How to Create a Timeline in Excel: SmartArt, Templates, and More

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A quick tutorial for making any type of timeline in Excel

Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: October 8, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Using SmartArt
|
• Using a Template
|
• Using a Scatter Chart
|
• Using a Pivot Table
|
• Using a Basic Spreadsheet (Any Version)
|
• Video
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

There are several easy ways to create a timeline in Excel. You can use the built-in SmartArt feature to create a timeline graphic in a variety of styles. Or, select a premade timeline template if you’re making a more complex timeline. You can also add a timeline to a pivot table or create your own timeline from scratch, or generate a timeline using a scatter chart. This wikiHow will show you how to create a timeline in Microsoft Excel on your Windows PC or Mac.

Making a Timline in Excel

• Go to Insert > Illustrations > SmartArt > Process to insert a timeline graphic.
• Or, create a new workbook and search for “timeline” in the template search bar.
• You can also create a timeline by creating a table of your data and using it to make a scatter chart.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Using SmartArt

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1. 
   1
   Click the Insert tab. This will open the Insert toolbar.

   • SmartArt is a built-in Excel feature that makes a graphic layout that you can add data to. It does not transform your existing data.
2. 
   2
   Click SmartArt. It’s in the Illustration tab of the Insert toolbar.

   • If you don't see this option, click Illustrations in the toolbar first.
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3. 
   3
   Click Process. You'll see this in the drop-down menu on a Mac, or in the sidebar on Windows. This will filter the SmartArt options to display only timeline and process-related graphics.
4. 
   4
   Select the Basic Timeline graphic and click OK. It’s a right-facing arrow with three circles. This is a good choice for linear timelines and overall milestones. Once you click OK, your timeline graphic will appear on your worksheet.

   • If you're having trouble finding this option, click each of the graphics to see their names.
   • You can adapt other Process graphics to use as a timeline. To see the name and description of each graphic, click its icon in the selection menu.
5. 
   5
   Add text to your graphic. By default, the Basic Timeline graphic starts with three text locations. Click each instance of [Text] and replace it with your own.

   • To add top-level bullet points, select a bullet point and press ↵ Enter. The timeline graphic will automatically create another circle graphic on the arrow.
   • To create secondary bullet points, select a bullet point and press Tab ↹. This will allow you to add bullet points under the top-level titles.
6. 
   6
   Click the SmartArt Design tab to edit your timeline. There are a variety of options for making your timeline stand out! Here are a few things to try:

   • Change the layout. Click different layouts in the “Layouts” section. This will keep the text you’ve already entered, so you can easily see different options.
   • Change the style. Click various styles to find the one that works best for your presentation.
   • Change the colors. Click Change Colors to see a drop-down menu with different color palettes.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Using a Template

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1. 
   1
   Open Excel and click New. This is a button in the left sidebar next to a piece of paper icon. Using a template is easy, since many versions of Excel come with pre-built formats. You can also download user-created templates from the internet.

   • If Excel is already open, click the File menu and select New.
   • If you prefer working in PowerPoint, you can create a roadmap with milestones in that app instead.
2. 
   2
   Type “timeline” in the search box and press ↵ Enter. This will search Microsoft's massive template database for options that contain the word "timeline."

   • Some versions of Excel will show a New from Template button.
   • If your timeline tracks the progress of a branching project with many tasks, consider looking for "Gantt chart" templates instead.
3. 
   3
   Select a timeline template. You’ll see a list of templates after searching for “timeline.” Clicking a template will open a window with more information about it.
4. 
   4
   Click Create. This will open the template as a new Excel file. You’re ready to start editing the template!
5. 
   5
   Add your own data to the timeline. To populate the timeline template with your own data, double-click any date or description, then replace the example text with your own.

   • You can move the object by clicking and dragging it. Click the Format tab to edit the shape’s color, outline, and text style.
   • Some templates will have help text when you click objects, providing more information about that section.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Using a Scatter Chart

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1. 
   1
   Enter your timeline data into a worksheet. Dedicate a column to the date of each event you want to plot on the timeline, and give it the column header "Date." In the other columns, add the corresponding data to plot for each date.

   • For example, if you want to visualize your electric bill over the last year and how it corresponded to the average temperature each month, create three columns: Date, Electric Bill, and Average Temp. Then, populate the columns with your data.
2. 
   2
   Select the data you want to plot. Do this by clicking and dragging the mouse over all the cells you created.
3. 
   3
   Click the Insert tab and select a scatter plot chart. Choose one with lines, not just plot dots. If you don't see the chart type on the ribbon, hover your cursor over the chart icons until you see the one that says Insert Scatter or Bubble Chart, then select one of the options from the "Scatter" section. This creates a basic timeline of the selected data.

   • As you modify the values in your data, the chart will update automatically to reflect your changes.
   • To change the look of your timeline, click anywhere in the chart, then click the Chart Design tab at the top. You can also select any chart element and use the options in the right sidebar to make changes.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Using a Pivot Table

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1. 
   1
   Open the spreadsheet that has a pivot table. To automatically generate a timeline with this method, your data must be organized into a pivot table.

   • This method is great for filtering data by time and making a dynamic timeline. Pivot tables are a useful way to quickly see your information in new ways. There are plenty of interesting tricks in Excel!
2. 
   2
   Click anywhere inside the pivot table. This will display the “PivotTable Analyze” tab in the top ribbon.

   • In some versions of Excel, you'll see PivotTable Tools instead.
3. 
   3
   Click PivotTable Analyze. This will open a toolbar with options to manipulate the data in the table.

   • If you don't see this option, click the PivotTable Tools tab, then click Analyze.
4. 
   4
   Click Insert Timeline. A dialog box will pop up showing fields that correspond to a date format. Note that dates entered as text will not be recognized–your dates must be formatted as dates.
5. 
   5
   Select the applicable fields and click OK. A new box that allows you to navigate through your timeline will appear.
6. 
   6
   Click the down arrow next to the date type. This will open a drop-down menu allowing you to change the filter’s scale to years, quarters, months, or days.
7. 
   7
   Click a time section to filter by that selection. For example, if you set the date type to months and click the NOV section, your pivot table will show only data from November of the selected year.

   • You can expand your selection by clicking and dragging the gray handles that appear next to the selection.
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Using a Basic Spreadsheet (Any Version)

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1. 
   1
   Type the milestones of your timeline in one column. You can name the column header something like “activity” or “deliverable.”

   • This method uses the cells of the spreadsheet to create and format your own timeline. This is a good method if you’re just sharing this information with your team, rather than presenting it.
2. 
   2
   Fill in the start and end dates for each milestone. This can just be an estimate if you don’t have the exact dates yet. After this, you’re done with the basic format! You can edit the font, colors, and borders as needed. You could even add a line graph if you have data you want to include next to the timeline.

   • Create a start and end column next to the milestone titles column.
   • Type in the start and end dates for each milestone on your timeline.
   • You can also create a notes column to include information about each milestone.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  Can I insert a JPEG image into Excel?

  

  Community Answer

  Yes. Just select the cell where you want the photo to appear and select Insert from the menu bar. Click on the Picture option and follow the prompts.

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  Is it possible to install Excel to an Android Tablet?

  

  Community Answer

  Yes, you can find Microsoft Excel in the Google Play store.

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Tips

• You can also use PowerPoint to make timelines. It has more graphics options, allowing you to customize your graphic with more detail.
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• If you’re looking for more Excel tips, check out how to use VLOOKUP and our IF function tutorial.
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