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
Bijay Kumar is an experienced Python and AI professional who enjoys helping developers learn modern technologies through practical tutorials and examples. His expertise includes Python development, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, automation, and data analysis using libraries like Pandas, NumPy, TensorFlow, Matplotlib, SciPy, and Scikit-Learn. At PythonGuides.com, he shares in-depth guides designed for both beginners and experienced developers. More about us.
