A timeline is a type of chart which visually shows a series of events in chronological order over a linear timescale. The power of a timeline is that it’s a visual representation, which makes it easy to understand critical milestones in a project and the progress of a project schedule. Timelines are particularly powerful for project scheduling or project management when paired with a Gantt chart, as shown at the end of this tutorial.
As an Excel power user, I often get asked “what’s the best way to create timelines in Excel?” While you can build basic timelines using SmartArt graphics, there are even more powerful techniques that let you make truly professional, customizable timescales right in your worksheets
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll show you step-by-step how to build timelines in Excel using two different methods – SmartArt graphics or timeline templates – along with expert tips to help you create visually impressive, interactive timelines that bring your data to life.
Method 1: Build a Simple Timeline with SmartArt
The fastest way to construct a basic timeline in Excel is using SmartArt graphics. Here’s a quick 3-step walkthrough:
Step 1) On the Insert tab, click SmartArt and select a process or timeline layout from the graphics menu. I suggest “Basic Timeline” or “Continuous Block Process.”
Step 2) Click inside the timeline boxes and type your timeline entries, one event per box in chronological order. You can add more boxes as needed.
Step 3) Customize the timeline’s colors, sizes, layout, and style on the SmartArt Design tab to polish its appearance.
That covers the basics of building a timeline with SmartArt! While fast and easy, this method lacks deeper formatting options. So next I’ll show you how to create fully customizable timelines using templates.
Method 2: Use a Custom Timeline Template
For professional-quality timelines with total design control, leverage pre-made Excel timeline templates. Here are the steps:
1. Download a template
Search online for “Excel timeline template” and browse until you find one you like. Many are free to download.
2. Enter your timeline data
Open the template file and populate the timeline with your own events, dates, and details. Add or remove rows as needed.
3. Format and customize the design
Use colors, fonts, styles, and effects to tailor the timeline’s appearance. Adjust layout, sizes, and spacing.
4. Add interactivity (optional)
Link timeline entries to other worksheets or embed hyperlinks to build an interactive timeline.
By using a pre-built template, you can create gorgeous, professional timelines unmatched by SmartArt graphics.
Pro Tips for Advanced Timelines
Take your Excel timelines to the next level with these pro tips:
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Use conditional formatting to vary cell colors based on dates or timeline progress.
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Include images or icons to visualize milestones and events.
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Link to timeline data on a separate worksheet to update it dynamically.
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Build multiple synchronized timelines to show parallel sequences of events.
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Enable scrolling or freeze panes to reveal the timeline across long sheets.
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Add a legend or notes to provide context and details for viewers.
With these formatting techniques, you can build dynamic, visual timelines that bring your data to life!
Creative Ways to Use Timelines in Excel
Beyond basic sequences of events, timelines are great for:
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Project plans – Map out schedules with timespans, milestones and dependencies.
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Product roadmaps – Show planned features and release dates.
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Performance trends – Track KPIs and metrics over time.
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Biographies – Document key moments in a person’s life.
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Historical records – Chronicle important eras, leaders, achievements.
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Storytelling – Visualize narratives, plots and character arcs.
With the right data, you can create timelines for almost any purpose!
Key Takeaways for Excel Timelines
To recap, here are my top tips for building professional timelines in Excel:
- Use SmartArt for basic, fast timelines
- Leverage templates for full customization
- Format designs using colors, fonts, styles
- Add interactivity with hyperlinks
- Incorporate images and icons
- Customize with conditional formatting
- Build multiple synchronized timelines
- Add context with notes and legends
- Use for schedules, roadmaps, chronologies, and more!
Applying these timeline best practices will help you develop visually compelling charts that bring clarity to your important data sequences.
How do I create a project milestone timeline in Excel?
The simplest way to create a project milestone timeline in Excel is to use the spreadsheet platform’s native “Project timeline” template. It includes milestones as well as a customizable data table needed for your timeline. You can find the project timeline template in Excel by going to File > New and searching for “project timeline”:
An equally simple, yet more effective way is to use your Excel data to automatically generate a project milestone timeline directly in PowerPoint, with the help of our PowerPoint add-in, Office Timeline. You can use the resulting visual in any Excel spreadsheet, Word document, or PowerPoint presentation. Your timeline may look like this:
For this, you’ll first need to install the free trial of the premium edition. Then, once ready, you simply pick a preferred template, type in or copy-paste your data from Excel, and you are all set. As simple as that!
Make a timeline in Excel by setting it up as a Scatter chart.
- From the timeline worksheet in Excel, click on any blank cell.
- Then from the Excel ribbon, select the Insert tab and navigate to the Charts section of the ribbon.
- In the Charts section of the ribbon drop down the Scatter or Bubble Chart menu.
- Select Scatter which will insert a blank white chart space onto your Excel worksheet.
How To Create A Timeline In Excel – The Excel Hub
How do I create a project timeline?
Without extensive tools like a Gantt chart or expensive software like Microsoft Project, you can create a simple project timeline right in Microsoft Excel. A basic project timeline shows milestones or tasks with dates in chronological order. This allows you or your audience to see the entire project at a glance and in one spot.
How do I create a graphical timeline?
If you want to create a graphical representation of a sequence of events, such as the milestones in a project or the main events of a person’s life, you can use a SmartArt graphic timeline. After you create the timeline, you can add more dates, move dates, change layouts and colors, and apply different styles. On the Insert tab, click SmartArt.
How to create a timeline in Excel?
This wikiHow will show you how to create a timeline in Microsoft Excel. Go to Insert > Illustrations > SmartArt > Process to create a timeline graphic. Or, create a new workbook and search for “timeline” in the template search bar. Add a timeline filter to a pivot table by going to PivotTable Analyze > Insert Timeline. Click the Insert tab.
How do I create a timeline in AutoCAD?
On the Insert tab, click SmartArt. In the Choose a SmartArt Graphic gallery, click Process, and then double-click a timeline layout. Tip: There are two timeline SmartArt graphics: Basic timeline and Circle Accent Timeline, but you can also use almost any process-related SmartArt graphic.
