Templates and Examples
To get you started even faster we have gathered examples and templates for you. These are Tom's Planner projects that are being used on a daily basis. Although every project is one of it's kind, these templates can offer you a good starting point or offer you inspiration to get your project started.
Gantt chart examples and templates:
What are Gantt chart templates?
Struggling to manage a project effectively? Chances are good it all comes down to not having the right
tools. If you’re trying to use Excel or Google Sheets, you’re likely frustrated, and things are starting
to go off the rails.
Spreadsheets are great at what they were designed for (data entry), but they’re not particularly
well-suited for project planning and management. What should you use instead? Gantt charts offer the
flexibility, insight, and ease of planning that you need to ensure your project has the best chance of
success.
What are Gantt chart templates? Unlike spreadsheets, Gantt charts use horizontal bar charts to show a
project’s timelines and tasks. They illustrate how work is progressing over time and compare actual
progress to the planned schedule.
A simple Gantt chart template is incredibly versatile, too. You can use a Gantt template to plan
virtually any project, from residential construction to office renovation, and everything in between.
The project Gantt chart template was originally developed in the early 20th century by Henry Gantt. His
goal was to show the amount of work accomplished in comparison to the amount of activity anticipated
during a specific amount of time.
Today, Gantt charts templates are used for a broad range of needs, from tracking project progress to
arranging project tasks across a visually displayed timeline. You can also create a quick Gantt chart to
help with resource management, task tracking, initial project planning and outlining, and more.
Tom’s Planner puts that versatility and power right in your hand with customizable Gantt chart templates
that you can utilize for almost any need.
How to use Tom’s Planner’s Gantt chart templates
Getting your project off the ground is as easy as 1-2-3.
Search for a Gantt chart template that best matches your project in the templates search section at the top of this page. Then visit the template page.
Next, open the template, register for a free account and watch a short video on using Tom’s Planner. The account is free forever, with no strings attached.
You’re all set to use the Gantt chart template. Need additional help? Our AI assistant can create a custom Gantt chart template based on your project description.
Why use our Gantt chart templates instead of Excel or Google Sheets?
Get started with our Gantt chart template in seconds while skipping the hassle involved with Excel or Google Sheets.
Build Gantt charts in minutes, not hours.
No project management experience? No problem. Tom's Planner offers a user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface that's intuitive and easy to learn. Creating Gantt charts is a breeze, saving you time and effort. Compare that to the time-consuming, frustrating, manual formatting-intensive process of building a Gantt chart in Excel or Google Sheets.
Move at the pace of modern business with no learning curve or Googling formulas.
Good luck figuring out how to make a Gantt chart work in Excel or Google Sheets. Excel’s user manual weighs in at a hefty 500+ pages. It takes just five minutes with Tom’s Planner to start planning your first real project plan.
Headache-free collaboration and sharing.
Tom's Planner offers powerful options for sharing and collaborating on Gantt charts, including public links, PDF exports, and team access with customizable permission levels. It’s never been easier to communicate or ensure everyone’s on the same page. Compare that to Excel, where sharing and collaboration mean jumping through hoop after hoop and dealing with confusion and chaos.
When to use Gantt chart templates
When might you need to use a Gantt chart template? These flexible, powerful planning tools are critical during multiple phases of any project. Some of the times they’re most necessary include the following:
Gantt chart templates were created for project planning, so it makes sense that you’d need to use one during the initial planning phase of your project. You can list tasks, assign them, create timelines, and more to help keep the project moving forward.
All projects require resources, but they must be allocated and managed correctly. Gantt charts templates help ensure that you can accurately plan resource allocation and then manage those resources as the project evolves.
Don’t assume that you can ditch your project Gantt chart template once the project is underway. While it’s a powerful planning tool, it also helps you keep the project between the rails as it progresses.
With a tool like Tom’s Planner, it’s easier than ever to plan and guide projects to a successful completion.
Who should use Gantt chart templates?
Guiding a project to successful completion requires that the right people have access to your Gantt chart timeline template at critical times. Some of those who’ll need access include the following:
It’s easy to see why project managers would need to use a project Gantt chart template. They’re responsible for planning and managing each aspect of the project, and a Gantt template simplifies those processes.
Contractors and subcontractors may need access to Gantt chart templates to synchronize their tasks with other professionals involved in the project, understand dependencies, and track resources.
Stakeholders who aren’t directly involved with the project will also need access to a project Gantt chart download so that they can stay up-to-date and in the loop at all times.
Tom’s Planner helps keep everyone in the know and simplifies project planning.
Gantt chart templatesThe top three pitfalls to avoid when planning a project using Gantt charts
Ready to accelerate your project planning and move that project forward? A simple Gantt chart template can be a powerful tool, but make sure you avoid these mistakes:
- Dealing with Clutter:
It’s all too easy to add too much detail to your Gantt chart, which makes it confusing and can obscure your goals.
Solution:Use an editable Gantt chart to plan your project and keep things clean and streamlined.
- Not Assigning Priorities:
Project managers and planners can oversimplify projects and fail to assign priorities, which can lead to slowdowns and bottlenecks.
Solution:Plan your project with a tool like Tom’s Planner so you can easily assign priority levels to tasks.
- Ignoring Dependencies:
Each task within your overall project plan depends on other tasks being completed, but ignoring those dependencies can mean unnecessary delays.
Solution:Track task dependencies during project planning so that things progress smoothly.
What do Gantt chart templates include?
What might a template for Gantt chart include? In reality, the best Gantt chart template is one that you
can customize to your specific needs. Because they’re so flexible, you can opt to start with a blank
Gantt chart, or you can choose a detailed Gantt chart template that’s designed with a project like yours
in mind.
Here’s an example. If you want total control over all aspects of project planning, you can use a blank
Gantt chart template free download. However, if you want at least some structure, you can opt for an
editable Gantt chart template, like what’s available here from Tom’s Planner.
We want you to have access to the right tools to ensure project completion, which is why you’ll find so
many Gantt chart templates on offer. Just choose the one that’s aligned with the type of project you’re
planning, and you’ll find it’s packed with potential.
For instance, let’s say you’re planning the build-out of a new restaurant. A restaurant construction
project plan allows you to plan all aspects of the project, from the initial site assessment to
purchasing kitchen equipment, and everything in between.
Here’s another example. Perhaps you’re struggling to reach your target audience. Your offerings just
don’t seem to resonate any longer. It’s time to conduct a brand audit. A brand audit template lets you
plan all aspects of the audit, from establishing your objectives to conducting a brand evaluation, and
so much more.
In broad strokes, a Gantt chart template can include:
- Start and end dates
- Tasks required
- Task assignees
- Project milestones
- Dependencies
- Resources
What do Gantt chart templates include? When you choose Tom’s Planner, the answer is “everything you need to successfully plan your project”.
Four tips on how to make sure you reach your deadlines
The greatest enemy project managers face is a lack of effective planning. Download the best Gantt chart template early and begin outlining things immediately.
Every project requires communication. Know who needs to be in the loop and at what stages.
Make sure to involve all project stakeholders right from the start. In addition to your team members, this may include customers or clients, suppliers, vendors, freelancers, and executives. Identify everyone involved, give them access to your Gantt chart, and keep them up to date throughout the project.
Simplify large projects by breaking them down into smaller steps within your initial planning stages. Laying out individual tasks within your Gantt chart free template helps accelerate success.
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