How do I create a Gantt Chart using Excel?

1. Set your timeline across the top. Each column should be a time unit – e.g. week / month.
2. Allocate a row underneath the timeline for “Milestones“.
3. Setup a row for each deliverable, as a list of line items underneath your Milestones row.
4. Make the first column larger to allow for deliverable titles.
5. Set out your deliverables in the rows arranged in time order, with the first one at the top.
6. Alternate the rows with two different colours or shades so that they are easy to differentiate at a glance.
7. Test it on a friend. Ask them “Is this easy to understand?” and optimise it with their feedback.

Avoid all the dynamic elements: simply use the excel cell shading and copying features to save time.
1. Timeline: Set the first few date increments horizontally across the top, then drag across and Excel does the rest.
2. Deliverables: Set the first few “deliverables” vertically down the left, then drag down and Excel magically uses your format.
3. Gantt bars: Use cell shading to create Gantt bars, and alternate the shades for each line to make it easy to read.
4. Milestones: Include a row at the top to highlight important Milestones.