Free Project Schedule Template (Excel + Google Sheets)
What's in the project schedule template
The Tasks sheet lists up to 60 tasks with a WBS number, task name, assignee, start date and end date. Duration in days calculates automatically from the two dates, and a Days Remaining column counts down for anything not yet marked Complete.
Status (Not started / In progress / Complete) is a dropdown, and a summary block totals how many tasks sit in each status - so you get a one-glance progress read without a pivot table.
The Timeline sheet is a 12-week grid: list the same tasks down the rows, and mark an 'x' in every week that task is active. A row underneath totals how many tasks are active in each week, calculated with COUNTIF.
Gantt chart in Excel: what this template gives you instead
If you're looking for a fully automated Gantt chart - bars that resize and shift on their own when you change a start or end date - this template doesn't build that. What it gives you is a task table with automatic duration and status rollup, plus a simple 12-week grid you mark by hand to show which weeks each task spans.
For a lot of small teams, that combination - a clean task list with working date math, and a visual week-by-week view - covers planning and status updates without needing dedicated project software. If you specifically need auto-resizing Gantt bars, a tool built for that (or a spreadsheet using conditional-formatting-driven bars) is a better fit.
Who this template is for
Small teams and freelancers managing a single project who want task-level dates and a rough visual timeline without learning a new tool.
If you're running multiple concurrent projects or need resource-loading across a team, a dedicated PM tool with cross-project views will serve you better; this file is built for tracking one project's task list and timeline cleanly.
How to use it
- List every task on the Tasks sheet with its assignee, start date and end date - duration in days calculates automatically.
- Update Status as work progresses; the summary block counts tasks by status.
- Use the Timeline sheet to mark 'x' in every week each task is active - the active-task count per week totals automatically underneath.
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See the full versionFrequently asked questions
Does this template draw an automated Gantt chart?
No. It gives you a task table with automatic duration (in days) and status rollup, plus a 12-week timeline grid you mark by hand with an 'x' for each active week - it does not draw resizing Gantt bars.
How is duration calculated?
Duration in days = End date minus Start date, calculated automatically the moment both dates are filled in.
How many tasks can I track?
60 tasks out of the box on both the Tasks and Timeline sheets. Extend the row range if you need more.
Do I need to sign up to download this?
No. It's a direct .xlsx download with no email gate.
Can I use this in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the file to Google Drive and choose File > Save as Google Sheets - the duration formulas and week counts keep working.