Free Gantt Chart Maker

Written by the Utiliby editorial team · Last updated October 14, 2026 · Rules and formulas reviewed October 2026

What this free online Gantt chart maker does

A Gantt chart turns a list of tasks into a picture of time. Each task becomes a bar: the left edge is when it starts, the length is how long it takes and the position relative to other bars shows what overlaps and what must wait. Henry Gantt popularised the format in the early twentieth century, and it remains the standard way to present a project schedule because anyone can read it at a glance. This free online Gantt chart maker lets you build one without a spreadsheet, a licence or an account.

Add your tasks, give each a start date and a duration, link tasks that depend on each other, mark milestones and enter how far along each task is. The chart redraws on every keystroke, with weekends shaded, a today line, progress fill and arrows between linked tasks. When you are happy, download the chart as PNG or SVG, export the schedule as CSV or print a clean one-page version.

How to create a Gantt chart step by step

1. Pick a starting point. Choose a template for a website launch, marketing campaign, product roadmap or event, or edit the sample tasks.
2. List the tasks. Use short action names such as design mockups, write copy or run tests.
3. Set dates and durations. Give the first task a start date. Give each task a duration in days.
4. Add dependencies. Type the number of the task that must finish first in the After # box. The later task will start the next day.
5. Add milestones. Tick Milestone for points like launch or approval.
6. Update progress. Enter the percentage complete as work advances.
7. Share it. Download the PNG, SVG or CSV or print the chart.

Features of the Gantt chart maker

Understanding dependencies and the critical path

Most tasks cannot start until another finishes. Design comes before development and testing comes before launch. These links are called finish-to-start dependencies, and they are the type this tool supports. When you set a dependency, the later task begins the day after the earlier one ends, so lengthening an early task pushes everything after it. The chain of dependent tasks that determines the earliest possible finish date is called the critical path. In the chart, it is the longest staircase of linked bars from the first task to the last. A delay on that path delays the whole project, while tasks off the path have slack.

Use this to focus your attention. Shorten or start early the tasks on the critical path, and let off-path tasks run in parallel, such as writing content while designers work on mockups.

How to estimate task durations

Good estimates come from experience, not optimism. Break each task into pieces small enough to estimate in whole days, ask the people who will do the work, and compare with similar past tasks. Add buffer for review, feedback and the unexpected rather than hiding it in every task. Many teams add ten to twenty per cent contingency to the total or place a visible buffer task before important deadlines. If a task is longer than about ten working days, consider splitting it so progress is easier to track.

When to use a Gantt chart

Gantt charts suit projects with a clear beginning and end, defined tasks and dependencies: construction and renovation, software releases, marketing campaigns, events, research projects, product launches, school assignments and personal goals such as moving house or planning a wedding. They are less suited to continuous work with no end date, where a Kanban board or to-do list fits better. They also work as a communication tool: stakeholders who will not read a task list will usually understand a chart.

Tips for clear, useful charts

• Keep names short. Long names are cut off in the left column.
• Group by phase. Order tasks in the sequence they start.
• Use milestones sparingly. Mark only the dates that matter.
• Update weekly. Change progress and dates at a regular check-in.
• Show the today line. It makes late tasks obvious.
• Save a copy before big changes. Download the project file.

Sharing, exporting and printing

The PNG download works well in slides, documents and chat, and the SVG scales without losing sharpness. CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets for further analysis. For paper, Print / save chart outputs only the chart and a task table, with a clean white background. Choose landscape orientation and fit to page in your print dialog for long projects. To continue on another device, save the project file and open it there.

Using the templates and sample projects

The four templates give you a realistic skeleton to edit. The website launch template runs from discovery through design, content and development to testing and a launch milestone, with design and content in parallel. The marketing campaign template covers research, creative, channel set-up, a two-week live period, review and a reporting milestone. The product roadmap template moves from discovery to prototype, build, beta and release. The event planning template sets the budget and date, books the venue, invites guests, arranges catering and ends with event day and thank-you notes. Load one, rename the tasks, change the durations and set your real start date. Because later tasks follow earlier ones through dependencies, changing one duration shifts everything after it.

Tracking progress against the plan

A chart is most valuable after the project starts. Each week, update the percentage complete for every active task and check the red today line. A bar whose filled part ends well before the today line is behind schedule. Look at the critical chain of dependent tasks first, since delays there move the finish date. If you are behind, you can lengthen the task, add resources outside the tool, reduce scope or move the finish date, and then tell the people affected. Save a copy of the project file at each major change so you can compare the plan with what actually happened and improve future estimates.

Common Gantt chart mistakes

• Too much detail. A chart with hundreds of rows is hard to read. Plan phases first.
• No dependencies. Without links, one delay will not move later tasks.
• Optimistic durations. Add review time and buffers.
• Ignoring weekends and holidays. Use working days and add days for holidays.
• Never updating it. An old chart misleads. Refresh progress regularly.

Privacy, limits and responsible use

Your project is stored in your browser's local storage on this device. Nothing is uploaded, so nobody else can see it. Clearing browser data or switching devices removes access, so save a project file for anything important. The tool supports finish-to-start dependencies and calendar or working days only, and it does not model resources, costs, holidays or part-day work. Dates are calculated from your inputs and are a planning aid, not a guarantee. For contracts, safety-critical work or large programmes, use professional project management software and advice.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

• Project Management Institute, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide).
• Wallace Clark, The Gantt Chart: A Working Tool of Management (1922).
• Kelley and Walker, Critical-path planning and scheduling (Eastern Joint Computer Conference, 1959).
• W3C, Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) specification (w3.org).
• MDN Web Docs, Window.localStorage and Canvas API (developer.mozilla.org).

Sources were consulted in October 2026. Standards and rules can change, so always check the official page for your situation.