Making a Construction Schedule: Construction Scheduling Basics

Construction projects are notoriously difficult, and they’re known for encountering delays. They involve many moving parts, teams, equipment and materials, so your construction schedule should be thoroughly planned.

Tools that are embedded in construction project management software, such as Gantt charts and resource management, are key features to control the phases of a construction project. But they just facilitate the process. The construction schedule is the backbone of any successful project management for construction.

What Is Construction Scheduling?

Construction scheduling is the process of identifying all construction activities in a project, estimating the time that they will take and then sequencing and coordinating their execution in a project timeframe, known as a construction schedule, which is usually presented in the form of a Gantt chart diagram or project calendar to successfully deliver a construction project.

However, the construction scheduling process doesn’t end there. Once a construction schedule has been created and the construction phase starts, the project manager needs to constantly monitor the construction schedule and adjust it as needed to respond to a variety of construction delay events that may occur, such as adverse weather conditions, changes requested by the project owner, logistical issues, machinery breakdowns, etc.

All of these issues will cause the schedule to become inaccurate as tasks are delayed against their original estimated start and end dates, so the project manager will need to adjust the schedule or take actions such as reallocating resources to speed up work.

Creating a construction schedule requires thorough planning and the right tools. ProjectManager is construction project management software that offers multiple project planning tools such as Gantt charts, kanban boards and project calendars so you can map out your project activities and create accurate construction schedules. ProjectManager also offers real-time dashboards, workload charts and timesheets so you can keep track of time and costs. Get started for free today.

Yes, construction scheduling is time-consuming. You want to take all the steps, avoid shortcuts and work toward creating the most accurate schedule you can. The more time you put into the construction schedule, the fewer issues you’ll have when you execute the project plan, which is key to good construction project management.

What Is a Construction Schedule?

A construction schedule is a visual timeline that establishes when every task and event in a construction project will occur. It’s a fundamental part of the project planning phase, as it also defines the teams responsible for executing the work and when resources such as materials, machinery and equipment will be needed.

Beyond simply sequencing activities, a thorough construction schedule also identifies task dependencies, highlights critical deliverables and milestones and provides a baseline to track progress, manage delays and coordinate subcontractors, suppliers and inspections throughout the lifecycle of a construction project.

Why Is Construction Scheduling Important?

Far from being a standalone planning artifact, a construction schedule shapes how nearly every other project function operates. The construction scheduling process determines when money is spent, materials are ordered, crews are mobilized and work is coordinated on site. By setting the project’s time framework, the schedule influences financial control, operational efficiency and decision-making throughout the entire construction lifecycle.

Here’s a quick overview of how a construction schedule—and therefore the construction scheduling process—impacts other key areas of construction project management.

• Project budgeting: A construction schedule shows when each project task happens, making it easier to estimate labor, materials and equipment costs, as well as how much money will be spent and when. This helps teams create a realistic construction budget, plan cash flow, prepare for high-cost periods and avoid running out of money mid-project.
• Procurement management: Construction scheduling defines when materials, equipment and subcontractor services are required, enabling timely purchasing and deliveries. This reduces storage needs, minimizes idle inventory and lowers the risk of work stoppages caused by late or misaligned procurement decisions.
• Site management: A clear construction schedule coordinates daily site operations by sequencing trades, inspections and work zones. This structure reduces congestion, improves safety, limits trade stacking and helps supervisors manage site activities with greater predictability and control.
• Cost tracking: When costs are tied to scheduled activities, teams can compare planned costs to actual costs in real time as the job progresses. This makes it easier to spot overruns early and take action before they grow into financial issues that could cause the project to fail.
• Resource allocation: A construction schedule guides how labor, equipment and materials are assigned to the work. When delays or issues occur, the schedule is adjusted and resources are shifted to recover time, such as adding crews, extending hours or overlapping activities through techniques like crashing or fast tracking.

What Should Be Included In a Construction Schedule?

Construction schedules are made up of various parts. The next time you’re putting one together, consider including the following sections.

• Project tasks: A detailed list of all tasks and activities included in each project phase.
• Project milestones: Key deadlines or noteworthy points in the project that mark the completion of major deliverables.
• Task dependencies: Logical relationships between activities that establish the order in which work must occur. There are four primary dependency types—finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish and start-to-finish—each controlling when tasks can begin or end.
• Project resources: The labor, materials and equipment required to execute scheduled activities, including crew assignments, machinery usage and material availability, all aligned with the timing and sequencing defined in the construction schedule.
• Key deliverables: Clearly defined, measurable outputs produced at specific points in the schedule, such as completed structures, approved design documents, inspection sign-offs, compliance records and formal project closeout documentation.
• Work packages: Structured groupings of related tasks within the construction schedule that define a discrete scope of work, responsibilities and timeframes, making complex projects easier to plan, assign and track.
• Project timeline: The overall time framework of the construction project, showing phases, major activities and target completion dates, and serving as a reference for sequencing, coordination and progress monitoring.
• Critical path: The longest sequence of dependent activities that determines the shortest possible project duration. Any delay to critical path activities directly delays overall project completion, as these tasks have no available float or slack.
• Float or slack time: The amount of scheduling flexibility available for non-critical activities before delays begin to affect the project’s final completion date.
• Schedule baseline: The approved version of the construction schedule used as a reference point for measuring progress, analyzing delays and evaluating the impact of changes.

Since each construction project is unique, the specific parts of a construction schedule may change based on company and stakeholder needs.

Construction Schedule vs. Schedule of Works

A construction schedule and a schedule of works share things in common, but they’re different project documents. A schedule of works is a contract, a construction project schedule is not. The schedule of works lists the work that must be completed on a construction project, but a construction schedule is far more than just a list of work.

A schedule of works doesn’t have the detail and scope of a construction schedule, which includes the duration and deadline for the work, resources needed to execute those tasks and associated costs. Construction schedules also have milestones, identify dependent tasks and more.

How to Create a Construction Schedule

Now that we’ve addressed the importance of a construction schedule and its components, let’s go through a detailed list of steps we’ve prepared so you can create a construction schedule.

1. Define the Project Scope of Work

Before any dates or durations are assigned, the construction project’s scope of work must be clearly defined. This step establishes what is included in the project and what is not, creating boundaries for the schedule.

The most common tool used is a work breakdown structure, which systematically decomposes the overall project into major deliverables and smaller work packages, providing a structured foundation from which scheduling activities can later be developed.

2. Sequence Construction Tasks

With the full set of project tasks identified, attention shifts to organizing them in a logical order based on their dependencies. Construction schedules are rarely linear, meaning they aren’t just a task list where you complete one task and then move to the next; instead, they are made up of multiple task sequences progressing at the same time.

Some sequences are tightly linked and must align at specific points, while others operate independently. Sequencing tasks reveals how parallel workstreams interact, helping teams understand workflow, coordination requirements and potential scheduling conflicts. For this step, project network diagrams such as a critical path diagram or a PERT chart are commonly used, even though Gantt charts are the usual tool to represent the construction schedule.

For example, on a commercial project, concrete curing must finish before steel erection begins, forming one clear sequence. Meanwhile, off-site fabrication of façade panels can proceed independently. Inside the structure, mechanical and electrical rough-ins often run in parallel, only converging later when inspections are required before finishes can start.

3. Estimate the Duration of Tasks

Few decisions influence a construction schedule more than how long each task is expected to take. Task durations directly determine the overall project timeline and drive the identification of the critical path.

From there, they shape available float, define realistic start and finish dates and influence how delays ripple across the schedule. Inaccurate duration estimates can distort sequencing logic, mask risk and undermine every downstream scheduling decision.

• Critical Path Method (CPM): CPM estimates task durations using deterministic, single-point values based on expected productivity and known constraints. Each activity is assigned a fixed duration, allowing planners to calculate early and late dates, identify the critical path and determine available float. This approach works best when task durations are relatively predictable and supported by reliable planning assumptions.
• Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT): PERT approaches duration estimation probabilistically by using three values: optimistic, most likely and pessimistic durations. These are combined into a weighted average to reflect uncertainty. This technique is especially useful when tasks involve higher risk or variability, helping project teams account for uncertainty rather than relying on a single fixed estimate.
• Expert Judgment: This technique relies on the experience and practical knowledge of project managers, superintendents or trade specialists to estimate task durations. Rather than formulas, it draws on firsthand understanding of similar construction work, crew productivity and site conditions. Expert judgment is often used when data is limited or when conditions are too specific for standardized estimating methods.
• Historical Data and Analogous Estimating: Historical estimating uses data from past construction projects with similar scope and conditions to predict task durations. By analyzing actual performance from previous jobs, planners can develop realistic estimates grounded in evidence. This method improves accuracy over time and is especially effective for repetitive work or standardized construction activities.

4. Identify the Critical Path of the Project

Traditionally, the critical path was identified by building a CPM network diagram and manually calculating early start, early finish, late start and late finish dates for each activity using the critical path method algorithm, a series of math calculations. This process could be performed by hand or in Excel, making critical path analysis accessible without specialized software for construction scheduling decisions.

Modern project management software has automated critical path identification by recalculating logic, durations and dependencies in real time as schedules change. Instead of manual calculations, the critical path updates dynamically when tasks shift or delays occur.

ProjectManager’s Gantt chart helps teams build flexible construction schedules while automatically highlighting the critical path, allowing managers to quickly assess impacts and make informed construction scheduling decisions as projects advance.

5. Identify Project Milestones

Project milestones help simplify a construction schedule by highlighting key events without exposing every underlying task. Rather than reviewing hundreds of activities, stakeholders can focus on major approvals, phase completions or handoffs that signal meaningful progress. Milestones provide clear reference points for reporting, coordination and decision-making, making complex schedules easier to communicate to owners, executives and non-technical participants while still supporting detailed planning behind the scenes.

6. Establish a Schedule Baseline

Establishing a schedule baseline involves formally approving the initial construction schedule once scope, sequencing and durations have been agreed upon.

This baseline captures the original planned start and finish dates, durations and logic relationships at a specific point in time. Later in the project, it serves as a fixed reference for measuring progress, identifying delays and evaluating the impact of changes, allowing teams to distinguish normal execution from schedule drift and support informed corrective action.

7. Visualize the Project Schedule Using a Gantt Chart

Gantt charts are the most widely used construction scheduling tools because they combine detailed planning with clear visual communication. They allow project managers to enter scheduling data such as task names, start and end dates, durations and dependencies while simultaneously displaying that information on a visual project timeline.

This timeline is presented in a way that’s easy for most people to understand. It’s a stacked bar chart laid over a calendar which facilitates the identification of task sequences, dependencies and milestones, turning complex schedule data into an intuitive, easy-to-read project timeline.

While traditional Gantt charts focus on dates and dependencies, ProjectManager’s Gantt chart expands scheduling into a broader project control tool. In addition to task durations and logic, it displays key execution data such as assigned resources, priority levels, WBS hierarchy and percent complete. This added context allows project managers to connect schedule performance with responsibility, progress and structure rather than viewing tasks as isolated timeline entries.

From a construction project tracking perspective, ProjectManager’s Gantt chart enables direct comparisons between planned and actual performance. Estimated start and finish dates can be measured against actual dates, planned durations against real execution time and estimated costs against actual costs at the task level.

Visually, milestones appear as diamond symbols, progress is shown within task bars, dependencies are clearly linked and schedule baselines provide a reference point for identifying slippage.

8. Review and Adjust the Construction Schedule as the Project Advances

Construction scheduling is highly complex and requires permanent monitoring. No construction schedule is written in stone, at least none that will succeed. Things change, and if you’re not monitoring and reviewing throughout the project, those changes will send you off track—or worse.

You’ll need to look over the construction schedule throughout all project phases to make sure your actual progress aligns with your plan. Look at your schedule daily and depending on your time, update frequently. You can use our construction daily report template to keep track of the progress of your construction project.

This is a matter of time management. If you find that a daily update takes you away from other project issues and responsibilities, then maybe you need to set aside time each week to respond to the changes you’ve noted daily and apply them to the schedule. Monitoring and adjusting your construction schedule as on- and off-site issues arise is perhaps the most important aspect of keeping your project on schedule.

Construction Schedule Example

One of the easiest ways to understand the impact of a construction schedule is with an example. Let’s imagine a construction company was contracted to create a new office building.

Below, you can see the construction schedule made on ProjectManager’s Gantt chart. The project is broken down into various phases including design and planning, permits, site preparation, foundation, etc. On the left-hand side is a timeline with the task data that are visually represented on the right-hand side.

Each phase is made up of specific tasks with a planned start and planned finish date for the team to reference as they execute their work. Project milestones are included as well, which mark the end of a piece of work, task sequence or project management phase. In the construction schedule example above, foundation inspection is an example of a milestone.

The “how” and “why” in this example provide context for the project manager to reference throughout the project. If changes need to be made, such as moving the planned finish date for zoning approvals, the project manager can do so directly on the schedule.

Construction Schedule Template

If you’re looking for help in creating a construction schedule, check out our free construction schedule template. When you open this template in ProjectManager, you’ll be able to organize your schedule on powerful construction Gantt charts that link all four dependencies, list deliverables, manage resources, identify milestones and costs and even filter for the critical path.

Construction Scheduling Techniques

Construction scheduling techniques are structured methods used to plan, organize and control the sequence, timing and coordination of construction activities. These techniques provide frameworks for managing dependencies, resources and constraints, helping project teams develop realistic schedules and respond effectively to changes throughout the construction lifecycle.

Because no two construction projects unfold the same way, construction scheduling techniques are often selected based on project size, complexity and the working style of the project team. Some approaches are better suited for early planning, while others become valuable when conditions change. When delays begin to threaten completion dates, techniques such as schedule crashing or fast tracking can be applied to compress timelines, reallocate resources and regain momentum without completely reworking the entire construction schedule.

• Line of Balance (LOB): Line of balance is a construction scheduling technique used to plan and control repetitive tasks and processes. It’s ideal for projects with similar activities repeated in sequence, helping ensure work is executed efficiently and stays on schedule.
• Critical Path Method (CPM): The critical path method is a scheduling technique that identifies the sequence of tasks that determines the shortest possible project duration. It highlights critical activities that directly impact the project finish date if delayed.
• Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT): The program evaluation review and technique (PERT) is a scheduling technique that analyzes uncertainty in activity durations to create a more flexible and realistic project schedule. It’s especially useful when task durations are difficult to estimate and supports clearer stakeholder communication.
• Last Planner System (LPS): The last planner system is a collaborative, lean construction scheduling technique that focuses on short-term planning and commitment-based scheduling, where crews plan, promise and execute work in manageable timeframes to improve reliability and workflow.
• Rolling wave planning: Rolling wave planning is a progressive scheduling technique where near-term work is planned in detail while future activities remain at a higher level, allowing flexibility as project information becomes clearer.
• Resource leveling: Resource leveling is a technique used to adjust the schedule to address resource constraints by redistributing work without changing the overall project scope, helping prevent overallocated crews or equipment.
• Fast tracking: Fast tracking is a scheduling approach that shortens project duration by overlapping activities that were originally planned to occur sequentially, increasing speed but also raising coordination and risk considerations.
• Project crashing: Project crashing is a method for accelerating the schedule by adding extra resources to critical activities, typically increasing costs in exchange for reducing the overall project duration.
• Critical Chain Method (CCM): The critical chain method is a construction scheduling technique that builds on the critical path by accounting for resource constraints and uncertainty. It protects the project completion date by using strategic time buffers instead of padding individual activities.

Commonly Used Construction Scheduling Tools

Construction scheduling tools are instruments and visual aids used to create, analyze, communicate and control construction schedules. They support the application of scheduling techniques by translating activities, durations, dependencies and progress data into structured formats that enable planning, monitoring and decision-making throughout a construction project.

Different construction scheduling tools serve distinct purposes depending on the stage of the scheduling process. Some tools are most effective during early planning, helping teams structure activities, define sequences and establish timelines. Others are better suited for execution and control, allowing project managers to track progress, compare planned versus actual performance and identify deviations. When delays or changes arise, certain tools support corrective actions by analyzing impacts, testing alternatives and guiding schedule adjustments.

• Project Network Diagrams: A project network diagram visually represents the sequence of project tasks, highlighting both task dependencies and the overall workflow. Project network diagrams are used in a variety of construction scheduling techniques, including the critical path method (CPM), program evaluation and review technique (PERT), precedence diagramming method, arrow diagramming method, among others.
• Gantt Charts: A mainstay in project management, Gantt charts are the quintessential construction scheduling tool that showcases a task’s start and end dates, duration and dependencies. They provide a clear and chronological overview to ensure projects are completed within the expected budget and timeframe.
• Milestone Charts: Milestone charts are another visual construction scheduling tool to highlight key events and project achievements. Significant milestones are displayed on a timeline with a focus on essential deliverables, deadlines and critical achievements. With this tool, the focus is on tracking overall progress instead of task durations.
• Critical path diagrams: A critical path diagram visually maps the longest sequence of dependent activities that determine the minimum project duration. This tool helps project teams identify tasks with zero float, understand schedule sensitivity and prioritize activities that directly impact the construction completion date.
• PERT charts: A PERT chart is a scheduling tool used to analyze task sequences and estimate project duration when activity timeframes are uncertain. By incorporating optimistic, pessimistic and most likely durations, it supports more flexible planning and informed decision-making.
• Lookahead schedules: Lookahead schedules focus on short-term planning, typically covering the next few weeks of work. They help construction teams identify upcoming constraints, coordinate trades and ensure tasks are ready for execution before they enter the active schedule.
• S-curve charts: S-curve charts plot cumulative progress, cost or labor against time, providing a visual comparison between planned and actual performance. They are commonly used to monitor trends, identify deviations early and communicate schedule status to stakeholders.
• Time tracking tools: Time tracking tools such as digital timesheets, mobile crew time apps, badge or kiosk clock-in systems and integrated field reporting tools capture actual labor hours spent on scheduled activities. This data allows teams to compare planned versus real performance, supporting accurate progress reporting, productivity analysis and schedule forecasting throughout the construction project.

More Construction Project Management Templates

The construction schedule template is one of the dozens of free construction templates for Excel and Word that you can download on our site. We have free templates for every phase of your project and many industries as well. Here are a few for construction.

Construction Daily Report Template

At the end of every day, construction workers have to document what work was performed, whether it was done or delayed, weather conditions on site and much more. Our free construction daily report for Excel outlines everything you need to cover so you can fill in the blanks.

Construction Estimate Template

Being able to forecast an accurate estimate for construction costs is key to managing the project. Our free construction estimate template for Excel helps you figure out the direct indirect, labor and material costs of your project.

Bill of Quantities Template

A bill of quantities lists all the materials and labor required for a construction project. If you’re managing a larger construction project, you’ll need our free bill of quantities template for Excel. It’s a crucial document for the bidding process as well as helping make a more accurate estimate of the project’s costs.

How to Create a Construction Schedule With ProjectManager

We’ve been hinting about how ProjectManager and construction scheduling go hand in glove, so let’s take a moment to go into greater detail about the many features available in our software that can assist you when scheduling your construction project.

Gantt Charts for Plans and Schedules

Beyond templates to get you started, we have an online Gantt chart that helps you plan your construction schedule. You can import your task list and it instantly populates the timeline. Then add the duration of each task and a bar chart marks the start to end dates. If any tasks are dependent, they can be easily linked. You can also set milestones across the timeline.

You can then assign directly from the construction Gantt chart. Any relevant schematics or notes can be added directly to the task where team members can collaborate. They can add as many construction documents as they want with our unlimited file storage and comment on any issues with other team members by simply tagging them.

When a change in your construction schedule occurs, adjusting the Gantt chart is simple. Just drag and drop the start and end dates. There are automated notifications, so team members are alerted of any changes to keep everyone on the same page.

Resource and Team Management

When it comes to tracking time and money throughout your construction project, we have you covered with resource management software. Managing your resources can be complicated in a construction project, but our online software gives you real-time data to better meet that goal.

You can categorize teams, supplies, equipment, etc., adding hourly rates that’ll reflect across our software. When those hours are logged, the actual cost is automatically compared to the planned cost. This gives you the tools to manage construction costs.

Teams can be managed, too. Our software details working days, holidays and planned hours over the course of the project, whether they’re on-site or even in different time zones. You can block out vacations and holidays, keeping your project schedule on track. With our workload feature, you can easily see who’s assigned to what. The workload is color-coded, so you can catch any imbalances quickly and reassign from the workload page. Filter by project, team or both and get the data you want. These features are essential for creating and managing your construction schedule.

Timesheets are designed to automatically update when employees finish their assigned tasks. You can track their logged hours on our real-time dashboard, which also monitors task progress and more.

That’s not all; there’s in-depth reporting on project workload, availability, timesheets and more. Reports can be filtered to show just what you need to know or offer a more broad overview when presenting to clients and other stakeholders. ProjectManager keeps your construction schedule on track.

Related Construction Scheduling Content

• Construction Project Management Software
• Best Construction Scheduling Software Rankings
• Best Construction Estimating Software Rankings
• How to Make a Material Schedule for Construction
• Fragnet Schedule in Construction: Use Cases and How-to Guide
• ¿Cómo Hacer un Cronograma de Obra? Una Guía Rápida
• Comment créer un calendrier de construction : guide rapide
• Bauzeitplan erstellen: Bauzeitplanung einfach erklärt

ProjectManager is online project management software with the tools you need for construction scheduling. Our features make planning, monitoring and reporting on your project more efficient and effective. Being online means our software is accessible everywhere and at any time. Plus, the data you get is more accurate because it’s updated immediately. Try ProjectManager for free with this 30-day trial offer.

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