Free project plan template for Excel (with phases and milestones)
A simple, free project plan template for Excel: one row per task, five phases, milestones marked, owners and dates. It works on its own in Excel, and it loads straight into the free Project Health Check for delivery metrics and a milestone timeline.
What's inside
| Column | Use |
|---|---|
| Task ID | Unique number or code; keep it the same in every version |
| Title | Task or milestone name |
| Owner | Who is responsible |
| Bucket | Phase: Intake, Preparation, Execution, Handover, Close |
| Start date / Due date | Planned dates (dd.mm.yyyy) |
| Completed date | Date the task was finished |
| Status | Not started, In progress, Completed |
| Labels | Optional tags |
| Type | "Milestone" or "Task" |
The file has 16 example tasks, including 6 milestones from kickoff to project close, and a “How to use” sheet.
How to use it
- Replace the example tasks with your own and keep the Task IDs stable.
- Update status, dates and completed dates as the project moves.
- Save a dated copy once a month, for example
Project-plan-2026-11-01.xlsx. - Load two dated copies into the Project Health Check: you get adherence to plan, overdue work, a Project Health Score and how each milestone moved.
Prefer a milestone-only plan?
Use the milestone plan template with baseline and forecast dates.