I realized that visualizing tasks on a timeline was not as simple as I expected when I first started managing projects in React.
I had deadlines, dependencies, and milestones to manage, but looking at plain lists in tables wasn’t cutting it. That’s when I turned to a Gantt chart.
A Gantt chart provides a clear view of tasks, their start and end dates, and how they overlap. Over the years, I have built several Gantt chart implementations in React, and in this guide, I’ll show you the methods I personally use.
I’ll keep things simple and beginner-friendly. Whether you’re building a project management tool for your team or a scheduling app for clients, this tutorial will give you working code examples you can copy and use right away.
What is a Gantt Chart in React?
A Gantt chart in React is simply a visual timeline component that displays tasks as horizontal bars. Each bar represents a task’s duration, and you can often add features like drag-and-drop, resizing, or dependencies.
In React, you can either:
- Use a third-party library (like DHTMLX, Syncfusion, or DayPilot).
- Build a simple custom Gantt chart using plain React with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
I’ll walk you through both methods, so you can decide which approach works best for your project.
Method 1 – Build a Simple Custom Gantt Chart in React
Sometimes, I don’t want to rely on heavy third-party libraries. For small apps, a lightweight custom Gantt chart works perfectly.
Here’s a working example.
import React from "react";
import "./App.css";
const tasks = [
{ id: 1, name: "Project Kickoff", start: "2025-09-01", end: "2025-09-03" },
{ id: 2, name: "Design Phase", start: "2025-09-04", end: "2025-09-10" },
{ id: 3, name: "Development", start: "2025-09-11", end: "2025-09-20" },
{ id: 4, name: "Testing", start: "2025-09-21", end: "2025-09-25" },
{ id: 5, name: "Launch", start: "2025-09-26", end: "2025-09-27" },
];
const GanttChart = () => {
const startDate = new Date("2025-09-01");
const endDate = new Date("2025-09-30");
const totalDays = (endDate - startDate) / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24);
return (
<div className="gantt-container">
<div className="gantt-header">
{Array.from({ length: totalDays + 1 }).map((_, i) => {
const date = new Date(startDate);
date.setDate(startDate.getDate() + i);
return (
<div key={i} className="gantt-day">
{date.getDate()}
</div>
);
})}
</div>
<div className="gantt-body">
{tasks.map((task) => {
const taskStart = new Date(task.start);
const taskEnd = new Date(task.end);
const offset = (taskStart - startDate) / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24);
const duration = (taskEnd - taskStart) / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24) + 1;
return (
<div key={task.id} className="gantt-row">
<div
className="gantt-bar"
style={{
marginLeft: `${offset * 30}px`,
width: `${duration * 30}px`,
}}
>
{task.name}
</div>
</div>
);
})}
</div>
</div>
);
};
export default GanttChart;CSS (App.css):
.gantt-container {
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
overflow-x: auto;
}
.gantt-header {
display: flex;
background: #f4f4f4;
border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;
}
.gantt-day {
width: 30px;
text-align: center;
font-size: 12px;
border-right: 1px solid #eee;
}
.gantt-body {
padding: 10px;
}
.gantt-row {
margin: 10px 0;
position: relative;
}
.gantt-bar {
background: #4caf50;
color: white;
padding: 5px;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 12px;
white-space: nowrap;
}I have executed the above example code and added the screenshot below.
This method is lightweight and flexible. Each task is drawn as a bar, and you can easily style it with CSS. The limitation is that it lacks advanced features like drag-and-drop or dependencies.
Method 2 – Use DHTMLX Gantt with React
When I work on enterprise projects with thousands of tasks, I prefer using DHTMLX Gantt. It’s a professional library that handles performance and comes with features like zooming, dependencies, and critical paths.
Here’s how I integrate it into React.
npm install dhtmlx-ganttimport React, { useEffect, useRef } from "react";
import "dhtmlx-gantt/codebase/dhtmlxgantt.css";
import gantt from "dhtmlx-gantt";
const GanttDhtmlx = () => {
const ganttContainer = useRef();
useEffect(() => {
gantt.init(ganttContainer.current);
gantt.parse({
data: [
{ id: 1, text: "Project Kickoff", start_date: "2025-09-01", duration: 3 },
{ id: 2, text: "Design Phase", start_date: "2025-09-04", duration: 7 },
{ id: 3, text: "Development", start_date: "2025-09-11", duration: 10 },
{ id: 4, text: "Testing", start_date: "2025-09-21", duration: 5 },
{ id: 5, text: "Launch", start_date: "2025-09-26", duration: 2 },
],
});
}, []);
return <div ref={ganttContainer} style={{ width: "100%", height: "500px" }} />;
};
export default GanttDhtmlx;I have executed the above example code and added the screenshot below.
This method gives you a full-featured Gantt chart with minimal setup. You can scale it to thousands of tasks without performance issues.
Method 3 – Use Syncfusion React Gantt
Another excellent option I’ve used is Syncfusion’s React Gantt Chart. It’s a commercial library, but it integrates seamlessly with React.
npm install @syncfusion/ej2-react-ganttimport React from "react";
import {
GanttComponent,
ColumnsDirective,
ColumnDirective,
Inject,
Selection,
} from "@syncfusion/ej2-react-gantt";
const SyncfusionGantt = () => {
const tasks = [
{ TaskID: 1, TaskName: "Project Kickoff", StartDate: new Date("09/01/2025"), Duration: 3 },
{ TaskID: 2, TaskName: "Design Phase", StartDate: new Date("09/04/2025"), Duration: 7 },
{ TaskID: 3, TaskName: "Development", StartDate: new Date("09/11/2025"), Duration: 10 },
{ TaskID: 4, TaskName: "Testing", StartDate: new Date("09/21/2025"), Duration: 5 },
{ TaskID: 5, TaskName: "Launch", StartDate: new Date("09/26/2025"), Duration: 2 },
];
return (
<GanttComponent
dataSource={tasks}
taskFields={{
id: "TaskID",
name: "TaskName",
startDate: "StartDate",
duration: "Duration",
}}
height="450px"
>
<ColumnsDirective>
<ColumnDirective field="TaskID" width="80" />
<ColumnDirective field="TaskName" width="150" />
<ColumnDirective field="StartDate" width="100" />
<ColumnDirective field="Duration" width="100" />
</ColumnsDirective>
<Inject services={[Selection]} />
</GanttComponent>
);
};
export default SyncfusionGantt;I have executed the above example code and added the screenshot below.
Syncfusion provides a polished UI with built-in features like sorting, filtering, and resource allocation. It’s best suited if you need enterprise-grade features out of the box.
Which Method Should You Choose?
- If you want full control and lightweight code, go with Method 1 (Custom Build).
- If you need enterprise-level features and scalability, use DHTMLX (Method 2).
- If you want ready-made, polished UI components, try Syncfusion (Method 3).
In my experience, I start with a custom Gantt chart when prototyping, and later switch to a library when the project grows.
Conclusion
Building a Gantt chart in React is easier than most people think. With just a few lines of code, you can create a timeline view of your tasks and projects.
I’ve shown you three methods I personally use: a lightweight custom build, DHTMLX Gantt, and Syncfusion Gantt. Each has its strengths, and the right choice depends on your project needs.
If you’re just starting, try the custom version first; it will help you understand how Gantt charts work under the hood. Once you’re comfortable, moving to a library will save you time and give you advanced features.
You may also like to read:
- Explore Pure Components in React
- Build a Search Bar Component in React
- React Component Not Rendering
- React Hooks Inside Class Components
I am Bijay Kumar, a Microsoft MVP in SharePoint. Apart from SharePoint, I started working on Python, Machine learning, and artificial intelligence for the last 5 years. During this time I got expertise in various Python libraries also like Tkinter, Pandas, NumPy, Turtle, Django, Matplotlib, Tensorflow, Scipy, Scikit-Learn, etc… for various clients in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Check out my profile.
