How to Make a Gantt Chart in Google Slides

A Gantt chart is a project manager’s best friend—a sleek project timeline that maps out tasks, deadlines, and progress.

When done well, Gantt charts transform complex project timelines into clear, actionable roadmaps using visualization techniques.

While there are many ways to create Gantt charts, a Google Sheets template might be a favorite tool for many. But Google Slides can help you here, too!

It’s easy to use, accessible, and part of the powerhouse Google Workspace, which boasts over 8 million customers. In this guide, we’ll show you step-by-step instructions on how to create a Gantt chart in Google Slides.

But that’s not all—we’ll explore other tools and tips to make your Gantt charts even more powerful, with features like task assignments and progress tracking. Let’s get started!

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How to Make a Gantt Chart in Google Slides

⏰ 60-Second Summary

A Gantt chart is a visual project management tool that tracks tasks, deadlines, and dependencies over time
Use the Timeline Diagram templates in Google Slides to create a basic Gantt chart
Alternatively, build one manually by adding shapes, arrows, and gridlines for a fully customized timeline
Some limitations of creating a Gantt Chart in Google Slides include a lack of built-in Gantt chart templates, limited task dependency tracking, and a lack of integration with project management tools
Instead, use ClickUp’s Gantt Chart View to visualize and manage projects with drag-and-drop simplicity
Simplify planning with ClickUp’s Simple Gantt Chart Template, offering built-in views for SMART Goals and action items

Use Gantt Charts in ClickUp

🧠Fun Fact: The Harmonogram, created by Polish engineer Karol Adamiecki in 1896, was an early precursor to the Gantt chart. Though similar in purpose, it wasn’t widely known outside Eastern Europe then.

How to Make a Gantt Chart in Google Slides

Google Slides offers an intuitive and straightforward way to create and customize visuals, making it accessible—even if you’re not a tech wizard!

Wondering how to create a Gantt chart in Google Slides? It’s easier than you think! Just follow the steps below, and you’ll have your very own Gantt chart in no time:

Step 1: Begin with a blank slide

Blank slides in Google Slides: Gantt Chart in Google Slides — via Google Slides

Start by opening Google Slides and creating a new, blank presentation.

You can adjust the slide layout to fit your needs, but keeping it simple with a blank slide will give you complete control over your design.

From here, you’ll be ready to build your Gantt chart from scratch.

💡 Pro Tip: You can easily search for the right images in your browser with Google Slides. Just click Insert > Image > Search the web, and you won’t need to download or upload anything separately.

Step 2: Insert timeline diagram

Insert a timeline diagram by using a table

Click on Insert and then choose Diagram
Now, select Timeline

You’ll now see a host of options on your right. You can customize these templates by selecting a thumbnail and inserting it into your slide, making it easy to build your own Gantt chart.

Google Slides does not have a built-in Gantt chart, but its timeline templates closely resemble simple Gantt charts.

💡Pro Tip: For presentations with 10+ slides, save time by using a slide master to make universal updates, eliminating the need to edit each slide individually.

➡️ Also Read: Gantt Chart vs. Timeline: What Are They and How to Use Them

Step 3: Customize the Gantt Chart

Once the timeline is inserted, click on it to edit

Replace the placeholder text with your project tasks or project milestones, using the timeline nodes for task names or key milestones. Add dates or timeframes below each node to define when tasks start and end.

To make it more like a Gantt chart:

Color-code the timeline to show task status—such as completed, in progress, or not started
Add shapes or lines to represent overlapping tasks or dependencies if needed
Use text boxes or shapes to label the time intervals (e.g., weeks, months), helping to organize the timeline visually

🧠 Fun Fact: Gantt charts were famously used during the construction of the Hoover Dam, which began in 1931.

Alternate route

You can easily create a Gantt chart in Google Slides by manually using basic shapes and arrows to represent tasks and their dependencies.

This approach is a bit hands-on but gives complete control to customize everything to fit your project perfectly!

Insert shapes for tasks: Select Insert on the task bar and choose Shape. Inside the Shapes menu, select rectangles or rounded rectangles.
Adjust shapes: Use these shapes to represent individual tasks on the timeline. Adjust the length of each shape to reflect the task duration
Add arrows for dependencies: Go to Insert > Shape > Arrow to connect tasks and indicate dependencies between them. Position arrows to show the task sequence
Create timeline grid: Add a horizontal line for the timeline and vertical lines to mark time intervals (days, weeks, or months). Use the Line tool to draw grid lines manually
Color-code tasks: Use different colors for shapes to represent task categories, phases, or priorities, making tasks easy to identify
Label tasks and dates: Use text boxes to add task names inside the shapes and label the dates along the timeline

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Without a unified system for capturing and tracking decisions, critical business insights get lost in the digital noise. With ClickUp’s Task Management capabilities, you never have to worry about this. Create tasks from chat, task comments, docs, and emails with a single click!

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Limitations of Creating a Gantt Chart in Google Slides

Creating a Gantt chart in Google Slides is a quick, straightforward way to visualize project timelines, especially for smaller projects or presentations. However, it’s not really the best Gantt chart alternative and falls short compared to dedicated project management tools due to a few limitations:

Lack of in-built Gantt chart project templates: Google Slides doesn’t offer pre-made Gantt chart templates. You must manually create or adjust timeline diagrams to fit your project’s needs, which can be time-consuming
Limited task dependency tracking: Unlike specialized software, Google Slides doesn’t link tasks or people to project dependencies, making it challenging to track critical paths or visualize task interrelationships
Manual updates: Any changes to tasks or timelines must be manually updated since there’s no automatic syncing with real-time project data, which can be cumbersome with frequently changing details
Limited customization options: While you can make basic customization, Google Slides lacks advanced features like conditional formatting, built-in drop-down menus, or progress tracking that are critical for effective project time management
No integration with project management tools: Google Slides doesn’t integrate with other project management tools, limiting its usage to larger teams and complex projects where centralized tracking is necessary

➡️ Also Read: Free Google Slides Templates for Impactful Presentations

Create Gantt Charts With ClickUp

What if you could create Gantt charts in seconds smartly, with pre-existing project data, in the same place you collaborate with your team?

With ClickUp, you can!

It’s the everything app for work that combines all your work with ClickUp Chat, powering it all with ClickUp Brain that helps you work smarter, not harder.

Here’s what ClickUp user Alexis Correa, Business Intelligence Analyst at CPPA has to say:

Thanks to ClickUp we were able to eliminate a spreadsheet where we updated a Gantt chart every month, but before the Gantt chart we were using other similar app to manage activities and with Clickup we solved this by having several visual options and all in a single web app.

Alexis Correa, Business Intelligence Analyst at CPPA

ClickUp Gantt Chart: Gantt Chart in Google Slides — Add ClickUp Gantt Chart in your space, and it will automatically visualize your tasks

If you’re looking for free Gantt software, ClickUp can do the job. Here’s how ClickUp Gantt Charts hit the mark:

User-friendly interface: Navigate ClickUp’s Gantt charts easily, even as a beginner, and quickly create and adjust your project timelines
Task management integration: Seamlessly link tasks, set due dates, and track project schedule—all within the Gantt Chart View
Real-time collaboration: Update task statuses and make real-time changes, keeping your team aligned and ensuring everyone stays on the same page
Customizable views: Tailor your Gantt chart to fit your needs with options to adjust colors, task labels, and dependencies
Advanced features: Use features like drag-and-drop scheduling, Critical Path analysis, and Slack Time insights to stay on top of your project’s key timelines

New to ClickUp? Setting up a Gantt chart is super easy. Here’s a video that can make the process smoother

The ClickUp Simple Gantt Chart Template is a great way to visualize all your tasks and deadlines in one place, helping you stay organized and on track with your projects.

Designed for the List Level of your Workspace, this template includes multiple views and features to streamline project planning and execution, such as:

Simple Gantt: View your project timeline at the List level for a high-level overview
Project plan: Organize SMART Goals by Initiative in a List View for better goal-tracking
Project Gantt: Group Action Items by Initiative in a List View for task-specific planning

Custom Fields in the template enhance tracking with progress fields automatically tracking subtask completion as a percentage. Dropdown fields also indicate each task’s phase within the project.

Additionally, workspace features like Views, Custom Fields, Docs, and more help create a dynamic and efficient environment.

This template is designed to be user-friendly for both beginners and seasoned Gantt users, so you can get started without feeling overwhelmed by the tool.

Download This Template

ClickUp makes work easier

Remember how we said ClickUp does Gantt charts and more? Here are some more key features that can make it your team’s mainstay:

Centralized workflows: Bring all your projects, knowledge, and conversations into one app to reduce fragmentation and boost efficiency
Improved collaboration: Brainstorm visually and collaboratively with ClickUp Whiteboards and create, share, and edit plans in real time with ClickUp Docs
Enhanced visibility: Stay on top of every project with a single source of truth, tracking task progress, responsibilities, and updates without the need for constant meetings or follow-ups
Powerful automations: Streamline business processes like employee onboarding, IT requests, and expense management with ClickUp Automations

➡️ Also Read: Gantt Chart Examples for Project Management

Visualize Project Goals with ClickUp

Although they may look intimidating, Gantt charts offer a graphical overview of your project to help you manage tasks, deadlines, and dependencies.

While Google Slides offers basic options like timeline diagrams and DIY Gantt charts using shapes, the process is tedious. The lack of advanced features like task dependencies and real-time updates is glaring.

Enter ClickUp’s Gantt Chart View—designed to streamline workflows, manage tasks effortlessly, and deliver real-time updates as your project evolves. Forget the hassle of Google Slides and embrace dynamic features .

With pre-made Gantt chart templates, you can easily hit the ground running and organize your projects.

Why settle for basic when you can have brilliant? Sign up for ClickUp today!