Create a Gantt chart in Excel

There are many ways to create a Gantt chart. For example, Microsoft
Project, a task-planning program, makes it easy to track and chart
project timelines with a built-in Gantt chart view. Another option is
to use Excel. Excel does not contain a built-in Gantt chart format;
however, you can create a Gantt chart in Excel by customizing the
stacked bar chart type.

This article shows you how to create a Gantt chart like the following example.

Step 1: Enter the sample data

1. Open a new worksheet in Excel and enter the following values in cells A1 through D6:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   	A	B	C	D
   1		Start Date	Completed	Remaining
   2	Task 1	08/01/2000	205	10
   3	Task 2	10/15/2000	200	120
   4	Task 3	12/15/2000	140	200
   5	Task 4	02/06/01	44	345
   6	Task 5	05/06/01	0	380

   
   
   

   Note  The values in columns C and D (Completed and Remaining) represent numbers of days.

   
   
2. Select cell B2 and format with the date format you want to use for the chart by clicking Cells on the Format menu, and then clicking the Number tab. Click Date in the Category list, and select the format you want to use in the Type list.

Step 2: Create a stacked bar chart

1. Select cells A1:D6 and click Chart Wizard.
2. In step 1, click Bar under Chart Type, and then click the Stacked Bar sub-type (you can see the name of each chart sub-type at the bottom of the dialog box).
3. Click Next, Next, and then Finish.

Step 3: Make the chart look like a Gantt chart

1. Double-click the first series in the chart. This is the series for Start Date. If default colors are set in Excel 2002, this series is blue.
2. On the Patterns tab of the Format Data Series dialog box, click None for Border and None for Area, and then click OK.
3. Double-click the category (x) axis, which in a bar chart is the
   vertical axis. (In a bar chart, the traditional x and y axes are
   reversed.) Click the Scale tab, and select the Categories in reverse order check box.
4. Click the Font tab, click 8 under Size, and then click OK.
5. Double-click the value (y) axis, which in a bar chart is the
   horizontal axis. After completing the last step, this axis should be
   located at the top of the chart plot area. Click the Scale tab and type the following values in the appropriate boxes:
   
   

   Minimum: 36739

   
   
   

   Maximum: 37441

   
   
   

   Major unit: 61

   
   
   

   Minor unit: 1

   
   
   

   These values are serial numbers that represent the dates to be used
   for the value (y) axis. The minimum value 36739 represents the date
   August 1, 2000. The maximum value 37441 represents the date July 4,
   2002. The major unit of 61 represents about two months, while the minor
   unit represents one day. To see the serial number for a date, enter the
   date in a cell, and then format that cell with the General number format.

   
   
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   Also on the Scale tab, select the Category (X) axis crosses at maximum value check box.

   
   
7. Click the Alignment tab, and under Orientation, type 45 in the Degrees box.
8. Click the Font tab, and under Font style, click Bold. Under Size, click 8, and then click OK.
9. Right-click the legend, and click Format Legend on the shortcut menu.
10. Click the Placement tab, and click Bottom.
11. Within the legend, click Start Date so that it is selected, and then press DELETE.