About the Gantt Chart Maker
Gantt Chart Maker turns a list of tasks into a project timeline. Write each task with a start date and a duration, for example Development :b1, 2026-11-16, 14d, group them into sections, and the chart is drawn as you type. Tasks can start after other tasks, be marked done, active or critical, and milestones appear as points in time. Start from an example, choose a colour theme and download the chart as a PNG or SVG for a report or a presentation. It runs in your browser with the open Mermaid library, so your plan is never uploaded.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Gantt Chart Maker
- 1Pick an example or start with gantt, a title and dateFormat YYYY-MM-DD.
- 2Add section lines to group tasks.
- 3Write each task as Name :id, start date, duration (for example 7d).
- 4Use after id to start a task when another ends.
- 5Download the chart as PNG or SVG.
What a Gantt chart shows
A Gantt chart puts time on the horizontal axis and tasks down the side. Long bars are long tasks, and bars that line up end to end show a sequence. It helps you see what is on the critical path: the chain of tasks that decides the finish date.
The format in short
Start with the word gantt, then a title, the date format and, optionally, how to show dates on the axis. Group tasks under section lines. Each task line has a name, a colon and then its properties separated by commas. Dates use year-month-day by default, and durations use units such as d and w.
- title Project name
- dateFormat YYYY-MM-DD
- section Planning
- Task :a1, 2026-11-01, 7d
- Next task :after a1, 5d
Planning tips
List every task, estimate each honestly, and mark the dependencies. Add a buffer before important deadlines. Keep to about a dozen tasks per chart so it stays readable, and put large projects into separate charts for each phase.
Related tools
Use the Calendar Maker for printable month calendars, the Countdown Timer to count down to a deadline, and the Pomodoro Timer for focused work on each task. For process steps without dates, the Flowchart Maker is a better fit, and the Chart Maker draws bar and line charts of numbers.
Sharing the plan
Download a PNG for slides and emails or the SVG for print. Keep the text with your project notes so you can update dates when things change. Review the chart every week and move tasks that slip.
Features
- Tasks with dates, durations and dependencies
- Sections to group work
- Done, active, critical and milestone markers
- Custom date display
- Four colour themes
- Download PNG or SVG
Frequently asked questions
What is a Gantt chart?
A bar chart of a project schedule. Each task is a bar on a timeline, so you can see when it starts, how long it takes and which tasks overlap or depend on each other.
How do I write a task?
Write the name, a colon, an optional id, a start and a duration: Testing :t1, 2026-12-01, 6d. Instead of a start date you can write after b1 to begin when task b1 ends.
Which duration units can I use?
d for days, w for weeks, h for hours, and m for minutes. For example 2w is two weeks.
How do I mark a task as done or critical?
Add done, active or crit before the id: Task :done, a1, 2026-11-01, 3d. Use milestone for a task that is a point in time, with a duration of 0d.
Why do I get an error?
The date format may not match dateFormat, or a task refers to an id that does not exist. The message shows the first helpful line. Check that every after id points to a real id.
Can I show weekends or skip them?
The chart shows calendar days. To skip weekends, you can add excludes weekends under the title.
Can I use it for personal plans?
Yes. Study schedules, trip plans, home projects and events all work well.
Is my plan stored?
No. The chart is drawn in your browser and nothing is uploaded.