The easiest way to make a timeline in Microsoft Word is with SmartArt. Click Insert > SmartArt, choose the Process category, select Basic Timeline (or another timeline layout), and click OK. Then type your dates and events into the text pane. You can also start from a ready-made timeline template, or draw your own with shapes for full control.
Below you’ll find all three methods step by step, plus tips for adding events, changing colors, and making a horizontal timeline fit the page.
Method 1: Make a timeline with SmartArt
- Click where you want the timeline. For a wide timeline, switch the page to landscape first with Layout > Orientation > Landscape.
- Click Insert > SmartArt.
- Click Process on the left.
- Select Basic Timeline, Circle Accent Timeline, or another layout, then click OK.
Add your events
- Click the small arrow on the left edge of the SmartArt to open the text pane.
- Type each date or event on its own line. Press Enter to add a new point, and Tab to add details under a point.
- Press Backspace on an empty line to remove a point.
Change the look
- On the SmartArt Design tab, click Change Colors for a new color scheme, or choose a style from SmartArt Styles.
- Switch layouts anytime from the Layouts gallery without losing your text.
- Drag the corner handles to resize the whole timeline.
Method 2: Use a timeline template
- Click File > New.
- Type timeline in the search box and press Enter.
- Pick a template and click Create.
- Replace the sample dates and text with your own.
Templates are a fast way to get a polished look, especially for project plans and history timelines.
Method 3: Draw a timeline with shapes
- Click Insert > Shapes > Line, hold Shift, and draw a straight horizontal line.
- Add markers with Insert > Shapes > Oval (hold Shift for circles) at each point on the line.
- Add labels with Insert > Text Box, and type the date and event.
- Select everything (hold Shift and click each item), then use Shape Format > Align > Distribute Horizontally to space the markers evenly.
- Right-click the selection and choose Group > Group so it all moves together.
Drawing with shapes takes longer but lets you place events at uneven intervals that match real dates.
Tips for a better timeline
- Keep labels short, like a date and a few words, and put longer descriptions below the timeline.
- Use one color for milestones and another for regular events.
- For very long timelines, split them across two rows or use a vertical layout like Vertical Process.
Frequently asked questions
Does Word have a timeline template?
Yes. Search for “timeline” in File > New. Available templates vary by version and region.
How do I make a vertical timeline in Word?
Choose a vertical layout in SmartArt, such as Vertical Chevron List or Vertical Process, or use a two-column table with dates on the left.
Is PowerPoint better for timelines?
PowerPoint uses the same SmartArt, with more room on a slide. You can copy a finished SmartArt timeline from PowerPoint into Word.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.