What should a project timeline template include?

One row per task with a start date, due date, owner and %-complete. From those it should derive days-left, a RAG status and an overall completion figure.

Is the project timeline template free?

Yes. The Excel template is free to download (just your email) and the online project tracker is free to use in your browser with no signup.

How is the RAG status calculated?

A task at 100% is Done. Past its due date and under 100% is Late. Due within 7 days and under 70% is At risk. Everything else is On track. It is computed from your data, never guessed.

Project timeline template

Updated July 2026 · free template and online tool, no signup to try.

Quick answer

A good project timeline template has one row per task with a start date, a due date, an owner and a %-complete, and it turns those into a visual bar timeline (a mini Gantt) plus an automatic RAG status. You can grab a free Excel version below, or build one instantly in your browser with our online project tracker — both calculate days-left and overall completion for you, with no formulas to write.

⬇ Download the Excel templateFree .xlsx with the RAG status and %-complete formulas built in.⚡ Build one online nowAdd tasks in your browser and get status + a mini Gantt instantly. No signup.📖 Read the tutorialBuild a tracker in Excel from scratch, with the RAG formula explained.

What the template contains

Column	What goes in it	Why it matters
Task	The deliverable or milestone	One row = one trackable item
Owner	Who is accountable	Makes the timeline actionable, not just a chart
Start	When work begins	Anchors the left edge of each timeline bar
Due	The deadline	Drives days-left and the late/at-risk flag
% complete	Progress so far (0–100)	Feeds the RAG status and the roll-up
Status	Auto: on track / at risk / late / done	Computed from dates + progress, never guessed

A timeline is only useful if the status updates itself

Hand-coloured timelines drift out of date the moment a deadline slips. The template and the online tool both recompute each task's RAG status from the dates and progress you enter — so a task that is past due and under 100% turns red on its own, and the overall %-complete rolls up automatically. You maintain the data; the status maintains itself.

Run it on your own task list — free

Upload your spreadsheet and DataHub Pro computes the RAG status, roll-up and an AI health summary automatically.

Try DataHub Pro free →