Best 7 Timeline Templates for PowerPoint Presentations and Google Slides

Last updated on July 7th, 2023

Best 7 Timeline Templates for Business Presentations and Project Management

A list of events represented chronologically is called a timeline. PowerPoint presentations often contain timelines and roadmaps for historical events, projects, forecasts, etc. Using timelines can be essential for presenters belonging to a variety of professions. Making a timeline from scratch, especially for a business project can be difficult. However, with the help of our list of the best 7 timeline templates for PowerPoint or Google Slides listed below, you can create project timelines with ease.

What is a Timeline?

A timeline lists the chronological order of events, usually in the form of a graphical representation. Timelines in project management are important for planning projects, understanding where the project stands after a period of time, and forecasting outcomes. Similarly, timelines are often used to show historical events, to predict future events, as well as to understand current events to plan ahead and for course correction.

Timelines can be represented in different ways. They can be created using days, months, years, etc. You can also create timelines with a combination of one or more of the aforementioned, such as a timeline showcasing the exact date, month, and year.

How do I make a Timeline in PowerPoint?

In previous posts, we have covered a number of presentation templates, PowerPoint add-ins, web apps, and tools that you can see to understand how to make a timeline in PowerPoint, including our list of best timeline creators. You can also see this tutorial to understand how do you visually represent a timeline. We would also recommend that you go through our below-mentioned list of best timeline templates for Project Management to see if these are suitable for your presentation needs.

Best Timeline PowerPoint Templates

Below is a recommendation of premium and free timeline templates to help you create presentations using editable layouts, and easy to customize and explain slide designs that can help you not only conveniently create but also present your slides.

1. Curved Timeline Concept PowerPoint Template

The Curved Timeline Concept PowerPoint Template provides a timeline ranging from 4-8 years in 5 different slides. This timeline template starts with a 4-year timeline, which expands to 5 years in the next slide, six years in the slide that follows, moving on to 8 years by the time you reach the last slide.

Curved timeline template for PowerPoint or Google Slides
Curved timeline template for PowerPoint or Google Slides

This timeline template slide for PowerPoint or Google Slides can either be used as a sequence or you can simply pick the slide that covers the number of years you want to use in your timeline. You can also duplicate the given slides to create multiple timeline slides in PowerPoint or use it in Google Slides instead.

Go to Curved Timeline Concept PowerPoint Template

2. Growing Timeline Concept Slide Template for PowerPoint

If you need a timeline PowerPoint template to showcase growth and forecasts, this is just what you need. This template contains two versions of a growth-themed timeline that reflects an upward trend.

Example of 5-Year Timeline slide template for PowerPoint & Google Slides
Example of 5-Year Timeline slide template for PowerPoint & Google Slides

The timeline slide template lists years at the bottom, with space for adding a description. You can also rename the placeholders to convert this into a timeline depicting different months or weeks.

Go to Growing Timeline Concept Slide Template for PowerPoint

3. Simple 5-Step Timeline Concept for PowerPoint

As the name suggests, this is a simple timeline template that provides a 5 step concept timeline. You can use this timeline to show years, months, weeks, days, etc. You can also duplicate slides to extend the timeline’s duration, adding new dates to the duplicate slide to follow up with the initial one.

Simple Timeline Template Design for PowerPoint - 5-Year Timeline design
Simple Timeline Template Design for PowerPoint

The 5-Year timeline slide template provides a white and blue theme for the timeline layout in the slide deck. You can choose the most suitable theme and edit the slide elements to further refine the timeline according to need.

Go to Simple 5-Step Timeline Concept for PowerPoint

4. The 4-Step Curved Timeline Concept for PowerPoint

The 4-Step Curved Timeline Concept for PowerPoint shown below is a template with animated milestones depicted in a linear layout. This template contains five slides, with each slide providing adequate space for adding a description for each milestone. The first slide shows all four milestones, followed by one slide dedicated to the explanation of each milestone.

Curved Arrow Timeline Template for PowerPoint with 4-Year Milestones
Curved Arrow Timeline Template for PowerPoint with 4-Year Milestones

As you proceed with your slides, the next milestone is highlighted automatically. This can be useful for making a short timeline presentation that is focused and easy to explain.

Go to 4-Step Curved Timeline Concept for PowerPoint

 5. Three Layers Concept PowerPoint Timeline for Presentations

This is a unique timeline template that enables creating a three-layered timeline. You can mark years, add descriptions and customize the template in the form of not only time but also project milestones, current situation, future forecasts, and historical information.

8-Year Timeline Template for PowerPoint
8-Year Timeline Template for PowerPoint

You can accommodate important parts of project data within a single slide with the given three layers.

Go to Three Layers Concept PowerPoint Timeline

6. Free 4 Years Timeline Template Concept for PowerPoint (FREE)

This is a free template with a timeline marking 4 years. The template provides a light and dark theme, with balloon-shaped milestones and placeholders to add information regarding each milestone. This is a modern design template that can help you add important information using whitespace or a dark theme to create simple-looking timelines that can also contain required information.

4-Year Timeline Concept for PowerPoint Presentations
4-Year Timeline Concept for PowerPoint Presentations

This presentation template is available for both PowerPoint and Google Slides. You can open the template directly in Google Slides via the developer’s product page link.

Go to Free 4 Years Timeline Template Concept for PowerPoint

7. Free Chevron Dialogs Timeline Template (FREE)

With a chevron-shaped timeline and dedicated slides for explaining milestones, this is one of the most user-friendly free timeline presentation templates you are likely to find. While free templates can often be derived of key features, this chevron timeline template gives presenters editability down to basic elements and customization options that can help create professional timelines in no time.

Chevron Timeline Template for PowerPoint with 4-Year Milestones
Chevron Timeline Template for PowerPoint with 4-Year Milestones

The milestones in the timeline are highlighted as you proceed with your presentation. The main slide shows all milestones, which are then highlighted one by one as you move with your presentation. Both the main slide and four milestone slides are available in two different themes. This template is also exclusively available for both PowerPoint and Google Slides.

Go to Free Chevron Dialogs Timeline Template

Final Words

While making a timeline on your own using SmartArt in PowerPoint is also an option, using readymade templates is far more convenient. Whether you want to create a timeline or have been asking yourself what a timeline example is; the above-mentioned recommended templates can serve as a blueprint and model for you to create a timeline presentation.

2 comments on “Best 7 Timeline Templates for PowerPoint Presentations and Google Slides

    1. Hi, the article on Best 7 Timeline Templates for Business Presentations and Project Management features free & non-free templates.

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