To make a timeline in Canva, search Templates for timeline and choose Customize this template, or build your own: add a line (press L), place shapes along it from Elements, then Shapes, and type each date and event. Drag line ends onto shape edges so they snap and stay connected when you move things.
A timeline is the clearest way to show a sequence: your company's story on an About page, the stages of a client project, a launch plan, or the steps in a course. Canva gives you two routes. Start from a timeline template if you want it done in ten minutes, or build one from lines and shapes if you need it to match your brand exactly. I'll cover both.
The quick route: a timeline template
- On the Canva homepage, select Templates in the side bar.
- Search for timeline, and add a word like project or history to narrow it.
- Preview a few, then select Customize this template.
- Replace the dates and labels with your own, and delete any milestones you don't need.
- Change colours to your brand and check spacing stays even after you've edited the text.
Pick a template with roughly the number of milestones you need. Adding three extra steps to a five-step template usually means rebuilding the spacing by hand.
Build a timeline from lines and shapes
- Open your design and press L on your keyboard to add a line. You can also choose one from Elements, or go to Tools, then Lines.
- Stretch the line across the page, horizontally or vertically.
- Go to Elements, select Shapes under Browse categories, and drag a circle or other marker onto the line for your first milestone.
- Add a text box beside it with the date and a few words about what happened.
- Select the marker and its text together, then duplicate with Ctrl+D on Windows or Cmd+D on Mac. Move the copy along the line.
- Repeat for each milestone, then use the alignment tools to space them evenly.
- Group each finished milestone so it moves as one piece.
Connecting milestones so they stay put
For timelines with branches, or steps that sit off the main line, use connectors. Canva explains it in its flowchart guide: select a line, drag its endpoint to the edge of a shape, and when it snaps to the border, it's connected. Now when you move the shape, the line follows. You can also swap the shape type later, a circle for a diamond, say, and Canva says connected lines stay attached.
Double-click a connector to add a label on the line itself. That's handy for showing time gaps, like three months, or decisions, like approved or on hold.
Layout choices for different timelines
| Timeline type | Layout that suits it | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| Company history | Horizontal line, dates above, events below | About page, pitch deck |
| Project plan | Vertical line with phases as blocks | Proposals and client onboarding |
| Process steps | Numbered shapes joined by connectors | Course material and how-it-works pages |
| Social post timeline | Short vertical layout, four or five points | Instagram or LinkedIn carousel |
The layering catch with timeline connectors
Here's the small thing that makes a homemade timeline look messy: lines sitting on top of your shapes. Canva's guidance is to adjust layering so shapes appear above connectors. Select the line and send it backwards, or bring the shapes forwards, so each milestone marker sits cleanly over the line rather than being sliced through it.
Canva also recommends keeping spacing consistent, aligning shapes vertically or horizontally, and avoiding diagonal lines unless you need them. If your markers don't line up, turn on File, then Rulers and guides, then Show rulers and guides. A grey highlight on the rulers shows an element's exact position as you drag it. Rulers only work on a computer.
Let Quick Flow do the building
If you'd rather not place every shape yourself, Canva has a tool called Quick Flow that builds shapes and connectors for you. Canva says it works in all design types except Canva Docs. It's aimed at flowcharts, but a process or project timeline is really just a straight flowchart, so it's worth a try when you have a lot of steps.
Keeping the words short
Timelines fall apart when each point carries a paragraph. Give every milestone a date, a short title and, at most, one line of detail. If something needs more explanation, put it in the text beneath the graphic or in your speaker notes. I'd also pick one date format and stick to it, whether that's months, years or week numbers, because mixing them makes readers stop and work out the scale. On a small screen, a timeline with five points and four words each is readable. One with twelve points and full sentences isn't.
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My verdict
Use a template for anything quick and a hand-built line and shapes for anything on your website or in a proposal. Group each milestone, send the line to the back and keep the words short. My Canva review goes into which features are worth knowing for small business design. And for keeping each milestone together, my guide to grouping elements in Canva covers the shortcuts.
Frequently asked questions
Does Canva have timeline templates?
Yes. Select Templates on the homepage and search for timeline, then choose Customize this template.
How do I add a line in Canva?
Press L on your keyboard, choose a line from Elements, or go to Tools, then Lines.
How do I stop lines moving away from shapes in Canva?
Drag the line's endpoint to the edge of a shape until it snaps. The line then stays attached when you move the shape.
How do I put the line behind my timeline markers?
Adjust the layering so shapes sit above connectors, by sending the line backwards or bringing the shapes forwards.
Can Canva build a timeline automatically?
Quick Flow can build shapes and connectors for you in all design types except Canva Docs.
