Timeline maker
Create a timeline online in a couple of minutes. Pick a starting point or edit the one below, drag events along the tape, then export a PNG, SVG, PDF or PowerPoint slide — or copy a share link. Edit the timeline below, drag events along the tape, export or share. Free, no account, saved in your browser.
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How to create a timeline online
- Choose a starting point. Use the timeline above, open a template, or let the AI timeline generator draft events for a topic.
- Enter your events. Each event needs a title and a start date. Add an end date to turn it into a span, and a note for detail.
- Drag to adjust. Slide markers along the tape to move dates; stretch a bar by its right edge. Dates snap to the precision you typed (year, month, day or 15-minute steps).
- Pick a layout. Horizontal for slides, vertical for phones and pages, Gantt for plans, roadmap lanes for teams.
- Export. PNG for chat and documents, SVG for print, PDF for handouts, PowerPoint for editable slides, JSON to back up.
Want the reasoning behind good timelines — choosing a scale, avoiding label pile-ups, when to use spans? Read how to make a timeline.
What the editor does
- Four layouts from the same data
- Drag-and-drop dates and durations, plus drag-to-reorder rows
- Dates from 1,000,000 BCE to 9999, down to the minute
- BCE/CE or BC/AD labels, with "c." for approximate dates
- Colour-coded categories with a legend
- Undo, autosave and a library of every timeline you make
- Paste rows from Excel or Google Sheets, or import CSV
- Export to PNG, SVG, PDF, PowerPoint (.pptx), CSV and JSON
- Keyboard support: arrow keys nudge a focused marker
Built for three kinds of deadline
Most timelines we see are for one of three jobs, so the site has a focused page for each.
Project plans
A Gantt chart maker with a critical-path explainer, and a product roadmap maker with swimlanes and quarters.
Classroom history
BCE/CE dates that behave, ready-made history templates, and a plain-English guide to BC and AD.
Weddings & events
Enter a date and ceremony time; get a 12-month planning timeline and an hour-by-hour wedding day schedule.
Timeline maker FAQ
Is this timeline maker really free?
Yes. Every template, every layout and every export format (PNG, SVG, PDF, PowerPoint and JSON) is free, with no watermark beyond a small "Made with timelineforge.com" credit on image exports, and no sign-up.
Where are my timelines saved?
In your own browser, using localStorage. Nothing is uploaded to a server. That means your timelines are private, but also that they only exist on this device and browser — export a JSON file if you want a backup or to move a timeline to another computer.
Can I make a timeline with BC or BCE dates?
Yes. Type dates such as "44 BCE", "c. 2560 BC" or "AD 79", switch the labels between BCE/CE and BC/AD, and go back as far as 1,000,000 BCE. The axis correctly skips year zero, so 1 BCE is followed directly by 1 CE.
How do I put the timeline into PowerPoint or Google Slides?
Choose Export → PowerPoint to download a .pptx file built from native shapes and text boxes, so you can restyle it in PowerPoint, Keynote or Google Slides (File → Import slides). For a quick picture, export a PNG instead.
Which layout should I use?
Horizontal suits presentations and short histories. Vertical is best on phones, web pages and anything with long notes. Gantt shows tasks with durations on separate rows. Roadmap lanes groups bars by team or theme, like a product roadmap.
Can I import events from Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes. Copy the rows (title, start date, optional end date, category and note), choose "Paste from spreadsheet" under the timeline and paste. CSV files can be imported from the My timelines menu, and any timeline can be exported back to CSV.
How do I share a timeline with someone?
Open Export & share and choose Copy share link. The whole timeline is packed into the link itself (after the # sign, which browsers never send to a server), so nothing is uploaded. Whoever opens it gets their own editable copy; your original does not change. You can also copy the timeline as an image and paste it straight into a document, slide or chat.
Does Microsoft have a timeline maker?
Not as a separate app. PowerPoint and Word can turn a SmartArt process graphic into a basic timeline, and Microsoft publishes timeline templates for PowerPoint and Excel. SmartArt spaces items evenly rather than by date, so for a to-scale timeline build it here and use Export → PowerPoint, which produces editable native shapes.
Can AI make a timeline?
Yes. The AI timeline generator drafts dated events for a topic you type, then drops them into this editor so you can check every date, fix anything wrong and export. Treat the draft as a starting point: AI models can get dates wrong, so verify each one against a reliable source.
Can I edit on my phone?
Yes. The editor works on touch screens: tap a marker to jump to that event, drag markers along the axis, and edit dates in the list. The vertical layout is the easiest to read on a small screen.