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Useful links to more project planning must-reads
- The ultimate guide to people-first project planning, with steps to create an effective plan yourself
- The nine crucial stages of an effective project planning process that makes each project run smoother than the last
- A rundown of the top 10 project planning tools to streamline your processes (and make your job easier)
- The must-have elements of a project plan to help you align your team and stakeholders from the very beginning
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Do you need to create a plan for your new project but are unsure what it should include? Do you want a way to plan your projects more efficiently and reduce stress? Are you on the lookout for ways to cut your planning time?
If you said yes to any of the above, here are 15 free project planning templates to help you keep track of timelines, budgets, deliverables, scope creep, and more!
What is a project plan template?
Project plan templates are pre-filled documents that provide the framework for building your project plans.
Just as the skeleton provides the all-important structure and support for our bodies, project management templates offer direction on what to include in your plans and how they should be organized.
➡️ Learn more about the project planning process or check out our ultimate guide 🙌 to creating project plans.
How to use a project plan template
- Begin by downloading a project planning template of your choice
- Customize the sections based on your project's specific requirements. Start by filling in the details for each section necessary for your project.
- Check for accuracy and consistency throughout the document. Make sure that all data points are accurate and up-to-date.
- Review all sections before submitting the template for approval from relevant stakeholders
15 free project plan templates
1. Simple project plan template
A simple project plan outlines the step-by-step process and resources necessary to complete a project. This template allows managers and team members to track progress, stay organized, and communicate with stakeholders.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
2. Project action plan template
A project action plan template outlines the steps to complete a project successfully. It guides the team on what needs to be done and when it needs to be completed.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
3. Business case template
You can use the business case template to provide justification for your project, document reasons why it should be undertaken, and show decision-makers the potential return on investment (ROI).
Download to Microsoft Word
Download to Google Docs
4. Project schedule template
Outline the timeline, deliverables, and tasks required using this project schedule template. Quickly enter the resources needed for each task, the time allotted, and any dependencies or key milestones.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
5. Project budget template
Plan and track the financial resources necessary using this project budget template. The pre-filled document outlines all the expenses associated with the project, such as labor costs, materials, equipment, and other related costs.
The template also includes a section for projected revenue or funding sources and an area for any cost overruns.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
6. Quality management plan
This template can create a quality management plan for a specific project or business. It provides a structured format for documenting objectives, standards, responsibilities for project stakeholders, and the methods and tools to monitor and control quality.
Download to Microsoft Word
Download to Google Docs
7. Stakeholder management plan template
Use the stakeholder management plan template to document how the project team will manage stakeholders' expectations and keep them engaged over the course of the project. With it, you can quickly outline how to address stakeholder interests, needs, and concerns.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
8. Communication plan template
Keep your team and stakeholders informed and up to date on the project status and progress using the communication plan template.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
9. Project milestone template
Track the progress of a project and ensure it's on track to meet its goals using the project milestone template. Outline a project's significant achievements or critical points as it progresses so stakeholders can make informed decisions about its direction.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
10. Gantt chart template
Plan and track the progress of your project, and identify potential issues or delays before they become problems using the Gantt chart template. Gantt chart templates visually represent a project's schedule and display the tasks, dependencies, and milestones.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
11. Work breakdown structure template
This work breakdown structure template slices a project into smaller tasks and subtasks. Define the scope of, organize, and manage project workload with this template.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
See more about what goes into a successful WBS plus more work breakdown structure templates.
12. Project resource plan template
The project resource plan template helps you allocate tasks to the people with the suitable capacity and skills. Document and outline the resources required to complete your project.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
➡️ Check out some more free resource planning templates you can easily customize and use for your next project.
13. RACI chart template
Clearly define roles and responsibilities for completing a project or task with the RACI chart template. Clarify task responsibilities, decision-making roles, and oversight duties before getting started.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
14. Risk register template
Use the risk register template to identify, assess, and prioritize project risks. Track and manage potential risks that could impact project success, and ensure your team takes the necessary steps to mitigate them.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
15. Change control log template
Use the change control log template to track and document the changes that occur throughout your project. Get visibility into the project progress, ensure accountability for any adjustments made along the way, and confirm that any changes align with the overarching project goals.
Download to Microsoft Excel
Download to Google Sheets
You can also check out some of our free work plan templates to manage resources, milestones, budgets, and other resources from one place.
How to build project plan templates in Float
While the templates we've shared can save you time, they require vigilant tracking and updating to remain helpful during a project—as spreadsheets do 😅 Additionally, your project plans might not be visible to everyone on the team, creating an information gap where there shouldn't be.
A more efficient (and much, much faster) option is using project planning software like Float.
Project plan templates created in Float are easy to set up and reuse (and, as another bonus, the data from your projects can be quickly turned into an automated Projects report.)
With a tool like Float, you can easily create a new template from scratch or use an existing project to build one. These templates are 100% tailored to your team’s needs, and you can edit them in moments.
Once you’ve created a template, it’s available for you to use it whenever you add a new project.
The best part is that Float keeps your people and your projects in the same place—the Schedule gives you a color-coded, bird’s-eye view of your team’s capacity. So when your project has officially kicked off, you can allocate project work fairly by assigning tasks based on your team's availability and capacity. This also enables you to forecast work for entire projects ahead of time. And when unexpected changes arise, you can quickly adapt the project plan by reassigning tasks or extending their duration by moving the due dates.
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The bottom line? Spreadsheets keep your templates separate, but a resource management tool brings everything together.
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Plan smarter
Try the #1 project planning software. Rated #1 on G2 for resource management, Float gives you the most accurate view of your resource capacity to plan project work.
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FAQs
Some FAQs about project plan templates
Project plan templates are essential because they provide a structured approach to managing projects. By using a template, project managers can ensure that all tasks are accounted for and that no critical steps are missed. It can also reduce errors, reduce design time, and help create consistent documents.
Your project plan template can be as straightforward or complex as you want it to be. That being said, most project planner templates contain documents for:
- Schedule management
- Communication management
- Project scope management
- Cost management
- Quality management
- Resource management
- Change management
To create an effective project plan, follow the steps below:
- Start by setting goals and tasks with input from stakeholders, team leaders, and your team.
- Next, create realistic deliverables by plotting the tasks onto a project timeline and consulting your team.
- Set a work breakdown structure by starting with the end goal and working towards smaller tasks.
- Plan resources by allocating tasks throughout the team and maximizing budget spend.
- Define task dependencies and bottlenecks by identifying which project tasks depend on what resources.
- Run a risk assessment to prepare for when projects go differently than planned.
- Finally, plot your project on a final timeline after collecting information from your team about availability issues, instructions needed, etc.
