Create timeline with Excel

There is no function with which you can create a timeline in Excel. But it is relatively easy to create yourself. We show you how it works.

Download timeline template for Excel from Microsoft

If you don't want to bother creating a timeline yourself, you can download a template from the Microsoft website. You can fill in and change them according to your wishes.

Step 1: Set the first line for the timeline

As an example, we use Excel 2007 to create a timeline with five entries that are two boxes apart. You can also use the instructions for newer and older versions of Excel. However, some functions may be placed elsewhere.

1. Open an empty Excel file and mark the fields B5 to I5.
2. Right-click on one of the highlighted fields and select "Format cells".
3. Click on the "Frame" tab above, select a line type there and click on the button for an upper line under the "Frame" item (see picture). Then click "OK".
4. The line for the timeline will appear.

Step 2: insert dashes on the timeline

1. First you have to connect two neighboring cells so that a line does not appear next to each box. To do this, mark two boxes (B4 and C4) and click on "Connect and center" under "Alignment" at the top of the menu bar. Repeat for the other six boxes.
2. Select all connected cells in row four (B4 to I4) and right-click on them. Select "Format cells" again.
3. Under the "Frame" tab, select the same line style as in step 1. Under the "Frame" option, click on the three buttons below (see picture).
4. Then click "OK" and you will get a dash above the line.
5. Repeat points 1 to 4 for line 5 so that you get the cross lines below the line. You can then make the two lines smaller by clicking on the dividing line between two line numbers on the left and dragging them up or down.

Step 3: insert dates and events

1. Mark two boxes above the timeline, which are to the left and right of a dash - in this example A3 and B3, C3 and D3 and so on. Click "Connect and Center" again at the top.
2. If you enter a number or an event, it is centered over the line.
3. You can do the same below the timeline in line 6. The basic structure of the timeline has now been created.

Step 4: customization

You can now make various visual changes to your timeline:

• If you want to highlight individual years or events in color, select the cells and click on the paint bucket under the font size.
• Near the font size you will also find a button with the letters "ab" and an arrow on it. Here you can, for example, rotate the font by 45 degrees (see picture).

In this practical tip, you can read how to create a growth curve in Excel.