How to Create a Gantt Chart Free — Online Project Timeline (2026)

A Gantt chart is one of the most effective ways to visualize a project schedule at a glance. Use the free Gantt chart maker to map out tasks, set start and end dates, and see your entire project timeline without any software to install.

How to Use the Tool

1. Click Add Task and type a task name, then pick a start date and end date.
2. Repeat for every task in your project — the chart updates in real time as you add entries.
3. Drag the bars on the chart to adjust dates, or edit any row directly in the task list.
4. Use the colour picker on each row to group related tasks by team or phase.
5. Click Export to download the chart as a PNG or copy it to your clipboard.

What Is a Gantt Chart?

A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart where each bar represents a task, its length proportional to the task's duration, and its position on the horizontal axis showing when the task runs relative to the rest of the project. Henry Gantt popularised the format in the early 20th century for industrial scheduling, and it has since become the default visual language for project management across engineering, construction, software development, marketing, and event planning.

The power of a Gantt chart lies in what it makes obvious: overlaps that would cause resource conflicts, gaps between tasks that might idle a team, and the critical path — the chain of dependent tasks whose total duration determines the earliest possible project completion date. Seeing these relationships visually is far more intuitive than reading a spreadsheet of dates, which is why project managers reach for Gantt charts at the start of almost every substantial piece of work.

Tips for Effective Project Scheduling

Break work down into tasks that are small enough to estimate confidently but not so granular that the chart becomes unreadable. A rule of thumb is that no single bar should span more than two weeks unless it genuinely cannot be subdivided. Group related tasks by phase or team using consistent colours — viewers will scan colour blocks first before reading individual task names. Always pad estimates: most projects slip not because of bad luck but because every task was estimated at its most optimistic duration with no buffer. Adding 10–20% contingency to each phase, rather than to individual tasks, gives a more realistic overall timeline without making each task look artificially long. Review and update the chart at least weekly during active work — a Gantt chart that drifts out of sync with reality is worse than no chart at all, because it creates a false sense of control.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Gantt chart used for?

Gantt charts are used to plan and track project schedules. They show which tasks need to happen, when they start and end, how long they take, and how they relate to each other. Common uses include software sprints, construction timelines, marketing campaign launches, event planning, and academic research projects.

How many tasks can I add?

The tool runs entirely in your browser, so there is no server-side limit. In practice, charts with more than 50–60 tasks can become hard to read on a single screen; for large programmes, consider creating one chart per phase or team rather than one enormous chart.

Can I export my Gantt chart?

Yes. Use the Export button to download the chart as a PNG image suitable for presentations, reports, or printing. Because everything runs in the browser, your task data never leaves your device.

How do I set task dependencies?

Dependencies are most easily handled by setting the start date of a successor task to match the end date of its predecessor. A visual review of the chart will reveal any scheduling gaps or unintended overlaps. Full arrow-based dependency linking is on the roadmap for a future update.

What is the difference between a Gantt chart and a Kanban board?

A Gantt chart is time-centric: it shows when tasks happen along a calendar axis, making it ideal for projects with fixed deadlines and sequenced phases. A Kanban board is flow-centric: it shows what state each task is in (To Do / In Progress / Done) without reference to specific dates, making it better suited to continuous or iterative workflows where work arrives unpredictably. Many teams use both — Gantt for macro planning and Kanban for day-to-day execution.