Free Project Plan Template
Use this free project plan template to set goals, milestones, owners and due dates, with a built-in project schedule template for your timeline. Free download in Excel and PDF.
- Free download
- Excel (.xlsx)
- Schedule with durations
Preview: project schedule in the plan template
The schedule lists each phase and milestone with its owner, dates and duration in days.
| Phase | Milestone / deliverable | Owner | Start date | End date | Duration (days) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiation | Project charter approved | Project manager | 03-11-2026 | 05-11-2026 | 3 | Done |
| Planning | Scope, schedule and budget signed off | Project manager | 06-11-2026 | 14-11-2026 | 9 | In progress |
| Execution | Phase 1 delivered | Team lead | 15-11-2026 | 15-12-2026 | 31 | Not started |
| Execution | Phase 2 delivered | Team lead | 16-12-2026 | 20-01-2027 | 36 | Not started |
| Monitoring | Weekly status reports | Project manager | 15-11-2026 | 20-01-2027 | 67 | Ongoing |
| Closure | Handover and final invoice | Project manager | 21-01-2027 | 25-01-2027 | 5 | Not started |
What is a project plan template?
A project plan is the agreed answer to what will be delivered, by whom, by when and for how much. A project plan template gives you a ready structure for those answers, so nothing important is forgotten and every project in your business is planned the same way.
This template starts with a project overview: project name, client, project manager, start and end dates, budget or contract value, objective, key deliverables, and assumptions and risks. Agreeing these nine items before work starts prevents most of the disputes that happen later in a project.
Project schedule template with phases and durations
Below the overview is a project schedule template. Each row is a milestone or deliverable within a phase (initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and closure), with an owner, start date, end date and status. The duration in days is calculated by a formula from the two dates, so changing a date updates the schedule automatically.
Keep milestones meaningful: each one should be something you can show to the client, such as a signed-off design or a delivered phase. Milestones like that are easy to track and, if you bill in stages, they are natural points to invoice.
How to fill in the project plan template
Work from the top down, and agree the plan with your client before you start.
- 1. Complete the overview with the objective and deliverables in plain words.
- 2. List the phases your project will go through.
- 3. Add milestones to each phase with an owner.
- 4. Set start and end dates; durations calculate automatically.
- 5. Review risks and assumptions, then share the plan for sign-off.
Free download: project plan template in Excel and PDF
Download the Excel version to edit the plan and keep the formulas, or the PDF to print and discuss in a meeting. Both are free, with no sign-up. For the steps behind a good plan, read project planning steps and the project lifecycle.
Turn your plan into a live schedule
A plan in a spreadsheet is a snapshot. In free project planning software the same plan becomes a live schedule: milestones with due dates, a Gantt chart, days left and overdue alerts on a dashboard, and approvals before work starts. Catalystk is free, on the web and the mobile app, and still lets you download the plan in Excel and PDF.
Free download in Excel and PDF, no sign-up.
Project Plan Template: frequently asked questions
Is the project plan template free?
Yes. It is a free download in Excel and PDF, with no sign-up.
Does it include a project schedule template?
Yes. The schedule lists phases and milestones with owners, start and end dates, status and an automatic duration in days.
What should a project plan include?
At minimum: objective, deliverables, client, project manager, dates, budget, phases, milestones with owners, and the main assumptions and risks.
Can I use it in Google Sheets?
Yes. The Excel file opens in Google Sheets and LibreOffice, and the duration formulas keep working.
How do I track the plan after it is approved?
Use the free project management Excel template, or move the plan into Catalystk's free project planning software for live tracking.
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