PERT Chart Maker

A PERT chart (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) is a project management diagram that maps tasks, their dependencies, and time estimates in a network format. It uses three time estimates — optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic — to calculate an expected duration for each activity. The resulting network reveals the critical path: the sequence of tasks that determines the minimum project completion time.

Add tasks in the panel, enter three-point time estimates for each, and define which tasks depend on others. The maker automatically computes expected durations using the PERT formula and draws the network diagram. The critical path is highlighted in a distinct color so you can see at a glance which activities have zero float.

Yes — the core PERT chart maker is completely free with no sign-up required. You can create, customize, and download PERT charts at no cost. Paid plans unlock AI-powered generation, file uploads, and higher export resolutions for teams with advanced needs.

The critical path is the longest sequence of dependent tasks from project start to finish. Any delay on a critical-path task delays the entire project. Tasks not on the critical path have 'slack' — spare time that allows minor delays without affecting the end date. The PERT chart maker highlights the critical path automatically so you always know where to focus your attention.

Expected time is calculated using the weighted average formula: E = (O + 4M + P) / 6, where O is the optimistic estimate, M is the most likely estimate, and P is the pessimistic estimate. The most likely estimate is weighted four times more heavily because it represents the realistic scenario. MakeCharts performs this calculation automatically whenever you update an estimate.

Yes. Describe your project in plain language — the tasks involved, rough durations, and how they relate — and the AI will generate a structured PERT chart with tasks, dependencies, and estimates pre-filled. You can then fine-tune any value in the panel. AI credits are included on all plans, with higher usage limits on paid tiers.

A Gantt chart shows tasks along a calendar timeline with bars indicating duration and overlap. A PERT chart shows tasks as nodes in a dependency network, emphasizing which activities must precede others and where the critical path lies. PERT is especially useful for projects with high uncertainty in task durations. Many project managers use both: PERT for dependency analysis and scheduling risk, Gantt for day-to-day progress tracking.

You can download your PERT chart as a high-resolution PNG or vector SVG file, which inserts cleanly into PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote, or any document editor. SVG exports are ideal for PDFs and print because they scale without losing quality.

There is no hard limit on the number of tasks. For clarity in presentations, most effective PERT charts contain between 10 and 30 tasks. For very large projects, consider breaking the work into sub-networks and creating a high-level summary PERT chart alongside more detailed ones.

Yes. Toggle 'Show Slack / Float' in the Display Options panel to see the float value on each non-critical task node. You can also enable 'Show Early / Late Times' to display early start, early finish, late start, and late finish values — the four key scheduling parameters used in critical path method (CPM) analysis.