the length of a project, identifying the resources required, and organizing the sequence in which you will perform activities. They are also helpful in controlling task dependencies.

How can I make Gantt Chart Slides in a presentation?

The steps below can be used to create a Gantt chart in a Powerpoint presentation. Step 1: Launch PowerPoint and click the Home tab. Step 2: Select "Insert > Chart > From Sheets." Step 3: You can copy the desired Gantt chart and paste it into your PPT slide Visit our tips and tricks page to create a successful slideshow if you still need help creating your slides.

Who can use these Gantt Chart PPT Templates?

Business heads, investors, teammates, managers, and stakeholders can use these slides to project transparency.

Why do we need to use Gantt Chart slides?

These slides give managers and employees a high-level overview of the project tasks and an estimated completion date. The chart lets you keep track of the project's development by illustrating how jobs link to one another.

Where can I find Gantt Chart Templates free of cost?

Don't worry; free templates are simple to find. We are available to help you as a result! Slide Egg is among the top websites for finding free presentations. Go right now!

Free MS PowerPoint Gantt Chart Templates

By Diana Ramos | September 8, 2020

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Choose from a selection of the top PowerPoint Gantt chart templates, all of which are professionally designed, fully customizable, and free to download.

Included on this page, you’ll find a project management Gantt chart template , an hourly Gantt chart timeline , a quarterly Gantt chart template , and more.

Event Planning Gantt Chart Template

Keep your event planning on track with this PowerPoint template. This template allows you to view a breakdown of planning activities (based on the start date and number of days assigned to each task), clearly marks milestones, and provides room for descriptions and dates. The template also provides a simple, easy-to-read layout that shows important details along with a quick overview of your event planning timeline.

Download Event Planning Timeline Template - PPT

Project Management Gantt Chart Template

This template includes two slides: one for organizing data in a spreadsheet format, and one for viewing the project schedule on a Gantt chart. The spreadsheet includes task descriptions, owners, status, and dates. The Gantt chart shows the duration of each task, along with markers for milestones, risks, and tasks that are ahead of schedule.

For other project management Gantt chart options, view the free Gantt chart templates in Excel.

Download Project Timeline Template

PPT  | Smartsheet

Multiple Project Dashboard Template

Manage multiple projects with this comprehensive PowerPoint template. The template provides a visual representation of the timeline, duration, allotted team members, financials, and risks for each project. Each slide in the template displays information for up to 14 projects. This dashboard functions as both a management template and a useful communication tool for sharing data with stakeholders.

Download Multiple Project Dashboard Template - PPT

PowerPoint Gantt Chart with Dependencies

This Gantt chart template includes connecting arrows to illustrate dependencies between tasks. List each project task on the left-hand side, along with the duration and specific start and end dates. On the Gantt chart, track the progress of each task by using different colors or shading to indicate which activities you have completed or partially finished.

Download PowerPoint Gantt Chart with Dependencies - PPT

Simple Gantt Chart Template

You can use this simple bar chart to easily create a visual schedule, whether you’re planning a weekly calendar, setting monthly goals, or managing a project timeline. This template incorporates minimal text and provides a simple layout to create a streamlined Gantt chart. Use the colors on the chart to represent task owners, priority, progress, or other information. Customize the template by changing the monthly timeline to days, weeks, or years.

Download Simple Gantt Chart Template

PPT | Smartsheet

Software Development Timeline Template

This template provides an example of a software development timeline, including project phases and tasks. The Gantt chart uses different colors to distinguish between project phases, and each bar shows the percent complete for a given task. The chart provides a monthly timeline for planning over the course of a year. In order to use the template for other types of projects or to show multiple projects on a single Gantt chart, add your own content. 

Download Software Development Timeline Template

Hourly Timeline Gantt Chart Template

Track activities throughout a given day, whether you’re executing an hourly project schedule or creating a personal daily calendar. For project timelines, the template uses a color-coded key to show assigned owners for each task. List activities on the left-hand side, and then add bars to the

Gantt chart to show the hours scheduled for each task. This template serves as an excellent tool for managing time, communicating with task owners, and ensuring that projects stay on schedule.

Download Hourly Timeline Gantt Chart Template - PPT

3-Year Plan Gantt Chart Template

This three-year Gantt chart template includes two layout options: one displays years at the top of the chart, and the other displays them on the left-hand side. Use the template to support business planning, prioritize annual goals, or create a long-term project plan. If you need a different time frame, modify the template to show a three-month schedule or other timeline. 

Download 3-Year Plan Gantt Chart Template - PPT

Quarterly Gantt Chart Template

Create annual and quarterly plans with this Gantt chart template. The chart separates the months of the year into four quarters and provides sections for listing goals and end results. This template allows you to make an action plan to reach high-level objectives, develop a project timeline with quarterly milestones, or schedule financial goals with quantifiable results. Keep track of monthly, quarterly, and yearly progress. 

Download Quarterly Gantt Chart Template

Business Case Presentation Template

This thorough business case presentation template includes a Gantt chart to illustrate your project timeline and milestones. Create a presentation that covers all of the important details of your project, including strategic objectives, stakeholders, risk analysis, budget, and scheduling. You can edit all of the slides in this PowerPoint template to create a customized presentation.

Download Business Case Presentation Template - PPT

Improve Project Visibility with Real-Time Gantt Charts in Smartsheet

From simple task management and project planning to complex resource and portfolio management, Smartsheet helps you improve collaboration and increase work velocity -- empowering you to get more done. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed.

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time. Try Smartsheet for free, today.

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Free Gantt Chart PowerPoint Templates

Download free gantt chart powerpoint templates & google slides.

Gantt Charts are an essential project management tool used in time scheduling and resource management. The purpose of the Gantt chart is to provide a timeline of processes that shows overlapping activities and assigned resources. In this way, the team can quickly see the status of activities, deadlines, and assigned roles for effective management.

The Free Gantt Chart PowerPoint Templates is a collection of seven incredible layout designs for project planning and reporting presentations. The project information presented through Gantt chart templates helps simplify complex actions at a glance. Users can add the Gantt chart in status report presentations or team strategy planning. It can assist in communicating different aspects of a project or venture in a single Gantt chart template.

The PowerPoint templates of Gantt chart yearly and monthly timeline layouts. Each Gantt Chart template is a data table of tasks and time. Organize and track multiple activities in a high-level visual overview of the project strategy. Simply input tasks schedule data on the data tables and customize the taskbars according to the duration of work. The editing features enable users to make changes in the duration of tasks to avoid overlapping resources.

The Free Gantt Chart PowerPoint Templates are easy-to-use slides with attractive designs. Alternative to the simple Gantt charts in project management applications, these templates are designed to engage an audience. The Gantt chart template of two and three-year projects are useful for presenting multiple projects simultaneously. The colorful bars for every process or tasks help identify dependencies and priorities easily.

Gantt chart templates are ideal for providing an estimate of project delivery. You can use Gantt chart template to present how long it will take for each process running at the same time. Free PowerPoint template is a fully customizable PPT that can be customized to presentation requirements and color themes.

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PowerPoint Gantt Chart: A Complete How-To Guide

In today’s fast-paced project management environment, visualizing tasks and timelines becomes crucial for success. A PowerPoint Gantt chart offers a clear and effective way to showcase project schedules, helping team members understand project milestones and deadlines at a glance. By integrating a Gantt chart in PPT, you enable a streamlined communication process, fostering a collaborative work environment. The intrinsic value of a powerpoint gantt chart lies in its ability to simplify complex project information into an easy-to-understand visual format, making it an indispensable tool for project managers and teams across various industries.

This article will guide you through the steps on how to create a Gantt chart in PowerPoint, from manually crafting one to leveraging automated tools such as Office Timeline. Furthermore, it will explore different PowerPoint Gantt chart templates that can provide a head start in your chart creation process. Additionally, effective tips for creating impactful Gantt charts in PowerPoint will be shared, ensuring your charts are not only visually appealing but also functionally rich in conveying your project’s timeline. By the end of this guide, you will be well-equipped to create, customize, and utilize a Gantt chart for PowerPoint, enhancing your project presentations and management efforts.

How to Manually Create a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint

Set up a stacked bar chart.

To begin creating your Gantt chart in PowerPoint, start by setting up a basic graphic as a Stacked Bar chart. This will be the foundational structure of your Gantt chart. Once you complete this initial step, a standard chart along with an Excel table pre-filled with placeholder data will be inserted onto your PowerPoint slide. You can then replace this data with your own project-specific information. • Go to the Insert tab • click on Chart • select Stacked Bar • Click OK

Enter Project Schedule Data

The next step involves entering your project schedule data into the chart. Break down your project into main phases or tasks, which will form the basis of your graphic. Assign a start date, end date, and duration for each task, which is the number of days required to complete each task.

Format for Gantt Chart

After setting up your Stacked Bar chart and entering the data, you need to format your graphic to transform it into a Gantt chart. Achieve this by making the blue sections of the bars transparent, leaving only the grey sections visible. These remaining bars will represent the tasks on your Gantt chart, clearly delineating the timeline of each project phase.

Customize Your Gantt Chart (Optional)

Finally, customize your Gantt chart to make it unique and tailored to your project’s needs. This customization can involve adjusting the color schemes, and text alignment, and adding specific design elements that enhance the readability and aesthetic appeal of your Gantt chart, ensuring it effectively communicates the project timelines and milestones.

Pre-designed PowerPoint Gantt Chart Templates

Using pre-designed Gantt chart templates in PowerPoint offers significant advantages. Primarily, they save time and effort as you are not required to create charts from scratch. Simply download a template and input your project details. These templates are designed to be highly customizable, allowing you to modify colors, and fonts, and add specific design elements like logos or notes, making your chart unique and tailored to your project’s needs.

Moreover, Gantt chart templates enhance project organization and visibility. They help in defining project scope, identifying critical paths, and allocating resources effectively. By providing a clear visual timeline of tasks and milestones, these templates keep the team informed and reduce the need for constant updates and meetings. This not only improves collaboration among team members but also aids in proactive management of the project, ensuring that all tasks are completed on time.

Tips for Creating Effective Gantt Charts in PowerPoint

1. Choosing the Right Template When selecting a PowerPoint Gantt chart template, it’s crucial to choose one that aligns with the specific needs of your project. Templates vary in complexity and design, from simple timelines for straightforward projects to more detailed charts that include dependencies and milestones for more complex initiatives. Utilize the available free templates such as the Simple Gantt Chart or the Project Management Gantt Chart to get a head start.

2. Customizing for Enhanced Visual Appeal Customization is key to making your Gantt chart not only functional but also visually appealing. Consider changing the color, shape, or pattern of task bars to differentiate between types of tasks or milestones. Adding specific project information like task names, start dates, and completion percentages directly on the Gantt bars can also enhance clarity and provide essential details at a glance.

3. Maintaining Clarity and Legibility To maintain clarity and ensure that your Gantt chart is easy to understand, keep the design simple and organized. Avoid clutter by limiting the amount of text and focusing on essential elements such as tasks, durations, and dependencies. Use clear, legible fonts and appropriate bar heights to make the information accessible. Regularly update the chart to reflect current progress, and consider using styles and effects sparingly to maintain legibility.

Throughout this guide, we have explored the intricacies of creating and utilizing a Gantt chart in PowerPoint, highlighting the steps involved. By dissecting the process from choosing the right template to customizing your chart for maximum visual appeal and clarity, we’ve underscored the immense value that well-crafted Gantt charts bring to project management. They not only simplify complex project timelines into digestible visuals but also enhance communication and collaboration within teams, making them indispensable tools in today’s project-driven work environment.

As we conclude, remember that the effectiveness of a Gantt chart in PowerPoint hinges on its ability to clearly convey project timelines and milestones. Utilizing pre-designed templates can significantly ease the creation process, providing a professional look with minimal effort. However, the customizations and attention to detail in presenting the information are what truly elevate your Gantt chart. Whether you’re managing a small team project or overseeing a large-scale enterprise initiative, the insights gained here should empower you to leverage PowerPoint Gantt charts to their fullest potential, driving your projects to successful completion.

FAQ’S

To manually construct a Gantt chart in PowerPoint, start by opening PowerPoint and setting your slide to a Blank layout from the Home tab. Next, navigate to the Insert tab and click on Chart in the Illustrations section. From the All Charts list, select the Bar category and then choose the Stacked Bar type for your Gantt chart.

To edit a Gantt chart in PowerPoint, double-click on the chart area (but not directly on the bars) to open the Bar Styles window. In the Name column, choose the type of Gantt bar you wish to format, such as Task or Progress, and then click on the Bars tab to change the color, shape, or pattern of the bars.

To build a basic Gantt chart, begin by setting up your project details. Then, add tasks to your project and schedule them accordingly. Next, incorporate important project milestones and establish dependencies for tasks that require them. Finally, invite participants to your project and assign tasks to the responsible individuals.

To make a timeline chart in PowerPoint, go to the Insert tab and select SmartArt. In the Choose a SmartArt Graphic gallery, click on Process and then double-click on a timeline layout of your choice. You can choose from layouts like Basic Timeline and Circle Accent Timeline, or use any process-related SmartArt graphic.

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What is a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint and How to Make It?

Unlock the power of Gantt Charts in PowerPoint with our comprehensive exploration and learn how it can easily create impactful project visuals and timelines. Discover the advantages of using Gantt Charts in PowerPoint presentations. Follow a step-by-step guide on crafting Gantt Charts in PowerPoint. Read further to learn more!

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In the fast-paced world of business, managing projects efficiently is key for both large companies and solo entrepreneurs. That’s why many are turning to Gantt Charts in PowerPoint. These handy visuals help steer projects to success and keep customers happy. It’s all about staying on track and shining in the competitive market!

Combining the  with the dynamic capabilities of Gantt Chart in PowerPoint creates a visual Project Management tool. It helps track tasks, timelines and dependencies. 

However, it’s the right time if you and your organisation haven’t already switched to this comprehensive tool. But why are these Charts beneficial in Project Management? Read this blog to learn more about Gantt Charts in PowerPoint. Also, explore their benefits and the process of creating these charts.  

Table of Contents 

1) What is a Gantt Chart?

2) Benefits of using Gantt Charts in PowerPoint 

3) How to make a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint? 

4) Integrating Gantt Charts into PowerPoint Presentations 

5) Tips for designing an effective Gantt Chart 

6) Gantt Chart Template in PowerPoint

7) How to import a Gantt Chart from Excel to PowerPoint?  

8) How to import a Gantt Chart from Mac Numbers to PowerPoint?

9) Conclusion 

What is a Gantt Chart?

 Gantt Charts are potent tools for Project Management. They show project timelines and represent tasks with their durations and dependencies graphically. Gantt Charts can be created efficiently in PowerPoint and then projected onto a screen to exhibit a project's schedules and progress in a presentation.  

Begin by dividing the project into individual tasks and positioning these tasks on a timeline. Every task is shown by a bar, and its location and length indicate when the task begins, how long it will take, and when it will finish. Arrows or connectors can be used to illustrate the relationships between functions. 

 To produce a Gantt Chart via PowerPoint, you can use built-in tools or insert a pre-made template. Thus, this method assists in tracking progress, finding bottlenecks, and keeping the stakeholders informed.

Benefits of using Gantt Charts in PowerPoint 

Gantt Charts are powerful Project Management tools and valuable assets in PowerPoint Presentations. Incorporating these charts in your PPT slides offers several benefits that can effectively enhance your ability to communicate project plans, timelines, and progress. Let’s explore the key advantages of using Gantt Charts in PowerPoint:  

Visual representation 

The Gantt Chart is a graphical project schedule representation of tasks and dependencies in projects. Such diagrams serve the dual purpose of making the presentation more exciting and can be used to display even the most complex project data in an easily understandable manner. The chart’s horizontal bars and clear timelines allow your audience to grasp the project’s timeline and structure, making it easier to follow along and comprehend the information.  

Timeline management 

To have successful project executions, timelines must be managed. Gantt Charts in PowerPoint can assist you in determining the project timeline successfully through visualising.  

Through the creation of tasks and their completion durations on a timeline, you can view activities that can overlap, where bottlenecks can possibly exist, and where milestones are going to be critical. That, in turn, enables you to plan wisely, schedule changes, and keep the project on the right track.

Progress tracking 

Progress tracking is another benefit of using Gantt Charts. By frequently putting the chart into practice and adding the actual start and end dates of each job, you can display the progress of each task through visual mediums.  

Having clear milestones throughout the project life cycle allows project members to monitor progress easily and identify any deviations or delays  from the original plan. Tracking progress using the Gantt Chart in PowerPoint assists in the creation of an environment that is transparent, accountable, and timely in decision-making.

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Effective communication 

Gantt Charts facilitate effective collaboration and communication among project stakeholders. By presenting project plans, timelines, and dependencies in a clear and organised manner, you enable your audience to understand the project's scope and objectives.  

This understanding promotes team cooperation, as team members can distribute their efforts, identify interdependencies, and coordinate tasks more efficiently. Gantt Charts also act as a common reference point during meetings, discussions, and presentations, thereby ensuring that everyone stays on the same page.

Presentation impact 

PowerPoint presentations are meant to engage and captivate the audience. By incorporating Gantt Charts into your slides, you can make your presentations more dynamic and visually appealing. 

Further, the chart's colourful bars, milestones, and dependencies create a stimulating experience for your audience, making it easier for them to absorb and retain information. The visual impact of Gantt Charts in PowerPoint helps you deliver a memorable presentation that leaves a lasting impression. 

Using Gantt Charts in PowerPoint benefits your Project Management and presentation efforts. By leveraging the power of Gantt Charts in PowerPoint, you can effectively convey project plans, engage your audience, and achieve project success.  

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How to make a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint? 

Creating a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint allows you to visually represent project timelines, tasks, and dependencies. Following these step-by-step instructions can create an impactful Gantt Chart that enhances your presentations. Let’s dive into the process of how to create a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint:

Step 1: Open PowerPoint and create a new slide  

Step one includes performing the following: 

a) Launch PowerPoint 

b) Open a new or existing presentation 

Step 2: Insert a Table  

Step two involves inserting the table into your presentation. You will be required to do the following:   

a) In the new slide, go to the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon 

b) Click on the "Table" button 

Step 3: Customise the table  

In step three, you will need to do the following:  

b) Adjust the column widths to accommodate your project timeline 

You can also format the table by changing the font, cell borders, and background colours to match your presentation's style. The table will look like the following image: 

Step 4: Add task names  

Step 5: Define the timeline  

Step 6: Add task bars  

Step 7: Include milestones  

Step 8: Define dependencies  

Step 9: Customise the Gantt Chart  

Step 10: Update and maintain the Gantt Chart  

As your project progresses, update the Gantt Chart with the tasks' actual start and end dates. It will help you track the project’s progress and make  necessary adjustments. Regularly maintain the Gantt Chart to keep it up-to-date and accurate.  

You can create aappealing and informative Gantt Chart in PowerPoint following these ten steps. Remember to save your presentation to maintainthe Gantt Chart and ensure it is readily accessible for future use.  

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Integrating Gantt Charts into PowerPoint Presentations  

Integrating Gantt Charts into PowerPoint presentations allows you to effectively communicate project plans, timelines, and progress to your audience. Here are some essential tips for seamlessly integrating Gantt Charts into your PowerPoint Presentations: 

Slide placement  

Decide where you want to place your Gantt Chart within your presentation. Consider the flow and narrative of your presentation and determine the most appropriate point to introduce the chart. Ideally, it should align with the topic or section that discusses project planning, timelines, or progress. 

Chart size and position  

Resize and position the Gantt Chart on the slide to ensure optimal visibility. Ensure the chart is large enough for the audience to read and understand. 

Note: It should be manageable enough to overwhelm the rest of the slide content. Position the chart prominently to draw attention and ensure it is easily visible to all viewers. 

Contextual text  

Accompany your Gantt Chart with relevant text, captions, or explanations. Introduce the chart, explaining its purpose and highlighting key elements. Use concise and clear language to ensure your audience understands the chart’s context and how to interpret it. 

Animation and interactivity  

Add animation effects to your Gantt Chart to enhance its visual appeal and engage your audience. You can reveal the chart gradually, element by element, to create a sense of anticipation and keep the audience focused.  Additionally, consider using hyperlinks or interactive features to allow viewers to explore the chart in more detail or access additional project-related information.  

Consistent design  

Maintain consistency in design throughout your presentation. Ensure that the colours, fonts, and overall style of the Gantt Chart align with the rest of your slides. Consistency helps create a cohesive and professional-looking presentation that is easy to comprehend and visually appealing. 

Real-time updates  

Consider integrating real-time updates into your Gantt Chart if your project is ongoing. This can be done by linking your chart to project management software or spreadsheets. With real-time updates, you can dynamically reflect changes in task progress, timelines, or dependencies, providing your audience with the most up-to-date information during the presentation. 

Proper documentation  

Provide proper documentation for your Gantt Chart. Include a reference slide or handout that explains the symbols, colours, or other elements used in the chart. This documentation is a helpful resource for your audience, enabling them to understand the chart even after the presentation. 

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Tips for designing an effective Gantt Chart  

1) Keep it simple and clear  

Simplicity is key when designing a Gantt Chart. Avoid cluttering the chart with excessive details or overwhelming visuals. Focus on the essential elements, such as tasks, durations, and dependencies. Keep the layout clean and organised, allowing your audience to grasp the project timeline quickly at a glance.  

2) Use colours and icons for visual clarity 

Utilise colours and icons to enhance the visual clarity of your Gantt Chart. Assign different colours to tasks or task groups to differentiate them visually. 

Use icons or symbols to represent milestones, deadlines, or significant events within the project. This helps draw attention to critical elements and makes the chart more visually appealing and engaging. 

3) Highlight important milestones 

 Identify and highlight significant milestones within your Gantt Chart. Milestones represent key achievements, project deadlines, or major events. 

By visually distinguishing these milestones, you highlight crucial points in the project timeline. This helps your audience understand the progress and importance of specific tasks or events. 

4) Show task progress 

Illustrate the progress of tasks in your Gantt Chart. Use shading, patterns, or colour fill to indicate the completion status of each task. 

This visual representation allows your audience to assess progress and identify potential delays or bottlenecks quickly. Clearly distinguish between completed, ongoing, and upcoming tasks for better comprehension. 

5) Use animation for dynamic presentations 

Consider adding animation effects to your Gantt Chart when presenting it in PowerPoint or other platforms. Animation can bring the chart to life, revealing different elements gradually or highlighting specific sections. This dynamic presentation style engages your audience and helps convey complex information more effectively. 

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Gantt Chart template in PowerPoint

Developing a PowerPoint Gantt diagram template will allow the display of the timeline and the tasks undertaken.

a) Slide layout: Create a blank slide or the right one for you.

b) Insert shapes: Use rectangular shapes to show tasks and milestones. Place these points one after another on the timeline.

c) Add text: Create a card for each action and write its name and duration on it. Additionally, you can point out crucial details, including specific dates.

d) Timeline bar: Draw the horizontal lines with the task fulfilment time. The lines should be extended to represent the time allotted for specific tasks.

e) Dependencies: Use arrows or lines to capture task dependencies. Connect shapes to convey the sequence of operations.  

f) Colour coding: Use colours to indicate the type of work or tasks and categories. This ensures effective communication and high readability.

g) Legend: Embed a key that explains the correlation of colours and symbols to the Gantt chart.

h) Title and labels: Insert a Gantt Chart slide title and create representations of timelines, tasks, and milestones.  

i) Customisation: You can achieve better results by personalising the design elements, fonts, and colours to match the presentation theme and the respective branding.

j) Testing and review: Glance through the Gantt Chart template for any errors and finalise the presentation after it is clear.

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How to import a Gantt Chart from Excel to PowerPoint?  

Being able to include an already prepared Gantt Chart from Excel in your PowerPoint presentation, you may avoid long hours of topically working on timelines and project updates while visualising the information. Here's how to do it:  

a) Create Gantt Chart in Excel: Assign the Excel Program as the tool of creating your Gantt chart with the activities, starting dates, duration and interdependence.

b) Select Gantt Chart: In Excel, pick all the areas that lie within the Gantt, including task names, dates, and the bars that show the time range.  

c) Copy Gantt Chart: Make a right mouse click on the chosen spot and click on " Copy " or press Ctrl+C on your keyboard to do that.

d) Open PowerPoint:  Since you can use the Gantt chart in the PowerPoint presentation, open it where you want to insert it.

e) Paste as picture: Within PowerPoint, navigate to the slide needed for the Gantt Chart. Click and select the "Paste Special" option. Select the "Picture (Enhanced Metafile)" and click "OK."

f) Adjust size and position: Carry out a proportionate and placing adjustment of the pasted plan scheme picture on the slide as required for your layout.

g) Add labels and titles: Click here to label the bullet points and sets of sentences on the slide. This will help improve the clarity and context of the slides' content.

h) Update Gantt Chart: If you are going to come up with the changes in the Gantt Chart in Excel, make sure that you copy-paste them again in PowerPoint to make them into the latest version.  

i) Review and finalise: First, look at the Gantt Chart on the slide to ensure it is clear enough and accurately depicts the project schedule, then present it.

j) Save presentation:   Save your PowerPoint presentation so you can access the Gantt Chart when needed.  

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How to import a Gantt Chart from Google Sheets to PowerPoint?

Importing a Gantt Chart from Google Sheets to PowerPoint proceedings lets you effortlessly share project timelines in presentations.  Here's how you do it: 

a) Create Gantt Chart in Google Sheets: You can use Google Sheets to create your Gantt chart and insert tasks, start dates, durations and their dependencies.

b) Select Gantt Chart area: Choose the whole Gantt Chart layout encompassing task headers, dates, and stages that represent the task's timeline in Google Sheets.

c) Copy Gantt Chart: "Copy" this area or use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl+C" by right-clicking on the place you selected.

d) Paste special in PowerPoint: Fix the PowerPoint slide on which you will place a Gantt Chart. Right-click the slides and choose "Paste Special". Select "Picture (Enhanced Metafile)", then "OK".  

e) Adjust size and position: After you have pasted the Gantt Chart graph picture on the slide, adjust the size and place it in the position that will suit your layout.

f) Add labels and titles: Clarify your PowerPoint slide by inserting labels, titles, or any supplementary data that will make it clearer. 

g) Update Gantt Chart: If you make changes to the chart in Google Sheets, you must repeat the copy-paste process in PowerPoint to update it. 

h) Review and finalise: Before presenting it, check the PowerPoint slide to ensure that the Gantt chart clearly portrays the project delivery timeframe as indicated.

i) Save presentation: For future reference, keep the imported PowerPoint presentation.

j) Considerations: Make sure Google Sheets and PowerPoint are correct and suited to the importation without the formatting problems.

How to import a Gantt Chart from Mac numbers to PowerPoint?

A Gantt Chart can be transferred from Mac Numbers to PowerPoint, the most effective method of relaying project timelines in speeches. Here's how to do it:

a) Create Gantt Chart in Mac Numbers: Use Mac Numbers to create a Gantt Chart for your work, with tasks, start dates, times, and relationships displayed clearly.  

b) Select Gantt Chart area: Choose a whole area in Mac Numbers, from task names to due dates and the corresponding timelines of blue and red bars. 

c) Copy Gantt Chart:  Hold down the right mouse button and select "Copy" from the context menu, or use the keyboard shortcut Command+C.

d) Paste special in PowerPoint: Take your PowerPoint where you are supposed to place the Gantt Chart you want to insert. Click the slide's right-hand side and then go to Pasting Special. Choose Picture (Enhanced metafile), then click OK.  

e) Adjust size and position: Move and organise the already pasted Gantt Chart picture on the slide and adjust its structure to match yours. 

f) Add labels and titles: Seek clarity and support the audience by adding captions, titles, and other information on the PowerPoint slide.

g) Update Gantt Chart: If you change the Gantt Chart in the Mac Numbers app, repeat the copy-and-paste process in PowerPoint to update the chart. 

h) Review and finalise: Make sure that the Gantt Chart legibly represents the project timeline and does not contain any timing discrepancies before showing it during your PowerPoint presentation by double-checking your slide.

i) Compatibility check:  Make sure Mac Numbers and PowerPoint are aligned to prevent any shape issues when importing documents.  

Conclusion 

 By understanding how to insertGantt Charts in PowerPoint and leveraging its capabilities, you can elevate your Project Management efforts and deliver compelling presentations that engage your audience and convey information effectively. By integrating Gantt Charts seamlessly into PowerPoint presentations, presenters can enhance the visual appeal and impact of their slides. 

Learn how to create customised slide shows in MS PowerPoint with our Microsoft PowerPoint MO300 Training . 

Frequently Asked Questions

To create a timeline chart in PowerPoint, use the SmartArt feature: 

a) Open PowerPoint and go to the slide where you need a timeline. 

b) Click on the "Insert" tab and "SmartArt" to access the SmartArt feature. 

c) Choose the "Process" category from the available templates and select which timeline you want to apply. Tap your timeline to open and personalise it according to your choice.  

Office 365 incorporates Gantt Chart functionality through various software, including Project Management tools like Microsoft Project and data chart tools like Excel.   

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The Knowledge Academy offers various Microsoft 365 Training , Microsoft PowerPoint MO300 Training, Microsoft 365 Administrator Training MS102, Managing Microsoft Teams MS700 Course. These courses cater to different skill levels, providing comprehensive insights into Gantt Chart methodologies .  

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Gantt Chart for PowerPoint

Business , Calendar , Chronologic , Gantt , Planning , Progression , Project Management , Table , Timeline , Workflow

Free Gantt chart for PowerPoint. Easy to customize.

Gantt Chart

Use this diagram for your project management, planning, tracking, and timesheets. Track your activities (tasks or events) and progress.

Uses the PowerPoint table function: colors and sizes can be easily changed and customized. New tasks -i.e. new rows- can be added or deleted.

Includes 2 slide option designs: Standard (4:3) and Widescreen (16:9).

Widescreen (16:9) size preview:

This ‘Gantt Chart for PowerPoint’ features:

• 2 unique slides
• Light and Dark layout
• Ready to use template with text placeholder
• Uses the PowerPoint table function
• Standard (4:3) and Widescreen (16:9) aspect ratios

Free fonts used:

• Helvetica (System Font)
• Calibri (System Font)

Terms of use:

Requires attribution, personal and educational use, commercial use, (re)sell, (re)distribute, read the full  terms of use.

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The do’s and don’ts of creating a great Gantt chart for your PowerPoint presentation

Learn how you can create outstanding Gantt charts in PowerPoint with the Office Timeline tool and make boring presentations a thing of the past.

Tim Stumbles

Jan 27, 2013

Last updated on June 11, 2021 

A customer recently said something that really stuck with me. He said that “teams and leadership are all bored to death of looking at complex Gantt charts and project schedules.” This was a senior Project Manager in a global aeronautics company. My sense was that he has probably worked on some pretty big projects and that he had seen his fair share of Gantt diagrams. His comment resonated because I have made this mistake in my career.

A beautifully designed and easy-to-understand  Gantt chart  is not only an essential element of  high-level PowerPoint presentations  but also one of the main joys in a project manager’s life—like short Zoom meetings and the first coffee of the day.

As a former project manager, I know how it feels to be rushing to get that Gantt chart you created from scratch finished before the meeting starts, only to realize that the end result is not as professional-looking and engaging as you hoped it would be (especially if you try to paste your complicated Excel chart into a PowerPoint slide).

More often than not, the charts I used to create in the past ended up making it difficult for my audience to follow project progress and had ‘guaranteed boredom’ spelled all over them. Plus, keeping those Gantt charts updated proved to be a true nightmare.

That’s when I realized that I needed a  timeline maker  that would seamlessly plug into PowerPoint, the most popular medium for business presentations, and allow me to  easily design, update, share and keep track of all my Gantt charts and timelines .

In this article, I want to show you how you can create beautiful Gantt chart visuals for your project schedule in an intuitive way, directly in Microsoft PowerPoint.

7 tips and tricks for making a great Gantt chart in PowerPoint

First of all, if you want to know more about  how to make Gantt charts in PowerPoint , you can check the helpful step-by-step tutorial that teaches you not only how to create one manually from scratch but also how to generate it automatically.

With that out of the way, we can now focus on these  7 key tips that will help you create the most compelling Gantt chart presentations whenever your clients and executives ask for them .

1. Choose relevant task names

Use descriptive task names when building your chart so that your audience can understand exactly what work each task involves. So instead of “Development Stage 1”, you could rather say “Brainstorming and planning.”

2. Organize project tasks into groups or stages

If you’re dealing with a more complex project, you should consider grouping your project tasks together. This will make your Gantt chart easier to scan and digest and efficiently communicate to your team and other stakeholders what activities are included in a deliverable or project stage.

3. Use color coding to enrich your chart

If there’s a way to keep complex project data interesting and easy to follow, that’s  color coding . You can use various colors such as green, red, orange, and blue to illustrate completed tasks, in-progress work, and delays or highlight priorities and task dependencies.

4. Illustrate dependencies from the start

Project activities are interrelated, which means that preceding tasks directly influence the completion of succeeding ones. The most common type of dependency is finish-to-start, where the predecessor must be finished before the successor can begin. If you don’t show such a dependency in your Gantt chart, you risk having the whole flow of work interrupted, which often results in unwanted delays.

5. Set milestones to track progress

Adding milestones to your Gantt charts helps keep your team motivated and your project going as planned. Also, clients and executives find it easier to understand progress when they can see what milestones have been achieved and which ones follow next.

6. Keep your Gantt chart updated

Since change is a constant in project life cycles, it’s only normal that you should make sure that those changes get recorded into your Gantt chart. That’s why it’s important to choose the right tool that facilitates team collaboration when it comes to creating project visuals that reflect real-time progress.

7. Customize a ready-made Gantt chart template

As it happens with most management tools, there’s a learning curve involved that you have to go through in order to make impressive Gantt charts. However, you can flatten that curve and get the results you want while also saving time and effort by simply using pre-designed  Gantt chart templates .

How to use Gantt charts the right way

As I look back the mistake was trying to use my project software or Visio for Gantt chart presentation work. It was difficult to paste their images into PowerPoint and really hard to finesse them so they looked ok. Despite best effort and lots of time trying to get these slides into a presentable state the result was never really that good. They had too much data squished onto each image and the aesthetics were awful. 

This is what made it difficult for audiences to follow. I needed a  Gantt chart maker that was native to PowerPoint so the slide could be manipulated, updated, edited and changed in PowerPoint as my project evolved.

Now there is only so much you can fit on a PowerPoint slide, so I also needed to learn which parts of my project schedule were “presentation worthy,” and which parts could be left out of the presentation.   Early on I thought presenting as much Gantt chart detail was the right thing to do.  

But overtime I learned to summarize the key milestones and tasks, particularly for presentations to my leadership and to my clients. When I was able to condense project schedules it was easier to build more engaging slides.  This made it much easier to communicate them and I felt like I could win the management and customer support I needed.

Get started with Gantt charts today

There’s no time to waste when you’re a project manager, especially when you have to make sure that there are no bottlenecks along the way and projects get delivered on time and on budget.

Office Timeline’s free PowerPoint Add-in  allows you to create outstanding Gantt charts that your clients and executives will love in no time. Stay on top of things by communicating deadlines and tracking progress across projects with a user-friendly Gantt chart software that does all the hard work for you.

Download the free add-in for PowerPoint now and start creating stunning project visuals within minutes.

Tim is Co-Founder & CEO of Office Timeline, a Seattle-based start-up that aims to rid the world of boring, uninspiring meetings.

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