How to use the project status report template
- Type the project name, the report date and who prepared the report.
- Write the status in your own words and enter the percent complete. Leave the percent blank to shade the bar by hand.
- Optionally add the project start and end dates to show how much of the planned time has passed.
- Fill in the summary, accomplishments, risks and next steps. Empty sections print writing lines. Print the report or save a PDF.
Formula
Progress bar fill = percent complete / 100 x the width of the bar
Time passed (%) = (report date - start date) / (end date - start date) x 100
The time passed line appears only when the report date falls between the start and end dates.
A project 60% complete
At 60% complete the bar is filled to 60% of its 540 point width, which is 324 points. For a project that runs from September 1 to December 1, 2026, a report dated October 14 is 43 days in out of 91, so 47.3% of the planned time has passed and the sheet prints that beside the 60% progress.
A report dated before the start or after the end prints no time line, and the notes say so. At 100% the bar is filled completely and at 0% it is empty.
One page that tells the story
A status report answers four questions quickly: how is it going, what got done, what could go wrong and what comes next. The progress bar shows the number at a glance, and the status label is a word you choose, such as On track, At risk or Off track. The tool does not decide the status for you.
The schedule line sets progress against time. If 60% of the work is done and 47.3% of the time has passed, the project is ahead of a straight line plan, but only you know whether the work is evenly spread.
Keeping reports useful
Short bullet points are easier to read than long paragraphs. List risks with an owner in mind and keep next steps to what can be done before the next report. To plan tasks and dates, use the project planner template, to log and score risks the risk register template, and for meetings the meeting agenda and minutes template.
For goal setting with measured key results, see the OKR template maker.
Assumptions and limits
- Percent complete is a number you enter from 0 to 100.
- Time passed is based on calendar days between the dates you enter.
- The status is a label you type and is not calculated.
- Budget and cost figures are not modeled.
Frequently asked questions
What goes in a project status report?
Most include a summary, progress, what was done, risks and issues, and next steps. This template has a section for each.
How is the progress bar filled?
To the percent you enter. 60% fills 60% of the bar. Leave it blank to shade the bar by hand.
What does the time passed line mean?
It shows how far the report date is between the start and end dates. 43 days of 91 is 47.3%.
Can I leave sections blank?
Yes. An empty section prints writing lines so that you can write it in by hand.