Free RACI Chart Template (2026): Where to Get One and How to Fill It In

A RACI chart sounds like corporate jargon, but it solves a very ordinary problem: two people both thinking someone else was doing the job. Even a team of three benefits from writing it down.

Where to get a free RACI chart template

In no particular order, each one best for a different job:

• Smartsheet's RACI templates: best for a ready-made matrix you can download, including a simple RACI matrix, a RACI model and a sample chart.
• Atlassian Confluence: best if your team already plans work in Confluence and wants the chart on the project page.
• Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel: best for building your own from a blank sheet in five minutes.
• Notion: best for keeping the chart next to your project notes in a database.

What each RACI role means

Role	What it means	How many per task
Responsible	Does the work, delegated by the Accountable person	One or more
Accountable	Makes sure the work gets done	Exactly one
Consulted	The knowledge-holder whose input is needed	As needed
Informed	Kept up to date, such as a stakeholder or approver	As needed

How to build a RACI chart from scratch

Atlassian's guide shows how simple the structure is. You set up a table with one row per task plus a header row, and five columns. For a project with four tasks, that's five rows and five columns. The headers are Task, Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed.

Smartsheet's collection goes further if you want a head start. Alongside its simple RACI matrix template, it offers specialist versions, such as an ITIL RACI matrix and an Agile roles and responsibilities matrix, in formats including Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Google Sheets and Google Slides.

The RACI rule most charts break

Here's the insight that makes the difference. Atlassian says you should analyse your completed chart to make sure there's exactly one Accountable person per task, to avoid leadership conflicts. A task can have more than one Responsible person, but if two people are Accountable, nobody really is.

Atlassian also warns that too many Rs can create confusion and lead to neglected tasks. If one task has five Responsible people, break it into smaller tasks so each one has a clear owner.

There's an alternative worth knowing about too. Atlassian mentions DACI, which stands for Driver, Approver, Contributor and Informed. It's popular for decisions rather than tasks, because it makes the person who signs off explicit.

How to fill in a RACI chart, step by step

1. List every task and subtask, such as writing homepage copy or setting up the domain.
2. List the people or roles involved across the top or in the columns.
3. Mark one Accountable person for each task, and only one.
4. Add the Responsible, Consulted and Informed people for each task.
5. Review the chart with your team to find gaps or overlaps, then share it at the start of the project.

When to use a RACI chart

Atlassian recommends using one at the start of a project, so expectations and communication channels are clear from the outset, and during project reviews, when it helps you spot bottlenecks or tasks drifting off track. It's especially useful when you're working with freelancers or another company, because roles that feel obvious inside your head are rarely obvious to someone outside it.

Keeping your RACI chart useful

A RACI chart only works if people look at it. Put it somewhere your team already goes, such as the top of the project page, and refer to it in your kick-off meeting. When someone joins or leaves, update the chart the same day, because an out-of-date chart is worse than none. It tells people the wrong person owns the work.

Keep the language plain too. Write tasks as actions, such as approve the homepage design, rather than vague labels like design. It makes the Accountable column far easier to fill in, because everyone can see exactly what they're signing up for.

Make delegation easier

If you're working out what to hand over in the first place, my delegation decision guide helps, and these ChatGPT prompts for project managers can draft a first version of your task list for you to edit.

Run a free project template that belongs on this list? See how to get it featured.

A RACI chart for a small business, in practice

Here's how simple it can be. Say you're launching a new service page. The tasks might be writing the copy, choosing images, building the page and approving it before it goes live. You might be Accountable for the whole launch, a freelance writer Responsible for the copy, a designer Responsible for images, your web person Responsible for the build, a long-standing client Consulted on the wording and your assistant Informed so they can answer questions. Written down, nobody has to guess who's waiting for whom.

Start with one project like this rather than trying to map your whole business. Once you see how much smoother it runs, you'll use the same five columns again and again.

My verdict: download a free RACI template if you want a head start, but a five column spreadsheet does the job. The template matters far less than the rule: one Accountable person per task, every time.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get a free RACI chart template?

Smartsheet offers free RACI templates in formats including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Google Sheets, and Atlassian explains how to build one in a Confluence table.

What does RACI stand for?

RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed.

How many people can be Accountable in a RACI chart?

Atlassian says there should be exactly one Accountable person per task to avoid leadership conflicts.

Can a task have more than one Responsible person?

Yes. Atlassian says a task may have more than one Responsible person, but too many can create confusion.

What is the difference between RACI and DACI?

DACI stands for Driver, Approver, Contributor and Informed, and is often used for decisions rather than tasks.