{"id":3899,"date":"2026-02-20T08:35:44","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/?p=3899"},"modified":"2026-04-03T02:51:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T07:51:50","slug":"work-schedule-in-excel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/work-schedule-in-excel\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Make A Work Schedule in Excel (+ Free Template)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Key tips:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open Excel and start a blank spreadsheet.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enter your title along the top of the page and label the columns by weekdays.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In row A, enter work time in increments of 30 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Optional: <\/b>Color code rows and save the schedule as a template.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Writing out a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/what-is-work-scheduling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">work schedule<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with pen and paper might seem simple, but it doesn\u2019t always work in the modern work environment. Organizations that invest in digital scheduling and time-tracking software can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/quickbooks.intuit.com\/time-tracking\/resources\/time-attendance-stats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">decrease scheduling mistakes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and off-the-clock work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plus, work schedules should be easy to edit, immediately shareable, and flexible. Learning how to make a work schedule in Excel can help fulfill these needs if work scheduling software is out of reach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re planning your own workday or organizing a team of employees, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">creating a work schedule in Excel is an easy and effective way to keep your work schedules on track.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why-make-a-work-schedule-in-excel\"><\/span><b>Why make a work schedule in Excel?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>While the most efficient option is to automate your work schedules is through an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/employee-scheduling-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">employee scheduling app<\/a> like <\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>ZoomShift<\/strong>, Excel<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a good alternative for keeping track <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of your employees\u2019 working hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excel allows you to make easy-to-use work schedules that you can quickly share with your team. They\u2019re clean, concise, and can quickly be edited to make sure everyone <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has correct, updated information about their working hours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work scheduling <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">might seem simple on the face of it, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">but not every company follows a 9 to 5 work schedule with weekends off. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many businesses,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> work schedules are complicated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waiters shouldn\u2019t \u2014 and often can\u2019t \u2014 cover for missing employees in a restaurant\u2019s kitchen the same way executive assistants shouldn\u2019t cover for missing sales reps in a business. Knowing how and who to schedule is crucial to the success of a business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>It\u2019s even possible to <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/work-schedule-template\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>download our free work schedule template<\/b><\/a><b> to get started straight away.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-schedule-template-mockup.png\" alt=\"Zoomshift work schedule template\" width=\"1461\" height=\"807\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-schedule-template-mockup.png 1461w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-schedule-template-mockup-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-schedule-template-mockup-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-schedule-template-mockup-768x424.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-schedule-template-mockup-547x302.png 547w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-schedule-template-mockup-91x50.png 91w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1461px) 100vw, 1461px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5235 no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-to-create-a-work-schedule-in-excel\"><\/span><b>How to create<\/b><b> a work schedule in Excel<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don\u2019t need high-level Excel skills to whip up a work schedule in Excel. In fact, any Excel user \u2014 from beginner to advanced \u2014 can quickly and easily create a usable, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/benefits-of-flexible-work-schedules\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible work schedule<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before creating a work schedule in Excel:<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Understand employee workloads: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project-based work plans with task management may need specialized work schedules.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Evaluate available resources: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a business does not have the resource to bring a project to completion, work schedules may need to shift.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Evenly distribute work: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work should be distributed evenly to employees based on position, expectations, and experience.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To create a work schedule in Excel, follow these 10 steps:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Open Excel and start a new blank spreadsheet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-1.png\" alt=\"The first step when learning how to create a work schedule in Excel\" width=\"1461\" height=\"807\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-1.png 1461w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-1-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-1-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-1-768x424.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-1-547x302.png 547w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-1-91x50.png 91w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1461px) 100vw, 1461px\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5237 size-full no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Highlight cells A1 to E2 and select \u201cMerge and Center.\u201d Enter your preferred schedule name in the merged cells.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-2.png\" alt=\"The second step when learning how to create a work schedule in Excel\" width=\"1461\" height=\"808\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-2.png 1461w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-2-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-2-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-2-768x425.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-2-546x302.png 546w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-2-91x50.png 91w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1461px) 100vw, 1461px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5238 no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<p>3. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select cells F1 to H2. From the \u201cBorders\u201d dropdown, choose all borders.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-3.png\" alt=\"The third step when learning how to create a work schedule in Excel\" width=\"1461\" height=\"807\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-3.png 1461w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-3-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-3-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-3-768x424.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-3-547x302.png 547w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-3-91x50.png 91w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1461px) 100vw, 1461px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5239 no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<p>4. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In these cells, enter the below key headers. After entering the headers, adjust the cells to fit the text.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">F1: Daily Start Time<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">G1: Time Interval<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">H1: Starting Date<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-4.png\" alt=\"The fourth step when learning how to create a work schedule in Excel\" width=\"1461\" height=\"807\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-4.png 1461w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-4-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-4-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-4-768x424.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-4-547x302.png 547w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-4-91x50.png 91w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1461px) 100vw, 1461px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5240 no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<p>5. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In cell A3, enter \u201ctime.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-5.png\" alt=\"The fifth step when learning how to create a work schedule in Excel\" width=\"1461\" height=\"807\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-5.png 1461w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-5-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-5-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-5-768x424.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-5-547x302.png 547w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-5-91x50.png 91w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1461px) 100vw, 1461px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5241 no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<p>6. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In cell A4, enter the starting work time \u2014 for example, 7:00 a.m.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-6.png\" alt=\"The sixth step when learning how to create a work schedule in Excel\" width=\"1461\" height=\"808\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-6.png 1461w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-6-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-6-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-6-768x425.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-6-546x302.png 546w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-6-91x50.png 91w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1461px) 100vw, 1461px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5242 no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<p>7. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From cell A5 down, enter time in 30-minute increments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-7.png\" alt=\"The seventh step when learning how to create a work schedule in Excel\" width=\"1461\" height=\"1461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-7.png 1461w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-7-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-7-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-7-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-7-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-7-302x302.png 302w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-7-91x91.png 91w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1461px) 100vw, 1461px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5243 no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<p>8. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From cells B3:H3, enter the days of the week. Begin with whichever day works best for your work schedule.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-8.png\" alt=\"The eighth step when learning how to create a work schedule in Excel\" width=\"1461\" height=\"1461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-8.png 1461w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-8-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-8-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-8-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-8-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-8-302x302.png 302w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-8-91x91.png 91w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1461px) 100vw, 1461px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5244 no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<p>9. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select all cells and center-align text. Then adjust cells to fit the text.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-9.png\" alt=\"The ninth step when learning how to create a work schedule in Excel\" width=\"1461\" height=\"1221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-9.png 1461w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-9-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-9-1024x856.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-9-768x642.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-9-361x302.png 361w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-9-91x76.png 91w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1461px) 100vw, 1461px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5245 no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<p>10. <b>Optional:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Color code times and days of the week. Then save your schedule as a template.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-10.png\" alt=\"The tenth step when learning how to create a work schedule in Excel\" width=\"1461\" height=\"1221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-10.png 1461w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-10-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-10-1024x856.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-10-768x642.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-10-361x302.png 361w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/step-10-91x76.png 91w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1461px) 100vw, 1461px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5246 no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After creating the base work schedule, you can fill in the days and times with project tasks, assignments, meetings, and other necessary information.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"excel-schedules-what-to-consider\"><\/span><b>Excel schedules: What to consider<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before diving into the ins and outs of Excel, you need to have<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a clear picture of what you want to achieve with your schedule. Work schedules can come in many different shapes and sizes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and each type can be used to achieve different goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you need a work schedule for your own personal work day, or are you scheduling a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">team of employees\u2019 shifts across a week or two? Whatever schedule you create, focus on ease of use.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should be able to glance at a work schedule and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">almost immediately <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">know who needs to be where at what time, quickly track hours for payroll, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and view current and upcoming project steps.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"benefits-of-excel-scheduling\"><\/span><b>Benefits of Excel scheduling<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re a large business or an individual, scheduling is vitally important. You want to get the most out of your resources by maximizing your use of time<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 both the amount and the quality of time spent working. In addition to helping you plan out working days, Excel scheduling makes a big difference by helping:<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lower costs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many teams, Excel is one of the most affordable scheduling options. Excel is often available in public workspaces like libraries and is downloaded onto professional computers or access is provided by an organization.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Save time: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work schedules in Excel can be created into reusable templates, which can help teams save time when they need to remake schedules. Plus, Excel\u2019s high-level features can help automate and organize various tasks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Speed up updates: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By being able to save multiple templates or versions of a work schedule, teams can quickly create work schedules in Excel. Plus, Excel\u2019s sharing capabilities allow team members to make real-time updates to schedules.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improve communication: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excel files can be converted to other formats, shared digitally, printed, and more \u2014 keeping team members of all types up-to-date on work-specific information, including last-minute changes or shifts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Create consistent documentation: <\/b>Instead of rewriting a schedule file, users can choose to save a new version of their work schedule when making changes. This automatically documents when changes are made, by whom, and what was updated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-scheduling-benefits.png\" alt=\"The benefits of work scheduling when it is done correctly\" width=\"1460\" height=\"1868\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-scheduling-benefits.png 1460w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-scheduling-benefits-234x300.png 234w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-scheduling-benefits-800x1024.png 800w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-scheduling-benefits-768x983.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-scheduling-benefits-1201x1536.png 1201w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-scheduling-benefits-236x302.png 236w, https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/work-scheduling-benefits-71x91.png 71w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1460px) 100vw, 1460px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5236 no-lazyload\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-software\"><\/span><b>Is it time to upgrade your software?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scheduling might seem like a small detail, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">but learning how to make a work schedule in Excel \u2014 or any other work management system \u2014 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can be incredibly important for business success. Scheduling your staff at the right time helps your business run smoothly, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">increases morale, and decreases the possibility of overworking or underpaying staff, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">so it pays to get your scheduling right.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No matter what <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/types-of-work-schedules\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">type of work schedule<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you need to create, using scheduling software like<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ZoomShift can help take the stress out of scheduling and make sure you get it right week after week.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Take advantage of your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.zoomshift.com\/accounts\/new\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14-day free trial today<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and see how we can help transform your scheduling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- This site is converting visitors into subscribers and customers with OptinMonster - https:\/\/optinmonster.com --><\/p>\n<div id=\"om-xwggjlad5spcds5ejxdc-holder\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(d,u,ac){var s=d.createElement('script');s.type='text\/javascript';s.src='https:\/\/a.omappapi.com\/app\/js\/api.min.js';s.async=true;s.dataset.user=u;s.dataset.campaign=ac;d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(s);})(document,80518,'xwggjlad5spcds5ejxdc');<\/script><br \/>\n<!-- \/ https:\/\/optinmonster.com --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key tips: Open Excel and start a blank spreadsheet. Enter your title along the top of the page and label the columns by weekdays. In row A, enter work time in increments of 30 minutes. Optional: Color code rows and save the schedule as a template. Writing out a work schedule with pen and paper [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":3907,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Creating a Work Schedule in Excel: 10 Simple Steps + Template<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover our step-by-step guide to making a work schedule in Excel, along with a free, ready-to-use Excel template.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/work-schedule-in-excel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Creating a Work Schedule in Excel: 10 Simple Steps + Template\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover our step-by-step guide to making a work schedule in Excel, along with a free, ready-to-use Excel template.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/work-schedule-in-excel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Zoomshift\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-20T14:35:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-03T07:51:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/How-To-Make-A-Work-Schedule-in-Excel.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1138\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"493\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"JD Spinoza\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"JD Spinoza\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/work-schedule-in-excel\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/work-schedule-in-excel\/\",\"name\":\"Creating a Work Schedule in Excel: 10 Simple Steps + Template\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-20T14:35:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-03T07:51:50+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/e23c4b55eead5e752c5f361c9d670e63\"},\"description\":\"Discover our step-by-step guide to making a work schedule in Excel, along with a free, ready-to-use Excel template.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/work-schedule-in-excel\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/work-schedule-in-excel\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/work-schedule-in-excel\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How To Make A Work Schedule in Excel (+ Free Template)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Zoomshift\",\"description\":\"SMB Management Blog\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/e23c4b55eead5e752c5f361c9d670e63\",\"name\":\"JD Spinoza\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a95e64e4714f0d96cfab797f042000d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a95e64e4714f0d96cfab797f042000d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"JD Spinoza\"},\"description\":\"JD enjoys teaching people how to use ZoomShift to save time spent on scheduling. 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