20+ Project Timeline Templates
Use these templates to drive buy-in, alignment, and success for any project.
A project timeline removes the risk of dropping the ball anywhere in the project.
When kickstarting a new project, you probably already have a vision of what needs to be accomplished for the project to be considered a success. Your project management from day one minimizes the risk of lost opportunities or missed deadlines. Suffice to say, a project that boasts transparency and firm (but realistic!) deadlines is a project with the potential to produce incredible results, and here is where a project timeline comes in handy.
A project timeline removes the risk of dropping the ball anywhere in the project. It outlines each step of the project and who is responsible, both setting performance expectations and holding stakeholders accountable. Starting your project prep with a project timeline template streamlines the process even further. We’ve compiled a list of project timeline template examples below to help you get started.
Why create a project timeline template?
Sets clear expectations
When project expectations are unclear from day one there is room for missed opportunities. Before kicking off your project, make sure you’ve communicated project goals, objectives, and timelines to stakeholders. This will ensure that everyone knows their role and the goal for their section of the project. Straightforward expectations and good communication keep all stakeholders on the same page, removing confusion and frustration.
Increase communication
Speaking of communication, it’s key when collaborating on a large-scale project. Frequent status updates, whether this comes in the form of project status update templates or weekly check-in meetings, ensure all stakeholders know where the project’s current status and its next steps. Utilizing a timeline makes it easy to track a project’s progress and next steps without digging for answers in Slack, email, or project management software.
Easily tracks project progress
With any luck, you’ve already created a list of potential setbacks and solutions to these setbacks. The project timeline is meant to help you see these potential problem spots before they become intimidating barriers. Your project timeline is there to keep the project on track. It’s a go-to source to answer the “what’s the status” question.
Improves team motivation
When people start seeing results, they want to keep seeing results. This is especially rewarding if there is a direct correlation between an individual's efforts and the project’s larger objective. The easiest way to make sure you’re hitting project benchmarks is to start with a timeline and acquaint each stakeholder with it. Your timeline will keep the project on track and keep team members seeing results.
How to create a project timeline
1. Have a clear project brief
A project brief outlines all the important details of your project. This includes deliverables, stakeholders, and goals. It’s a quick overview of all the information related to the project that stakeholders can use as a jumping-off point and for reference throughout the entire project.
2. Create a master task list
A realistic timeline includes a list of tasks that need to be completed to reach the project’s objectives. Try breaking this section down into phases of the project that align with the timeline. Next, create a list within each phase of the tasks that need to be completed to keep the project on track.
3. Estimate the time requirements of each task
Once you know what tasks need to be done for the project, you can estimate how long it will take for each of those tasks to be completed. Here is where it might be helpful to loop in the stakeholders who will be responsible for those tasks. They will know the duration of time needed for each task given their expertise and workload.
4. Assign and organize dependencies
Organizing dependencies involves pinpointing tasks whose completion relies on the successful completion of other tasks. Drawing connections between tasks ensures that each stakeholder knows what is reliant on their work to keep the project moving. It will help remove the risk of missed deadlines, benchmark setbacks, and confusion due to poor communication.
5. Create a project timeline
Finally, after you’ve established all the project information in steps one through four, it’s time to create your project timeline. Use your master task list, time requirements for each task, and dependencies to organize a succinct project timeline to distribute across your team. Feel free to get creative here based on the kind of project you’re working on–maybe your project timeline is outlined through a series of tasks in Asana or perhaps it’s a single piece of documentation that includes some visual elements.
6. Create a project roadmap to share with stakeholders and teams
Now that you have your project timeline created, share it with your stakeholders and teams. Get their feedback on the overall process and address any concerns they may have. Use the timeline as a reference point for the official launch of your project.
Project timeline template examples
Developing a project timeline isn’t as stressful as it sounds. Ask yourself what you’re trying to accomplish with the project then break it down. Take a peek at these timeline template examples to help kick start your project.
When kickstarting a new project, you probably already have a vision of what needs to be accomplished for the project to be considered a success. Your project management from day one minimizes the risk of lost opportunities or missed deadlines. Suffice to say, a project that boasts transparency and firm (but realistic!) deadlines is a project with the potential to produce incredible results, and here is where a project timeline comes in handy.
A project timeline removes the risk of dropping the ball anywhere in the project. It outlines each step of the project and who is responsible, both setting performance expectations and holding stakeholders accountable. Starting your project prep with a project timeline template streamlines the process even further. We’ve compiled a list of project timeline template examples below to help you get started.
Why create a project timeline template?
Sets clear expectations
When project expectations are unclear from day one there is room for missed opportunities. Before kicking off your project, make sure you’ve communicated project goals, objectives, and timelines to stakeholders. This will ensure that everyone knows their role and the goal for their section of the project. Straightforward expectations and good communication keep all stakeholders on the same page, removing confusion and frustration.
Increase communication
Speaking of communication, it’s key when collaborating on a large-scale project. Frequent status updates, whether this comes in the form of project status update templates or weekly check-in meetings, ensure all stakeholders know where the project’s current status and its next steps. Utilizing a timeline makes it easy to track a project’s progress and next steps without digging for answers in Slack, email, or project management software.
Easily tracks project progress
With any luck, you’ve already created a list of potential setbacks and solutions to these setbacks. The project timeline is meant to help you see these potential problem spots before they become intimidating barriers. Your project timeline is there to keep the project on track. It’s a go-to source to answer the “what’s the status” question.
Improves team motivation
When people start seeing results, they want to keep seeing results. This is especially rewarding if there is a direct correlation between an individual's efforts and the project’s larger objective. The easiest way to make sure you’re hitting project benchmarks is to start with a timeline and acquaint each stakeholder with it. Your timeline will keep the project on track and keep team members seeing results.
How to create a project timeline
1. Have a clear project brief
A project brief outlines all the important details of your project. This includes deliverables, stakeholders, and goals. It’s a quick overview of all the information related to the project that stakeholders can use as a jumping-off point and for reference throughout the entire project.
2. Create a master task list
A realistic timeline includes a list of tasks that need to be completed to reach the project’s objectives. Try breaking this section down into phases of the project that align with the timeline. Next, create a list within each phase of the tasks that need to be completed to keep the project on track.
3. Estimate the time requirements of each task
Once you know what tasks need to be done for the project, you can estimate how long it will take for each of those tasks to be completed. Here is where it might be helpful to loop in the stakeholders who will be responsible for those tasks. They will know the duration of time needed for each task given their expertise and workload.
4. Assign and organize dependencies
Organizing dependencies involves pinpointing tasks whose completion relies on the successful completion of other tasks. Drawing connections between tasks ensures that each stakeholder knows what is reliant on their work to keep the project moving. It will help remove the risk of missed deadlines, benchmark setbacks, and confusion due to poor communication.
5. Create a project timeline
Finally, after you’ve established all the project information in steps one through four, it’s time to create your project timeline. Use your master task list, time requirements for each task, and dependencies to organize a succinct project timeline to distribute across your team. Feel free to get creative here based on the kind of project you’re working on–maybe your project timeline is outlined through a series of tasks in Asana or perhaps it’s a single piece of documentation that includes some visual elements.
6. Create a project roadmap to share with stakeholders and teams
Now that you have your project timeline created, share it with your stakeholders and teams. Get their feedback on the overall process and address any concerns they may have. Use the timeline as a reference point for the official launch of your project.
Project timeline template examples
Developing a project timeline isn’t as stressful as it sounds. Ask yourself what you’re trying to accomplish with the project then break it down. Take a peek at these timeline template examples to help kick start your project.
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