Whether you’re launching a product or writing a dissertation, staying organised can be tough without a plan. Our Gantt chart examples can help you to form that plan – creating clear timelines for complex projects.

Gantt charts allow you to map out dependencies, deliverables, and deadlines for your business and academic projects, keeping things on track. Learn all about Gantt charts, with tips and examples for specific types of project, and how to build your own with Adobe Express.

What is a Gantt chart?

A Gantt chart is a visual timeline that shows how tasks or project phases unfold over time. It helps you organise who’s doing what task, when they’re due, and how long they will take to complete. The bar chart helps you follow the project’s timeline, highlighting tasks so teams can stay on track with every moving part.

The Gantt chart was first developed by Henry Gantt in the early 20th century and is today ubiquitous across project management, marketing, event planning, and academic work. It shows tasks along a timeline, with bars representing each task’s duration. These can overlap, have various dependencies, or run sequentially.

The key elements of a Gantt chart include:

• Tasks. Specific activities or milestones.
• Dates. Start and end dates for each task.
• Bars. Visual blocks representing task durations.
• Dependencies. Arrows or lines showing links between tasks.
• Milestones. Key deadlines or decision points.
• Assigned team members. Who’s responsible for what.
• Progress indicators. Shading or colours indicating completion status.

Benefits of using a Gantt chart.

A well-designed Gantt chart makes it easier to manage your time, team, and resources. Here are a few key benefits of one:

• Provides a succinct overview. Gantt charts offer a holistic view, allowing you to see the entire project, from start to finish, at a glance.
• Project planning. Gantt charts support better and more efficient project planning, breaking down large goals into manageable tasks.
• Blocks-out sections and tasks. These charts let you separate sections, tasks, and milestones for estimating time and sequencing.
• Shares responsibility. Gantt charts clarify accountability, so team members know their responsibilities on the project.
• Improves collaboration: Gantt charts identify dependencies early to avoid bottlenecks or missed handovers – ideal for cross-functional collaboration.
• Improves communication. Gantt charts enhance communication and make it easier to share updates with stakeholders or clients.

Gantt chart examples.

But how can you apply a Gantt chart across different scenarios? Whether you're managing a marketing campaign, writing a dissertation, or planning a product launch, there’s a Gantt format to suit. These real-world Gantt chart examples could inspire your next project.

1. Project management.

Use a Gantt chart to map timelines, schedule team tasks, assign deadlines, and track dependencies across your project. Organise multiple contributors and departments to keep your teams aligned, aware of deadlines, and accountable. This is ideal for product development, construction, software, or business launches.

2. Website building.

A simple Gantt chart example can break down stages of building a new website, such as wireframing, design, content upload, SEO set-up, and testing. You can add due dates and owners to stay on schedule, and track sprints, launch deadlines, and stakeholder feedback loops.

3. Business proposals and pitches.

Use a Gantt chart business plan example to present your timeline for delivery to investors or partners. It can show roll-out schedules, funding timelines, or hiring stages, for example. Include product development, go-to-market plans, and projected milestones to bring clarity and professionalism to your investor decks.

4. Events and product launches.

A Gantt chart example for events helps to visualise prep, such as booking your venue, rolling out marketing, scheduling your speakers, and planning the logistics. For product launches, include production timelines, promo phases, and press outreach. Remember to keep all your deadlines visible to avoid overlap or delays to your timeline.

5. Business plans.

This type of Gantt chart might outline key stages, like market research, product validation, budgeting, and funding outreach. It can be ideal for start-ups and sole traders who need clarity over goals and timeframes.

Use a detailed Gantt chart example to outline your 6–12 month roadmap and include hiring, marketing, financial forecasting, product milestones, and fundraising phases. This adds structure and credibility to your business strategy documents.

6. Marketing campaigns.

Use a marketing Gantt chart example to break down campaign phases, like planning the campaign, creating the content, approving the assets, scheduling social posts and emails, and reporting on the results. You can track team members’ tasks and campaign performance in real time, and visualise team handovers and deadlines for a multi-channel campaign.

7. Essays and dissertations.

A dissertation Gantt chart or research proposal Gantt chart helps students manage tasks, like research, writing, feedback, and editing. You can use the bar chart to set time for topic research, writing stages, drafts, supervisor meetings, and revisions. This is great for keeping students focused and on track.

Editable Gantt chart examples for project management.

How can Adobe Express help you create a Gantt chart?

Adobe Express makes it easy to build a Gantt chart using free tools and templates. Here’s how you can customise and collaborate with your team to create a clean, on-brand chart that aligns to your business planning, group projects, or personal time management brief.

1. Explore free Gantt chart templates.

Choose from dozens of professional timeline templates and Gantt chart templates to suit your project goals. Simply search for what kind of template you need.

2. Customise your design to fit your brand.

Use Adobe Express’ brand kit to match your Gantt chart to your colour palette, fonts, and logo. This gives your reports, client pitches, and investor decks a consistent look and feel.

3. Get team members to comment and collaborate on tasks.

Once you’ve designed your chart, you can share with your team for collaboration editing, feedback, or approvals. This can be useful for hybrid or cross-functional teams, agencies, and students where people are working from different locations.

Present your Gantt chart to the wider team with the AI presentation maker.

Once you’ve built your Gantt chart, use the AI Presentation Maker to turn it into an expert slide deck. Just enter your project topic, and the tool will generate slides tailored to your timeline and structure. Add your chart, input the phases of your project, and assign roles. You can share it directly to present to stakeholders, teams, or clients. It’s a fast, professional way to showcase your project plan – perfect for both in-person and virtual meetings.

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Good to know.

What are the 7 important elements of a Gantt chart?

The most important elements of a Gantt chart include task names, start dates, end dates, durations, progress, dependencies, and assigned team members.

What should I put in a Gantt chart?

Gantt chats typically include tasks, timelines, milestones, dependencies, and who’s responsible for each item. Ensure each component aligns with your needs to collaborate most effectively.

Are Gantt charts easy to make?

Yes, especially with templates and tools like Adobe Express. You don’t need project management software to get started, either. Simply browse our Gantt chart templates and customise one to your liking.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.