How to Make a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets

Gantt charts are becoming an increasingly popular use for Google Sheets as a way to easily share data among team members and keep projects on track.

Included on this page, you’ll find detailed instructions on how to create a Gantt chart in Google Sheets and tips for setting up dependent tasks. Plus, learn how to export your Gantt chart to Microsoft Excel. You can also skip the steps and download a free, customizable Gantt chart template in Google Sheets.

How to Make a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets

Follow the steps below to quickly create a Gantt chart using Google Sheets. A Gantt chart in Google Sheets can help you track your project progress and keep an eye on key milestones.

To learn more about Gantt charts, including their history and why they’re a beneficial tool for project management, visit this article about Gantt charts. For even more ways to create a Gantt chart in different forms, including Microsoft Excel, Apple Pages, Apple Numbers, and Google Sheets, visit our comprehensive how-to article.

Open a New Google Sheet

1. On the Google Drive homepage, click the + New button.

Input Project Data into Sheet

You’ll need to make two tables. The first table will serve as a template for the calculations you create in the second table.

1. For the first table, label the columns as follows:

• Column A: Task Name
• Column B: Start Date
• Column C: Duration

Then label the cells as follows:

Add corresponding start and end dates (in days) for each task.

1. Create the second table two to three rows below from the first one.In this example, we’re starting the second table in row 8. Label the cells as follows:

1. Next, we need to figure out the start day for each task so that the bars accurately display the start date and duration.
   To determine the Start on Day value, find the difference between each task’s start date and that of the first task. In cell B9, input this formula:
   =int(B2)-int($B$2)
   Press Enter on your keyboard. The value will auto-populate in the cell.

Pro Tip: The cell numbers might differ (e.g., C4 might be C10) depending on where you place project data in the sheet, but every other part of the formula should remain the same.

Create a Stacked Bar Graph

1. Highlight the second table.
2. Click Insert on the menu, then click Chart.
   A stacked bar chart appears on the page.

Turn Your Stacked Bar Chart into a Gantt Chart

1. Click on any Start on Day bar in the chart. This should highlight all the Start on Day bars.
2. Configure the chart.
   In the Chart editor panel on the right, click the Customize tab. Click Series, then click the dropdown menu and Start on Day. Click the Color button, then click None. The chart should now resemble a Gantt chart.

How to Customize a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets

It’s easy to customize everything from the title to the style of the bars on a Gantt chart. Follow the steps below to create 3D bars, remove the legend, change font colors, and more.

Update the Gantt Chart Title

1. Double-click on the title at the top of the chart. Type in a new title for the project.

Customize the Gantt Chart Area

Follow these steps to change the appearance of your chart by adjusting the border color or making the bars pop in 3D.

1. Click on the chart and navigate to the Chart editor menu on the right.
2. Click the Customize tab, then click the first option, Chart style.

Remove the Chart Legend from a Gantt Chart

1. Click on the chart.
2. Click the Customize tab in the Chart editor panel, then click Legend.

How to Handle Gantt Charts with Dependencies in Google Sheets

More complex projects will likely have project tasks that are dependent on one another — meaning, you can’t start some tasks until a previous task or series of tasks is complete. Follow these steps to ensure a dependent task does not start before the previous one is complete.

Set Up Dependent Tasks to Occur After Previous Tasks in a Gantt Chart

1. Determine which tasks are dependent and the tasks they depend on.
2. In the first table, click the cell of the dependent task (i.e., the task that cannot be started until a previous task is complete).
3. In the Start Date cell of the dependent task, type in this formula:
   =max(B2)+1

Pro Tip: The values in this formula should be the tasks that must be completed before a dependent task can start. The +1 signifies this task can only start the day after the other tasks in the formula are completed.

Set Up Dependent Tasks to Occur Concurrently with Previous Tasks

With some projects, tasks need to happen simultaneously based on a predetermined timeline. Follow these steps to set up a system for tracking dependent tasks that happen concurrently with previous tasks.

1. Determine which task(s) can run simultaneously.
2. Click the cell of the dependent task (in our example, cell B4) that you want to start on the same day as a previous task (in our example, cell B2).
3. In the cell of the dependent task, type in this formula:
   =min(B2)

Pro Tip: The values in this formula should be the tasks that you want to start at the same time as the dependent task. In this example, the task in cells B2 and B4 should be scheduled at the same time as the dependent task.

How to Export a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets to Excel

Some people prefer working in a more familiar spreadsheet interface, such as Microsoft Excel. Follow these steps to export a Gantt chart and all corresponding project data in Google Sheets to Excel.

1. Click File and scroll down to Download.
2. From the Download dropdown menu, click Microsoft Excel (.xlsx).
   Use this action to automatically create and download an Excel file.

Gantt Chart Google Sheets Template

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Track project progress, create dependent tasks, and visualize how each task is moving forward with this simple Gantt chart template in Google Sheets.

Download Gantt Chart Template - Google Sheets

Automatic Gantt Chart

Watch this short video to see how you can quickly turn a spreadsheet into a Gantt chart in a few easy steps using Smartsheet.

Dynamic Gantt Chart in Google Sheets

With this intricate Gantt chart template, you can not only track each project task as it moves along and plot dependencies on your chart, but you can also identify your project’s critical path. That way, you won’t miss key tasks in the process.

Peruse our collection of Gantt chart templates to find downloadable versions in other formats.

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