How to Make a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint

By Diana Ramos | January 14, 2021

Learn how to set up a Gantt chart using Microsoft PowerPoint. We also provide detailed steps for making a chart from scratch, using a template, or using data from an Excel spreadsheet. Plus, learn how to customize the chart.

Included in this article, you’ll find detailed steps on how to create a Gantt chart in PowerPoint using both the table function and the chart function, as well as how to create a Gantt chart using a template in PowerPoint. You’ll also find instructions on how to import a Gantt chart from Excel into PowerPoint.

How to Make a Gantt Chart Using the Table Function in PowerPoint

The table function in PowerPoint allows you to build and display data and information with columns and cells. Use this method to create a Gantt chart that lets you easily list and adjust project tasks, start dates, and end dates.

To make a Gantt chart in PowerPoint using the table function, follow these helpful steps. These steps are compatible with all versions of PowerPoint.

Prepare Your PowerPoint Presentation

  1. Open a new PowerPoint presentation.
  2. Click Blank Presentation.  
Open Blank Presentation

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Add a Table to a PowerPoint Presentation

  1. Click the Layout dropdown menu on the Home tab on the top navigation bar, and click Blank to remove the Title and Subtitle text areas.
  2. Click the slide, click the Insert tab on the top navigation bar, and click Table
Blank Presentation
  1. Add a table either by selecting the number of rows and columns from the grid or by clicking Insert Table and inputting the number of rows and columns.
  2. For this example, add 13 columns and 10 rows to your table. Your numbers will depend on the amount of tasks that comprise your project (rows) and the duration, in weeks, that tasks will take to complete (columns). Click the blue Insert button. 
Input Table Rows Columns

Adjust the Table’s Column Widths

  1. Highlight the first column.
  2. Click the Layout tab on the top navigation bar.
  3. In the Column box, enter 2.13. 
Adjust Columns
  1. Highlight the remaining columns in the table.
  2. In the Column box, enter 0.9. 
Adjust Column Width

Adjust the Color of Gridlines in the Table

  1. Highlight the table. 
  2. Click the Table Design tab on the top navigation bar.
  3. From the dropdown menu, select 1pt
Adjust Table Line Width
  1. Click the Borders dropdown menu, and click All Borders
Add Table Borders
  1. Click the Shading dropdown menu, and click No Fill
Select No fill

Add Labels to Table Columns

  1. In the second column, in the second row, type Week 1
Type Week One
  1. In the following cells on row two, type the next corresponding Week (ex: Week 2, Week 3, and so on). 
Type All Weeks

Merge Top Row Cells in the Table

  1. Click the Layout tab on the navigation bar. 
  2. In the first row, highlight rows 2-5 (the cells above week 1-4).
  3. Click the Merge Cells button to create one cell from the selected cells. 
Merge Month Cells
  1. In the newly merged cell, type Month 1
  2. Repeat these steps for each set of the next four cells. Type Month 2 and Month 3 in the respective merged cells.
  3. Once you add all months to the top row, highlight the top row. Click the Center Align icon to center the labels in the merged cells. 
Input Months

Color Code the Top Row in the Table

  1. Highlight the merged cell labeled Month 1.
  2. Click the Table Design tab on the top navigation bar. Click the Shading dropdown menu, and click a color for the cell. 
Fill Month Rows
  1. Repeat these steps for the other merged cells. 
Months Filled

Add Project Tasks to the Table

  1. Type your first project in the third cell of the first column.
  2. List your respective projects tasks, in order from start to finish, in the following cells in the column. 
Add Project Tasks
  1. Once you add all the tasks, highlight the column. Click the Table Design tab. Click the Shading dropdown menu, and click a muted grey color to differentiate the project task column. 
Add Shading Tasks

Insert Task Bars in the Table

  1. Click the Insert tab on the top navigation bar.
  2. Click the second cell in the second row.
  3. Click the Shapes dropdown menu. In the Block Arrows section, click Arrow: Pentagon
Insert block Arrow
  1. Drag the shape from the start week to the end week. This shape signifies the project task’s start and end date.

    Example: If a task starts in week one and ends in week three, the shape should extend from week one through week three. 
Fill Block Arrow
  1. Repeat these steps for every project task listed in the table.

    Pro Tip: If you need to change the project task start or end date in the table, click the task icon bar and move the shape to the appropriate spot on the table. You can also drag the front or back of the shape, lengthening or shortening it as necessary. 
Add All Milestones

Customize the Task Bar Colors and Outlines in the Table

  1. Click one of the new task bars.
  2. Click the Shape Format tab on the top navigation bar. Click Shape Fill, and click a color (we chose red). 
Fill Milestones
  1. Click Shape Outline, and click No Outline from the dropdown menu. 
Delete Milestone Lines
  1. Repeat these steps for every project task bar in the table. 
Complete Milestones

Add Dates to Task Bars to the Table

  1. Double-click on a task bar. A text box appears within the shape.
  2. Type the start and end date of the task within the shape.
  3. Repeat these steps for other project task bars where you want to see the date. 
Add text to Milestones

Add Milestones to the Gantt Chart

  1. Click the Insert tab on the top navigation bar. Click the Icons button. 
Add Icons
  1. Type Flag in the search bar on the right panel.  
  2. Click the Flag icon, and click the Insert button. 
Add Flag Icon
  1. Click on the icon and drag any of the four corners to reduce its size.
  2. Move the Flag to a place on the Gantt chart that signifies a milestone.  
Input Flag Icon
  1. Repeat these steps to add more milestones.

    Pro Tip: Right-clicking on the icon, click Copy and then click Paste to make a duplicate version to use on the Gantt chart. 
Copy Flag Icon

How to Make a Gantt Chart Using the Chart Function in PowerPoint

PowerPoint’s chart function allows you to add a specific chart or graph directly to a presentation. With this method, you can use a stacked bar chart to build a Gantt chart. 

To make a Gantt chart in Microsoft PowerPoint, follow the step-by-step instructions below. These steps are compatible with all versions of PowerPoint.

Prepare a PowerPoint Presentation

  1. Open a new PowerPoint presentation. 
Open Blank PowerPoint
  1. Click the Layout dropdown menu on the Home tab on the top navigation bar, and click Blank to remove the Title and Subtitle text areas. 
Add Blank Slide

Build a Stacked Bar Graphic in PowerPoint

  1. Click the Insert tab, and click Chart.
  2. Click the Column category, and click Stacked Bar for the type of graph. PowerPoint generates a standard bar chart graph automatically. The application will open a Microsoft Excel table. 
Add Stacked Bar Chart

Add Project Schedule Data to a PowerPoint Chart

  1. Add project data to the corresponding Excel chart.
  2. List each project task name in Column A
Add Project Tasks
  1. Rename the other pre-filled cells of the top row as follows: 
    • Series 1: Start Date
    • Series 2: End Date
    • Series 3: Duration 
        
Add Dates Durations
  1. Click cells B2-B5. Right-click on the highlighted cells, and click Format Cells. In the Category list on the Numbers tab, click Date and choose a format from the Type menu.  
Format Date Cells
Select Date Format
  1. In cell D2, calculate the duration of the first task by typing in the following formula:
    =C2-$B2 
input Duration Formula
  1. Once you insert the formula into the cell, click the small box in the bottom-right corner of cell D2 and drag the fill handle downward across column D until you reach the last task in the column.
  2. After you identify how long tasks will take, highlight the End Date column, right-click, and click Delete
Incomplete Gantt Chart

Turn a Stacked Bar Chart into a Gantt Chart

  1. Click a blue bar on the chart to select and highlight the whole series. The format menu will appear on the right panel. 
  2. Click the paint bucket icon, click the Fill button, and click No Fill
Select No fill
  1. Once you unfill the series, that bar chart will resemble a Gantt chart. 
Gantt Chart Version One

Interested in creating a Gantt chart in Microsoft Excel instead of PowerPoint? Visit this article for step-by-step instructions on how to build a Gantt chart in Excel.

How to Customize a Gantt Chart in PowerPoint

You might want to customize the Gantt chart you made with the chart feature. This way, you can more easily see vital tasks, track a project’s progress, or add branding colors. Follow the steps below to customize your Gantt chart.

Reverse the Order of Task Bars on a Gantt Chart

  1. To reverse the order of your task bars, double-click on the task axis (the y axis).
  2. In the Format Axis menu, click the bar tab and expand the Axis Options menu. Click the Categories in Reverse Order box. 
Categories Reverse Order

Customize the Task Bar Colors of the Chart

  1. Click a task bar in the Gantt chart. Click the paint bucket icon, and click Fill
  2. Click your preferred color for the individual task. 
Change Task Bar Color

Add Customized Effects to Task Bars on the Gantt Chart

  1. To add effects such as shadows, glows, and soft edges to task bars, click the Format tab on the navigation bar.
  2. Use the available options to personalize the Gantt chart. 
Add Shadows

Reformat Task Bars on the Gantt Chart

  1. Double-click a task bar in the chart.
  2. Click the Bar Chart tab in the Format Date Series menu.
  3. In the Series Option tab, slide the dial to increase or decrease the width of the task bars. 
Change Gap Width

Remove the Legend from the Gantt Chart

  1. Right-click on the chart legend, and click Delete
Delete Legend

Change Project Task Start and End Dates

As your project progresses, you might need to adjust start and end dates for some tasks to keep it running smoothly. Follow these steps below.

  1. Reopen the Excel data table that your Gantt chart is referencing in PowerPoint.
  2. Right-click on a bar in the chart, and click Edit Data in Excel
  3. Manually reenter new start and end dates for any project tasks. These changes automatically appear on the Gantt chart in PowerPoint.

    Note: You’ll need to re-add the End Dates column in Excel, then remove it again once you make the updates.

How to Create a Gantt Chart Using a Template in PowerPoint

Instead of manually creating a Gantt chart using either the table or chart function, you can start with a  pre-built PowerPoint template

A template helps you save time organizing project tasks, listing start and end dates, and formatting a chart so it resembles a typical Gantt chart. 

  1. Open the Gantt chart template in PowerPoint. 
  2. Go to the second slide of the presentation, which houses the Gantt chart. 
  3. Enter all project tasks in the first column.
Input Project Tasks
  1. Move task bars along the chart to show when each task should start and end.
  2. Increase and decrease the size of each task bar to show the total duration of each task.
Change Size Task bar
  1. Assign task owners to each task using the key at the bottom of the template.

    Pro Tip: You can change the colors of the task owner boxes to match up with the owner for each.
Update Task Owners
  1. Move the small white diamond shape (or copy and paste, or use a new shape) for each milestone your project requires. 
Add Milestones

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

Gantt Chart Template in PowerPoint

Simple Gantt Chart Template PowerPoint

Use this helpful template to create a Gantt chart for your next project with Microsoft PowerPoint. This template offers an easy way to outline your project tasks, chart each task’s duration, assign tasks to team members, and track key milestones.

Download Gantt Chart Template 

PowerPoint  | Smartsheet

How to Import a Gantt Chart in Excel to PowerPoint

If you already created a Gantt chart in Microsoft Excel and want to feature it in a PowerPoint presentation, you can easily import it. Follow these steps.

  1. Open the Gantt chart in Microsoft Excel. 
  2. Highlight the entire chart and right-click. By doing so, you will also highlight the respective data table.
  3. Click Copy
Copy Gantt Excel
  1. Navigate back to the PowerPoint presentation. 
  2. Click the slide where you want to display the Gantt chart. Right-click anywhere on the slide, and click Paste
Paste Numbers Gantt
  1. The Gantt chart should paste directly into the slide.
    Pro Tip: If you want to revise the dates in the Gantt chart at any point, you can do so in the Excel spreadsheet where you initially created it. The updates automatically appear wherever you use the Gantt chart, including the PowerPoint presentation. 
Gantt Excel in PPT

Looking for step-by-step instructions on how to create a Gantt chart in Excel? Visit this article for instructions, screenshots, and a helpful template.

How to Import a Gantt Chart from Google Sheets to PowerPoint

If you used Google Sheets to create a Gantt chart and want to import it to a new PowerPoint presentation, follow the steps below.

  1. Open the Gantt chart you created in Google Sheets.
  2. Click on the Gantt chart, and click the ellipses in the top-right corner of the chart.
  3. Click Download, and then PNG Image
Download PNG Image
  1. Once the PNG image downloads, save it where it’s easy to access. 
Name PNG Image
  1. Navigate back to the PowerPoint presentation and the slide where you want to add the Gantt chart. 
  2. Click the Insert tab, click Pictures and Picture from File. Choose the downloaded PNG image of the Gantt chart. 
Insert Picture From File
  1. The Gantt chart should show up in the PowerPoint presentation.  
Google Sheets Gantt in PPT

Want easy-to-follow instructions on how to create a Gantt chart in Google Sheets? Visit this article for step-by-step instructions and a downloadable template.

How to Import a Gantt Chart from Mac Numbers to PowerPoint

If you are a Mac user and already created your Gantt chart using Mac Numbers, you can easily import it to PowerPoint by following the steps below.

  1. Open your Gantt chart in Mac Numbers.
  2. Right-click on the chart, and click Copy.  
Copy Numbers Gantt
  1. Navigate back to the PowerPoint presentation, and select the slide where you want to add the Gantt chart. 
  2. Right-click anywhere in the slide, and click Paste. The Mac Numbers Gantt chart will appear in the PowerPoint presentation. 
Paste Gantt Excel in PPT
Numbers Gantt in PPT


Learn how to create a complete Gantt chart in Mac Numbers. This tutorial teaches you how to make a Gantt chart in Pages.

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