How to Make a Gantt Chart

Outlining Your Project
1. Document an overview or synopsis of the project before plotting a Gantt chart.
2. Make a list of the tasks required for completion of the project and the dates that each of these tasks needs to be completed by.
3. Create a new spreadsheet.
4. List each of the tasks that must be completed during the course of the project in the far left-hand column. Skip a row at the end of the list.
5. Place the dates of completion for each of the required tasks in a cell on the following row. Allow spaces between the date cells if they are needed for readability.
6. Select the cell that represents the start date of the task, click the 'Format Cells' function and fill the cell with color to indicate the beginning of a task. Repeat this action across the row. Click and drag the mouse over a group of cells to select the cells all the way to the project's end date. Each task needs to be plotted according to its beginning date and end date.
7. Format the text with bolding or italics; add headings and shading to enhance the visual appeal and readability of the chart; or create borders if appropriate.