powerpoint presentation timeline examples

Discover our diverse collection of 48 Timeline templates for PowerPoint and Google Slides, expertly crafted to help you create visually stunning presentations that effectively showcase your project milestones, history, or plans.

Timelines are invaluable tools for illustrating a sequence of events, whether it’s for business, education, or personal use.

Our professional templates offer a variety of designs, styles, and formats to suit your specific needs.

Speech Bubble Timeline

Google Slides , PPTX

Neumorphic Bubble Timeline

Timeline Milestone Chart for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Block Timeline for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Alternating Speech Bubbles Timeline for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Radar Timeline for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Word Cloud Timeline for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Infographic Timeline for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Doodle Timeline for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Line Design Timeline for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Horizontal Timeline for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Search Templates by categories

Search templates by colors.

Love our templates? Show your support with a coffee!

Thank you for fueling our creativity.

Charts & Diagrams

Text & Tables

Graphics & Metaphors

Timelines & Planning

Best-Ofs & Tips

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Statement

Cookie Policy

Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Policy

© Copyright 2024  Ofeex  | PRESENTATIONGO® is a registered trademark | All rights reserved.

To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Thank you for downloading this template!

Remember, you can use it for free but you have to attribute PresentationGO . For example, you can use the following text:

If you really like our free templates and want to thank/help us, you can:

Thank you for your support

Create a timeline in PowerPoint

Use a SmartArt graphic to create a timeline showing target dates for an assignment or project.

Create a timeline

On the Insert tab, click SmartArt .

In the Choose a SmartArt Graphic gallery, click Process , and then double-click a timeline layout.

Tip:  There are two timeline SmartArt graphics: Basic timeline and Circle Accent Timeline , but you can also use almost any process-related SmartArt graphic.

Click [Text] , and then type or paste your text in the SmartArt graphic.

Note:  You can also open the Text Pane and type your text there. If you do not see the Text Pane , on the SmartArt Tools Design tab, click Text Pane .

Add more dates to your timeline

Click a shape in the timeline.

On the SmartArt Design tab, do one of the following:

To add an earlier date, click Add Shape , and then click Add Shape Before .

To add a later date, click Add Shape , and then click Add Shape After .

In the new date box, type the date that you want.

Move a date in your timeline

On the timeline, click the date you want to move.

To move a date sooner than the selected date, click Move Up .

To move a date later than the selected date, click Move Down .

Change to a different timeline layout

Click the SmartArt graphic timeline.

Note:  To view only the timeline and process-related layouts, at the bottom of the layouts list, click More Layouts , and then click Process .

Pick a timeline or process-related SmartArt graphic, like the following:

To show progression in a timeline, select  Accent Process .

To create a timeline with pictures or photos, click Continuous Picture List . The circular shapes are designed to contain pictures.

Change the colors of your timeline

On the SmartArt Design tab, select  Change Colors .

Note:  If you don't see the SmartArt Tools Design tab, make sure you’ve selected the timeline.

Click the color combination that you want.

Tip:  Place your pointer over any combination to see a preview of how the colors look in your timeline.

Apply a SmartArt style

A SmartArt style applies a combination of effects, such as line style, bevel, or 3-D perspective, in one click, to give your timeline a professionally polished look.

Click the timeline.

On the SmartArt Design tab, click the style you want.

Create a timeline in Visio

Import and export timeline data between Visio and Project

Create a timeline in Project

Get Microsoft timeline templates

On the SmartArt Tools Design tab, do one of the following:

To show progression in a timeline, click Accent Process .

On the SmartArt Tools Design tab, click Change Colors .

On the SmartArt Tools Design tab, click the style you want.

Create a timeline 

On the Insert tab, click Smart Art .

Pick a timeline layout from the gallery that appears, such as this Basic Timeline in the List section.

On the slide, a text editor opens next to the graphic so you can easily add words to the graphic.

In the text editor, enter the dates and descriptions, and then press Enter.

Optionally, you can make a sub-item in the bulleted list by clicking the bullet with the text you want to use for a sub-item, and on the Smart Art tab, clicking Demote .

Change the color or style of a timeline

You can change the color or style of the timeline graphic. You can also choose a different graphic layout entirely.

Select the timeline.

Select the SmartArt tab of the Ribbon, and then select either Change Colors or Styles to see a menu of available options for the timeline graphic. Click the style or color you want to select it.

You can also try changing the layout by opening the layout gallery to the left of Change Colors . Some of the options in the List and Process sections of the gallery are suitable for timelines.

Resize the timeline

You can change the size of the graphic so it fits better on your slide.

Point at one of the corner sizing handles until you see the two-headed arrow, and then click and drag to resize the timeline.

Create a SmartArt graphic

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

• Slidesgo School
• PowerPoint Tutorials

How to Create a Timeline in PowerPoint

Timelines come in a rich variety of colors, shapes, and types. While there are plenty of creative ways to design them, they usually include a few basic elements including shapes, text, numbers, and lines. With these simple elements, you can put together a visually attractive and easy-to-understand chronology of the story you want to tell.  We’ll begin with creating a simple line before moving on to circles and callouts and topping it all off with just a bit of text. It’s nothing too overwhelming so if you’re ready, let’s start creating a timeline in PowerPoint!  

Creating the outline

Creating callouts for your text, writing titles, writing descriptions.

• Open your PowerPoint presentation.
• Select or create the slide you want to insert the timeline to.
• In Drawing, select Shapes → Lines. Here, you’ll see different options including Line arrow, Arc, and Connectors. Select the option Line in Lines. Click and drag the cursor to draw a simple line.

Pro tip: Hold down Shift while dragging to create a perfectly straight line. Use this trick to create perfect circles and squares.

• To change the style of your line, select the line and click on Shape Outline. Here, you can change its color (remember to stick to the master slides’ color palette) and weight. PowerPoint’s default lines are super thin, so we’ll increase its weight for a thicker line.
• To create a circle, select Shapes → Basic Shapes. Select Oval and drag it out to create a circle. Remember to hold Shift while dragging to create a perfectly rounded circle. This circle represents our first milestone.
• Change the style of your circle by using the options Shape Fill and Shape Outline. For a smooth look, apply the same color you used for your line. To make its border transparent, under Shape Outline, select No Outline.
• We’ll now replicate the circle by copying and pasting it (Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V or Cmd + C and Cmd + V if you are using Mac). In this timeline, we’ll use five circles to represent five milestones for a five-day chronological visualization.

Pro tip: See the thin red arrows that pop up in the space underneath the circles as you move them around? These are PowerPoint’s visual guidelines to ensure you place objects in equidistance from one another. Use these guidelines for a well-aligned presentation!

• Click on Shapes and scroll down to Callouts. Click to select and drag out your cursor on the slide to create the callout. We’ll add one callout to each circle. Each callout will be filled with a description of our milestone (more on this later).
• Adjust the callout’s color and border using Shape Outline and Shape Fill. Don’t forget to adhere to the master slides’ color and style. For example, we’ll make our callouts borderless, as we did with the circles.
• If you prefer to have the callout’s tail centrally aligned, you’ll need to create a custom callout using a square with a triangle. Select Shapes and then a rectangle
• Repeat to insert an inverted triangle (Flowchart: Merge), which you’ll find under Flowchart.
• Remember to use the same color and border line style for both shapes.
• To change the colors and/or borders of both shapes at one go, select both elements and then apply the change.

Pro tip: Merge two objects by grouping them together into one single object. This is handy because you can now move both elements together by clicking on either one. 

• Select the two elements.
• In Drawing, select Arrange → Group.
• To complete the structure of the timeline, copy and paste the callout twice.
• Place one callout above the third circle and the other over the fifth. We will alternate the callouts above and below the line to create more space and a more dynamic effect.
• Copy and paste one more callout and place it under the second circle.
• Now, you’ll want to rotate it so that its tail points towards the circle (milestone). Do this by clicking on the callout to bring up its outline and a rounded arrow. Drag the rounded arrow to rotate the callout until it is inverted 180 degrees.

Pro tip: Hold down Shift while dragging to rotate the callout by incremental 15 degrees. 

• Copy and paste a fifth and final callout and place it under the fourth circle.

Pro tip: For a more polished look, ensure each callout is pointing towards the middle of its corresponding circle and that all the callouts are at the same distance from the circles. 

• Click on the Insert tab → Text Box.
• Click and drag to create the text box for your first title.
• Type your title in the text box.

Pro tip: Create text boxes that have the same widths as the callouts and centralize your text. This gives your timeline a much sleeker look. 

• Select the title text to display style (Font, Font Size, Font Color, Alignment, etc.) and formatting options (Bold, Italic, Underline).
• Centralize the text for a neater design. As always, maintaining the style of the master slides is the best way to produce a coherent presentation.   
• Create titles for all five callouts
• Click and drag out a text box for your first description. Remember to ensure it’s of the same width as the callout.
• Write your text. Keep it short and sweet!
• Style your text as desired and centralize it while aligning its typeface with the general theme and design of the slides.
• Copy and paste four more text boxes.
• Place and align them centrally in their corresponding callouts and fill them with a description.

Beautifully done! You’ve just created a timeline in PowerPoint!  Want to get inspired by project timeline ideas for your next presentation? Check out our creative timelines and templates for PowerPoint .    

Do you find this article useful?

Related tutorials.

7 tips to create a positive classroom culture

No matter if it's been ages since you last stepped into a classroom or just a long time ago―there’s probably a particular learning experience you often find yourself thinking about. Maybe it was a passionate teacher who kept the whole class engaged, or perhaps a classmate who lent you a hand with a tricky topic. Positive classroom experiences do leave a lasting mark on us, so it makes perfect sense that people leading a classroom aim to create the finest possible learning setting. In this article, we’ll share some tips to help you turn a regular classroom into a positive space.

Welcome to Slidesgo Educator Community, Community Circle!

As educators, it's essential to support collaboration and professional development among peers. However, the demands of educating students can sometimes make it challenging to find the time to network with fellow educators. That's why we're excited to introduce our Slidesgo Educator Community, an innovative platform designed especially for educators. In this blog post, we'll dive deeper into why we created this community, what its key features are, and how it can benefit educators.

How to Use the Presenter View in Google Slides

Google Slides, like PowerPoint, has different presentation modes that can come in handy when you’re presenting and you want your slideshow to look smooth. Whether you’re looking for slides only, speaker notes or the Q&A feature, in this new Google Slides tutorial, you’ll learn about these and their respective settings. Ready? Then let’s explore the presenter view! 

Top 10 tips and tricks for creating a business presentation!

Slidesgo is back with a new post! We want your presentations and oral expositions to never be the same again, but to go to the next level of presentations. Success comes from a combination of two main ingredients: a presentation template suitable for the topic and a correct development of the spoken part. For templates, just take a look at the Slidesgo website, where you are sure to find your ideal design. For tips and tricks on how to make a presentation, our blog contains a lot of information, for example, this post. We have focused these tips on business presentations, so that, no matter what type of company or...

How-To Geek

How to create a timeline in microsoft powerpoint.

If you want to visually display a sequence of events in your PowerPoint presentation, add a timeline. Here's how.

One of PowerPoint’s charms is the ability to visually represent information by using its large library of available graphics, such as charts and graphs. If you want to create a timeline, well, Microsoft has just the thing. Here’s how it’s done.

Open your PowerPoint presentation and navigate to the slide in which you would like to add a timeline. Once there, navigate to the “Insert” tab and select “SmartArt” from the “Illustrations” group.

The “Choose a SmartArt Graphic” window will appear. Here, select “Process” from the left-hand pane.

A library of several different process-focused SmartArt graphics will appear. You can choose the style you like best for your timeline. In this example, we’ll use the “Basic Timeline” option.

Once selected, information about the SmartArt option will be displayed in the right-hand pane. When you’re ready to insert the SmartArt, select the “OK" button.

Related: How to Create Star Wars Scrolling Text in PowerPoint

The timeline will now appear on the slide, along with a window where you will type the respective text for the timeline.

The text entered in the box will automatically reflect on the actual timeline.

By default, this timeline will have three bullets for you to fill out. To add more, place your cursor at the end of the last item on the list in the text window, press “Enter,” and then type the desired text. Repeat this step as many times as necessary.

The size of the text and the placement of the bullets on the timeline will adjust automatically.

When you’re finished adding text, select the “X” button at the top right of the text window.

If you need to adjust the colors of the timeline to better align with the presentation, select the timeline and then click “Change Colors” in the “SmartArt Styles” group of the “SmartArt Design” tab.

A menu will appear, displaying a large library of different color schemes for the timeline. In this example, we’ll use “Gradient Loop” from the “Accent 6” group.

Once selected, the change will take place on your timeline.

And, of course, you can adjust the bullets and the text in the timeline by clicking and dragging each item.

Finally, if you ever need to add or remove a bullet from (or edit text in) the timeline, you can bring back the text edit window by selecting the timeline and then clicking the "Left Arrow" icon found on the left side of the graphic box.

Related: How to Build a PowerPoint Organizational Chart With Excel Data

We use essential cookies to make Venngage work. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Manage Cookies

Cookies and similar technologies collect certain information about how you’re using our website. Some of them are essential, and without them you wouldn’t be able to use Venngage. But others are optional, and you get to choose whether we use them or not.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are always on, as they’re essential for making Venngage work, and making it safe. Without these cookies, services you’ve asked for can’t be provided.

Show cookie providers

• Google Login

Functionality Cookies

These cookies help us provide enhanced functionality and personalisation, and remember your settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers.

Performance Cookies

These cookies help us analyze how many people are using Venngage, where they come from and how they're using it. If you opt out of these cookies, we can’t get feedback to make Venngage better for you and all our users.

• Google Analytics

Targeting Cookies

These cookies are set by our advertising partners to track your activity and show you relevant Venngage ads on other sites as you browse the internet.

• Google Tag Manager
• Infographics
• Daily Infographics
• Graphic Design
• Graphs and Charts
• Data Visualization
• Human Resources
• Training and Development
• Beginner Guides

Blog Marketing

25+ Easy-to-Edit PowerPoint Timeline Templates

By Jennifer Gaskin , May 14, 2021

PowerPoint is the presentation workhorse in most modern offices across the world. But the stock PowerPoint timeline templates leave a lot to be desired. That’s especially true for businesses and marketers who want to harness the power of visual design.

But incorporating timeline infographics into your PowerPoint timeline templates can help you supercharge the impact and engagement of your presentations. With Venngage’s Timeline Maker , creating a captivating timeline is a simple and easy process.

START CREATING FOR FREE

In just a few clicks, you can create a PowerPoint timeline that will spice up your presentation. With a Venngage for Business plan, you can even export your design as a PPT file that you can use for any presentations.

Let’s take a look at some examples of PowerPoint timelines and timeline infographics that you can incorporate into your next presentation.

Click to jump ahead:

Creating a timeline in powerpoint.

• Timeline slide template

Free PowerPoint timeline templates

Timeline infographic powerpoint templates, project timeline powerpoint templates, schedule templates for powerpoint.

• PowerPoint milestone template
• Vertical timeline PowerPoint template

Using Venngage to create a timeline in PowerPoint

Powerpoint timeline template faq.

Creating a timeline in PowerPoint is a simple process, though the program’s built-in tools are not very robust. Here are the basic steps to create a timeline in PowerPoint:

• Add or open a slide
• Click insert, then SmartArt and then hover over the process tab
• Choose a type; there are currently only two SmartArt timeline graphics, but you can also use other SmartArt graphics as timelines
• Double-click the one you want and then begin inserting your entries

Once you have the basic structure created, you can add dates, change the text and colors or modify the layout. This certainly could work for some presentations, but the flexibility and creativity in design is limited.

If you want to impress and engage your audience, a tool like Venngage’s Timeline Maker is the better choice.

Return to Table of Contents

Timeline slide templates

Timelines are useful for many organizational purposes, including scheduling, planning product launches and ensuring projects stay on time and in budget. Timelines are among the most intuitive types of visual content because the brain immediately recognizes what it’s seeing.

Many marketers use timelines as part of their content strategies. That means having a go-to timeline maker is important for internal and external purposes for most businesses and organizations.

Let’s take a look at this social media presentation template:

CREATE THIS PRESENTATION TEMPLATE

Timeline slide templates are at their best when events are arranged in a single line or in another linear manner. Slide 3 in the example above is an excellent timeline slide template that you can easily add to any presentation:

Here’s another example of timelines being used in presentation slides:

Timeline slide templates can also be arranged along a vertical axis rather than a horizontal one. Slide 3 in this example shows how you can create an overview of a project timeline with simple headers and explanatory text:

Consider adding some data visualization into your timeline slide templates if you can. In the example below, readers see patient care milestones, but a bar chart transforms this into a statistical timeline rather than one that merely lists dates.

CREATE THIS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE

Similarly, this timeline infographic would be an excellent addition to your presentation arsenal as it gives readers another way to visualize data surrounding a set of milestones. In this case, it’s a fundraising campaign, but this approach could apply to just about any organizational need.

Some free PowerPoint timeline templates lean toward the simple and boring. This is especially true when it comes to the stock tools and templates PowerPoint comes with. But Venngage offers many other templates that are free to work with.

Here’s one:

While this PowerPoint timeline template has a minimalist style, it’s anything but boring. The dark background, bright foreground and linear icon style all contribute to a sleek and modern feel:

Here’s a different timeline template that you can edit and add to your PowerPoint slide. Consider customizing this free template to add the steps involved in hiring and training a new team member or to help visualize the steps needed to move into your new office.

Let’s face it, PowerPoint is boring. Bring some liveliness to your presentations by using this free timeline template to share with your audience fun events you’ve organized.

Share fun facts or delve into the hidden history behind things we all take for granted. This timeline template can be customized for your research. Simply add the events you’ve discovered and share them with your internal or external audience.

Infographics come in many styles, but timeline infographics are among the most popular, and they’re easy to create. Because they have a built-in layout, that means your audience will not struggle to understand them.

You can even use the timeline approach for multiple slides in your presentations. Consider this timeline infographic PowerPoint template, which incorporates the basic structure of a timeline throughout most of its slides.

At times, it’s necessary to visualize a complex process with lots of tasks. Consider adding this timeline infographic to your PowerPoint template that allows you to assign tasks to various departments or team members. Note the color-coding to help ensure the initiative is well-organized.

Looking to the past can help you understand the future. That’s why you should have a history timeline infographic you can pull out for your PowerPoint presentations when appropriate.

Remember not to overload your audience with events; for recent history, try to stick with five to seven events.

Timeline infographics for PowerPoint can look back through ancient history, too.

While this timeline infographic PowerPoint template goes back to 1958, some of your audience members may perceive that as ancient. This is useful for organizations with a long history or editorial content surrounding a broad topic.

Staying on time in any project could be the difference between success and failure. That’s why we recommend creating project timelines for your PowerPoint presentations. Include these in any deck you create about the project so there’s never any miscommunication about timing.

Establish expectations for team members, potential investors and other interested parties by explaining how long each segment of a project will take. This can be very high level, as in this example that does not detail individual tasks in each segment:

Here’s another way to present project timeline in presentation form:

If you’re looking to explain a bit more about what each step of a project will involve, consider adding a slide like this one. While the steps aren’t visualized along an axis, they’re clearly numbered, and additional text describes what each one involves:

Project timeline PPT templates can also be highly detailed, like this example. This option also incorporates data visualization with color-coded charts. A slide like this would be perfect for presentations that will be shared across teams or departments.

Some presentations call for specific timing, so consider making a schedule template for PowerPoint that will allow you to create a customized schedule slide for each new project or campaign.

PowerPoint calendar timeline templates

Powerpoint project schedule templates, powerpoint event schedule templates.

PowerPoint schedule templates may include specific dates and even times when tasks or events are scheduled to take place. That makes calendar timeline templates especially useful for conferences, social media or human resources.

Help conference-goers plan their days by creating a detailed schedule of events. This timeline template PPT would be an easy addition to a pre-event download for speakers, attendees and those working the event.

Or consider this social media PPT presentation that has a timeline in slide 4:

The timeframe slide helps team members visualize when various aspects of the campaign will be launched. This ensures they’re able to put together detailed content calendars and stay on task:

PowerPoint timelines are also helpful for keeping projects on schedule. They can include specific deadlines or milestones or they can be broad, depending on the audience in question and what information will be most helpful.

This PowerPoint project schedule template is ideal for large-scale projects that will take several months or years to complete. Consider adding a slide like this for early-stage presentations or pitches that can help you land the job:

Project scheduling requires some organizational discussions. This timeline slide is a smart addition to any presentation that’s focused on project planning, as it will help leaders work backward to determine when tasks must take place.

We’ve touched on these a bit already, but if your presentations need to include detailed event schedules, timelines are ideal for visualizing those events. Not only will it keep participants on track, but it will reassure them that adequate planning has been done.

Event schedule templates are especially helpful in the educational, training and leadership space. Tell new team members what to expect so you can be sure they get off to a good start.

Give participants a chance to make their own decisions about what they’re interested in. If you’re organizing a large conference or seminar, an event schedule template like this is a must-add to your event presentations.

PowerPoint milestone templates

PowerPoint milestone templates are helpful for organizations like startups so they can show investors what they’ve already done and why they should get money to do more. They’re also useful for product development milestones.

Toot your organization’s horn with a PowerPoint milestone template like this one. Designing a timeline slide can help make a brief history feel more impactful, which may make your startup seem more authoritative and successful. That will make any investor take notice:

A similar approach uses icons to help the reader visualize the information included by organizing it into categories like revenue, product and operations, as in the example below:

Whenever possible, think about clever ways to integrate data visualization. Your audience might not realize it, but it will help them remember and understand your material:

You can also use milestone templates to make sure your processes are on point. This example is about creating a successful marketing campaign, but it can be customized to your area of expertise.

This modern project timeline is perfect in the construction or manufacturing industry thanks to its industrial vibe.

The slide uses arrows to help guide the reader to each milestone:

Here’s a take at the same commercial development presentation, but the design is very different:

If the gritty industrial feel isn’t right for you, consider this development milestone PowerPoint template to make sure your project milestones are clear:

Vertical timeline PowerPoint templates

Horizontal timelines are an ideal match for PowerPoint because the default aspect ratio of the program is 16:9. That means slides default to landscape/horizontal layouts. However, some stories are best told vertically, and it’s possible to change your slide orientation to vertical.

Why would you want to do that? In addition to being a better match for some information, vertical layouts are unusual. Surprising people is one of the best ways to make sure they remember you.

Let’s look at some vertical timeline  PPT templates that may convince you to give vertical slides a shot.

Dip your toes into vertical PowerPoint timelines with this milestone template. Consider splitting it into two or more slides depending on the story you want to tell. That could allow you to expand upon each entry.

If you’re already breaking the form by going vertical, why not be even more memorable by starting your timeline slide at the bottom of the frame? Be sure to keep your events clearly numbered so readers don’t get confused.

Creating a timeline for PowerPoint with Venngage is simple. Choose one of the templates above or create your own. Here’s how simple it is:

1. Create a Venngage account for free

You can create an account with your email, Gmail or Facebook credentials.

2. Pick from our hundreds of timeline templates

Our templates library has sections dedicated to timeline infographics or presentations , with hundreds of fully customizable templates to choose from.

3. Add, update or remove sections easily with the smart editor

Most of our templates are created with the simple drag-and-drop editor that lets you design in minutes, even if you have no design skills.

We’re also rolling out new smart templates with the smart list editor, where you can add, delete or drag lists around easily. Each node in a list will correspond and adjust automatically to whatever content you create.

4. Customize to your heart’s content with various icons, illustrations, fonts colors

We offer over 40,000 icons and illustrations as well as 3+ million stock photos for you to choose from.

With a Venngage Business account, you can enjoy Business-exclusive features like real-time collaboration:

Or one-click branding, which allows you to add branding elements to any of your designs:

5. Export your timeline as a PPT slide or PDF, or share it with a private link

A free Venngage account allows you to share your timeline PowerPoint design publicly for free.

You can also upgrade to share your design privately, or download your presentation in PNG, PDF, Interactive PDF and PowerPoint format:

Do you have questions about creating timelines for PowerPoint? We can help.

Is there a timeline template in PowerPoint?

There are two timeline templates in PowerPoint, but several process SmartArt graphics can be hacked to create a timeline.

How do you present a timeline?

Traditionally, timelines are arranged along a horizontal or vertical axis. But they can also be in a circular format, which is helpful for visualizing processes that are repeated. Other methods of presenting a timeline include stacked and diagonal.

Best way to show a timeline in PowerPoint

The beauty of timelines is they are a layout style that everyone intuitively understands. But depending on the length of your timeline, you could add simple animations in PowerPoint to bring your timeline even more life.

In summary: Give your PowerPoint presentations added spice with timeline infographics

While PowerPoint remains one of the best tools for presentation decks of all sorts, its built-in tools leave a lot to be desired in many ways. One of those is in creating engaging and robust timeline infographics and slides.

Use Venngage’s Timeline Maker to export a timeline graphic to PowerPoint or create a range of timeline presentation templates you can add over and over again.

• PowerPoint Themes
• Latest PowerPoint Templates
• Best PowerPoint Templates
• Free PowerPoint Templates
• Simple PowerPoint Templates
• PowerPoint Backgrounds
• Project Charter
• Project Timeline
• Project Team
• Project Status
• Market Analysis
• Marketing Funnel
• Market Segmentation
• Target Customer
• Marketing Mix
• Digital Marketing Strategy
• Resource Planning
• Recruitment
• Employee Onboarding
• Company Profile
• Mission Vision
• Meet The Team
• Problem & Solution
• Business Model
• Business Case
• Business Strategy
• Business Review
• Leadership Team
• Balance Sheet
• Income Statement
• Cash Flow Statement
• Executive Summary
• 30 60 90 Day Plan
• SWOT Analysis
• Flow Charts
• Gantt Charts
• Text Tables
• Infographics
• Google Slides Templates
• Presentation Services
• Ask Us To Make Slides
• Data Visualization Services
• Business Presentation Tips
• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Google Slides Tutorials
• Presentation Resources

How to Create a Timeline in PowerPoint Presentation?

Timelines become an essential communication tool while visually representing certain events and dates. Learn how to create a compelling timeline in PowerPoint presentations with our easy-to-follow guide. Ensure your timelines captivate and inform your audience effectively.

Timelines are essential business communication tools that visually represent project milestones, deadlines, and critical events. They simplify complex information, making it easy for teams, stakeholders, and clients to understand the sequence of activities and the overall plan. 

Timelines transform an ordinary list of events, leaving a lasting impact on your audience. They’re the key to making your content stick with your audience. If you ever hit a roadblock, our blog will guide you to create a timeline in your PowerPoint presentations.

What is a Timeline?

A timeline is a visual depiction of events to clarify their chronological order. A timeline’s scope can be as narrow or as broad as you wish. They come in handy for Project Managers to effectively present their project plans , key dates, or workflows over a period of time. Business professionals also use them to showcase their future plans.

How to Make a Timeline in PowerPoint?

There are two ways you can insert a timeline in PowerPoint. The first uses SmartArt, which can be done manually following some basic steps. The second method uses pre-made timeline PowerPoint templates , which is quicker. A complete step-by-step process for both methods is outlined below.

• Using SmartArt
• Using PowerPoint Templates

How to Add Timeline in PowerPoint Using SmartArt?

Follow the steps below to add a timeline in PowerPoint using SmartArt:

• Open your PowerPoint presentation, go to the “Insert” tab and choose “SmartArt”. 
• From the available SmartArt Graphics , select “Process” > “Simple timeline” to create a project timeline . 
• Add your data to the Simple timeline, click on the milestone’s [Text] or utilize the text pane for convenience. Press “Shift + Enter” to insert a line break. (You can easily add more milestones through the text pane by hitting Enter.)
• Select the text you want to change and use the Rich Text Editor that appears. Modify the font properties of your events using Rich Text Formatting. 
• Change the color of your milestones by selecting a milestone, right-clicking, and using the menu to adjust the fill color, outline color, and more.
• Right-click on the arrow to open a menu where you can change the axis color and adjust its width to emphasize milestones. (Customize the color and width of the timeline axis similarly to milestones.) 
• Rearrange the position of milestones using drag and drop, both vertically and horizontally. Bringing milestones closer to their description text enhances the connection between circles and text for your audience.

Customize your timeline using PowerPoint’s styling options. You can adjust colors, font properties, and other elements to match your desired look. PowerPoint also offers different templates to alter the overall appearance of your timeline, which you can access through the SmartArt Design tab and SmartArt Styles menu.

ALSO READ: The Effective Color Palette Combinations in Presentations

How to Add Timeline in PowerPoint Using SmartArt

How to Add Timeline in PowerPoint Using Timeline PowerPoint Templates?

Customizing a timeline PowerPoint template is the quickest and easiest way to add a timeline in PowerPoint. Follow the steps below to insert a timeline in PowerPoint:

• Navigate to the Office Timeline tab in the PowerPoint menu.
• Click the “New” icon, browse the gallery, and double-click your preferred timeline template. 
• Click “Use Template” to open. (You can manually enter milestones and their dates or import an existing schedule.)
• Enter your milestones and set their dates. Make quick styling choices, like adjusting colors and shapes as needed. 
• Save the timeline slide. You’ll instantly have a new timeline slide in your PowerPoint presentation. The appearance of this slide depends on the style and template you select. 
• Change colors, shapes, and positions, switch the timescale (e.g., from months to quarters), add tasks or swimlanes, and adjust dates as your plans evolve. You can customize or update it automatically using Office Timeline. 

With minimal time and effort, you have now created a timeline in PowerPoint. You can use this timeline to roadmap , project milestones , business roadmap, company timelines, product roadmaps , etc.

ALSO READ: How to Make a RoadMap Presentation?

How to Add Timeline in PowerPoint Using Timeline PowerPoint Templates

Tips for Creating an Effective Timeline in PowerPoint

A well crafted timeline presentation eases the communication between stakeholders. Follow the tips below to create eye-catching timeline presentations in PowerPoint:

• Create a rough layout and list dates and information in a separate document before copying it to PowerPoint.
• Customize the timeline’s size, shapes, and colors to align with your style and presentation’s topic.
• Utilize the text panel for efficient editing, saving time, and ensuring readability when making changes to the timeline.
• Maintain consistency with your organization’s design requirements and any stylistic ideas during timeline customization.
• Prioritize creating a visually engaging presentation to enhance audience engagement and information retention.

ALSO READ: How to Create a Timeline in Google Slides?

Creating a timeline from scratch can be time-consuming. On the other hand, you can easily customize the elements of pre-designed templates. These templates come with professional design elements, fonts, and graphics that make your timeline visually appealing. You can adjust the colors, fonts, and content to align with your brand style.

By leveraging these templates, you focus more on the content and less on the design, ensuring that your timeline effectively communicates your message to your audience. Let’s look at some of the top pre-designed timelines offered by SlideUpLift that you can use to ease your job.

Top Timeline PowerPoint templates from SlideUpLift

Curved Timeline PowerPoint Template

Its modern, scientific style and configurable aspects ensure audience engagement. Use it to showcase your business growth timeline over a period.

Steps Timeline PowerPoint Template

Elevate your presentations with a dynamic tool designed to visually narrate your story, project, or business journey with precision and style. Creates a compelling narrative using steps to highlight critical milestones, goals, and the voyage ahead.

Company Timeline PowerPoint Template

Navigate your company’s history and vision confidently. A strategic tool that encapsulates your journey and future goals in a compelling visual narrative.

Yearly Milestone Timeline PPT Template

This visually appealing design harnesses the power of data and images, making it an excellent choice for displaying project timelines, historical events, or growth trajectories over the years.

Key Events Timeline PowerPoint Template

Create visually engaging timelines over a decade. Highlight key events and happenings over a prolonged duration with this PowerPoint template.

EXPLORE MORE: 300+ Timeline PowerPoint Templates

Whether you’re working on a project report, a business presentation, a historical analysis, or any other task that requires a timeline, these templates can be a game-changer. They save time, reduce design effort, and offer a professional touch to your content. Timeline templates significantly ease the job of creating visually appealing and informative timelines. 

Now that you know how to create a timeline in PowerPoint, go ahead and impress your audience. We would suggest using timeline PPT templates to save you time and create engaging presentations. Download Now!

How to Make an Interactive Timeline in PowerPoint?

Create an interactive timeline in PowerPoint by following these tips:

• Use Hyperlinks for dates or events.
• Apply entrance and exit animations to make them appear and disappear smoothly.
• Apply slide transitions to make timeline slides seamless.
• Create navigation buttons.

What's the ideal direction for a timeline, horizontal or vertical?

Your content and preferences determine the direction. Horizontal timelines are best for historical events, whereas vertical timelines work better for project timetables.

How to Create a Timeline in PowerPoint with dates?

Follow these simple steps to create timeline in PowerPoint with dates:

• Open your presentation slide where you want to add the timeline.
• Go to the “Insert” > Select “SmartArt” > pick a timeline layout, “Basic Timeline”.
• Input your dates and event descriptions into the text boxes provided. 
• You can customize the design, including colors and shapes, to suit your preferences.

Are timelines solely critical for business presentations?

Timelines are valuable tools used in various areas, including education, history, project management, and others. They help to show processes and sequences properly.

Table Of Content

Related presentations.

Timeline Collection Templates

Timeline PowerPoint Template

Timeline Templates

Related blogs.

10 Bad PowerPoint Slides Examples to Avoid

10 Best Animated PowerPoint Templates

10 Best Business PowerPoint Templates for Presentations

10 Best Business Presentation Topics to Captivate Your Audience

Tags and categories, privacy overview.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Home Free PowerPoint Templates Free Timeline Template for PowerPoint

Download Free Timeline Template for PowerPoint

The Free Timeline Template for PowerPoint is the commonly used management tool for training and development on a regular basis. It is an outstanding diagram to help visualize complex concepts and data in an easily understandable format. It represents an event or process over a specific timeframe and visually analyzes data. The free PowerPoint template is a 2-slide, fully customizable timeline diagram of awesome infographics. It is a horizontal timeline template containing five and four milestone diagrams. This PowerPoint presentation is useful for demonstrating a history review or a company’s performance or growth in the past 5-10 years. It can help display the breakthrough elements of the company or project with attractive illustrations of a pre-defined period.

The diagram of the Free Timeline Template for PowerPoint contains editable PowerPoint shapes like circles and nodes. Further, the infographics inside the circular icons can demonstrate ideas in different presentations. These infographics include documents, gear, truck, shields, and flags. This timeline template assists users in editing and manipulating the elements of PowerPoint slides. For example, copy a segment of the horizontal timeline for a milestone upgrade. To do so, press ctrl and select all the items of one section, such as, circular shapes, infographic, direction node, and text placeholders. Copy/paste the selective item and adjust the node accordingly. Similarly, change the colors, size, placement, shape effects, animations, and more using easy options available in PowerPoint. Additionally, use the timeline diagram template for readymade presentations by either copying slides or individual objects. SlideModel.com also has slides of multi-step timeline template for PowerPoint available in the premium catalog.

The creative design of the free PowerPoint template for the timeline is a flexible presentation with plenty of options to modify it. This is a valuable template diagram for business and educational purposes. For instance, make a business development plan and use the milestones to track the progress like the Gantt chart timeline. Also, in academics, it can help teachers to create a timeline of course topics and steps in a process.

Alternatively to this PowerPoint timeline graphic template, you can download another timeline template design for professional presentations with awesome designs and different number of milestones, and compatible with PowerPoint & Google Slides.

• 100% Editable PowerPoint Templates.
• Compatible with all major Microsoft PowerPoint versions, Keynote and Google Slides.
• Modern 16:9 Aspect Ratio.
• Scalable Vectorial PowerPoint Shapes and PowerPoint Icons.
• Instant Access and Download.
• New Templates every week.

Google Slides Preview

Our PowerPoint Templates are compatible with Google Slides. Take the most of every platform using the tool you like.