How to Create and Customize an Excel Gantt Chart

Step 1 – Selecting the Dataset

• Select the dataset.

Step 2 – Determining the Duration of Each Task

• To determine the duration of Task 1 in E5, use the following formula.

• Press Enter to see the ouput: 94 days.
• Drag down the Fill Handle to see the result in the rest of the cells.

Step 3 – Applying the Stacked Bar Command

• Select C4:C12 (the Start Date column).

• Go to the Insert tab.
• Choose Insert Column or Bar Chart in Charts.
• Choose Stacked Bar in 2-D Bar.

You will see the following chart.

• Name the chart: “Excel Gantt Chart”.

Step 4 -Entering Data into the Stacked Bar Chart

• Right-click the chart and click Select Data.

• In Select Data Source, click Add.

• In “Edit Series”, enter E4  in “Series name”.
• Enter E5: E12 in “Series values”.
• Click OK.

• Click Edit.

• Select B5:B12 as Axis label range in Axis Labels.
• Click OK.

• In the Select Data Source dialog box, click OK.

The Gantt chart is displayed.

Step 5 – Arranging Categories in Reverse Order

The task sequences are in reverse order:

To rearrange the sequence:

• Double-click the axis.
• in Format Axis, choose Axis Option.
• Check Categories in reverse order.

This is the output.

Step 6 – Positioning the Horizontal Axis Label

To position the labels in their previous location:

• Double-click the axis label.
• In Format Axis, go to Labels in Axis Options.
• Choose Label Position as High.

This is the output.

Step 7 – Eliminating the Start Date in the Stacked Chart

• Double-click a blue bar.
• In Format Data Series, choose No fill in Fill & Line.

This is the output.

Step 8 – Adjusting the Minimum and Maximum Values in  the Horizontal Axis

• Select two cells: C14 and C15 and name them Minimum Value and Maximum Value.
• Find the earliest and the latest date of a task and add the dates.

• Go to the Home tab and choose General in Number.
  

This is the output.

• To adjust the label values in the chart, double-click the horizontal axis label.
• In Format Axis, enter the Minimum and Maximum values manually in Axis Options.

This is the output.

Customizing the Gantt Chart

1. Changing the Gap Width of the Gantt Chart

Step 1:

• Double-click the red bars.
• In Format Data Series, change the Gap Width in Series Options.

Step 2:

Here, the percentage was decreased.

This is the output.

2. Altering Colors and Styles

Step 1:

• Double-click any bar in the chart.
• Go to Fill & Line in Format Data Series.
• Choose Gradient fill in Fill.
• Choose a shade in Preset gradients.
  

This is the output.

3. Adding Data Labels to the Gantt Chart

Step 1:

• Click the chart and select Chart Elements.
• Select Data Labels.

Data labels will be displayed.

Step 2:

• To customize the data labels, click them.
• In Format Data Labels, choose Fill & Line.
• Select Solid Fill in Fill.
  

This is the output.

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Related Articles

• How to Create Gantt Chart for Multiple Projects in Excel
• Excel Gantt Chart with Conditional Formatting
• How to Create Excel Gantt Chart with Multiple Start and End Dates
• How to Add Milestones to Gantt Chart in Excel
• How to Show Dependencies in Excel Gantt Chart

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