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Construction scheduling methods: Gantt, CPM and more

What each one is, when to use it and which one fits your job, 2026

Scheduling a job means putting its tasks in order over time: when each one starts and finishes, in what sequence, and what depends on what. There are several methods for that, from the Gantt chart to the critical path or line of balance. This guide explains what each one is and which fits your job, without overcomplicating it. For most contractors the Gantt chart is the base, and the rest only gets added when the job actually calls for it.

The scheduling methods contractors actually use

Method	What it is	When to use it
Gantt chart	Every task is a bar on a timeline	Almost any small or mid-size job. The base of everything else
Critical path (CPM)	Finds the chain of tasks that sets the total duration	Jobs with many dependencies and a tight completion date
PERT	Estimates durations with uncertainty (optimistic, likely, pessimistic)	Tasks whose duration nobody can pin down
Last Planner (Lean)	Weekly commitments made by the crews themselves	When the real problem is coordinating trades in the field
Line of balance	Schedules repetitive tasks unit by unit	High rise floors or tract housing

The Gantt chart is the base

A Gantt chart shows every task as a bar on a timeline. It is the most used method because anyone reads it at a glance: the crew sees what is due this week and the client sees how the job is moving. Every other method either builds on it or complements it. If you are just starting to schedule, start here. You can build one free with the Gantt chart generator.

When the completion date is tight and there are many dependencies, add the critical path (CPM) so you know which tasks cannot slip a single day. Line of balance only pays off on highly repetitive work, and Last Planner when the hard part is coordinating trades in the field.

Reference summary for small and mid-size contractors. Pick the method by the size and complexity of your job.

How ObraMaestra does it for you

ObraMaestra takes the stages of your estimate and builds the Gantt chart with dates and sequence, ready to share with the client and to track progress against. No drawing bars by hand and no fighting a spreadsheet: the schedule comes out of the estimate you already wrote.

Turn your estimate into a Gantt chart

ObraMaestra builds the schedule from your estimate stages, with dates and sequence, ready to share and track.

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Frequently asked questions

What is construction scheduling?

It is putting the tasks of a job in order over time: when each one starts and finishes, in what sequence, and what depends on what. Scheduling takes the plan (the line items and the resources) and gives it dates and sequence. The usual output is a Gantt chart, where each task is a bar on a timeline.

What are the main construction scheduling methods?

The Gantt chart (bars per task over time, the most used and the most visual), the critical path method or CPM (finds the chain of tasks that sets the total duration), PERT (estimates durations under uncertainty), Last Planner from Lean Construction (weekly commitments from the crews) and line of balance (for repetitive work such as identical floors). For most contractors, a Gantt chart plus knowing the critical path covers nearly everything.

What is a Gantt chart and what is it for?

A Gantt chart is a graph where every task on the job is a horizontal bar placed on a timeline according to its start and finish dates. It shows at a glance what happens when, which tasks overlap and how progress is going. It is the most used scheduling method because both the crew and the client can read it without training.

What is the critical path (CPM)?

The critical path is the chain of linked tasks that sets the total duration of the job: if any of them slips, the whole job slips. The Critical Path Method calculates it from the durations and the dependencies. Knowing it tells you which tasks cannot lose a day and which ones have float to spare.

Which scheduling method should I use?

It depends on the size and type of job. On a small or mid-size job, a Gantt chart alone already puts the work in order. If there are many dependencies and the date is tight, add the critical path. Line of balance is worth it on very repetitive work (high rise, tract housing), and Last Planner when the hard part is coordinating trades in the field. Start with the Gantt chart: everything else builds on it.