Free Printable Timeline Templates

About these timeline handouts

A timeline puts events along a line in the order they happened, which lets students see how long things lasted and how close together events were. It is useful for history units, biographies, the stages of a science process and the events of a novel.

The horizontal version has eight events along a line, alternating above and below so there is room to write, with a date line and three lines for each event. The vertical version runs top to bottom for seven events and reads like a scroll. The blank-dates version has ten tick marks with a small box above each one for a date, plus numbered event lines underneath, so students can set their own scale, whether it is years, decades or the hours of one day. A Time span box lets you print the period at the top, such as the unit dates.

Pair a timeline with a biography to trace a person's life, or use it for a class history of your school year. Students should decide the scale first and keep the spacing even. Type the topic in the Topic box to print it at the top.

How to use them

1. Pick horizontal for wall displays, vertical for a long list of events, or blank dates for custom scales.
2. Type the topic or time span into the form before printing.
3. Decide the start and end points and the scale.
4. Write each date first, then add a short description of the event.
5. Check that the events are in order and the gaps look right.

Classroom tips

• Have students use the same units on the whole line, such as one tick per decade.
• Ask for a short phrase rather than a sentence to keep text small.
• Tape two horizontal sheets together for a longer timeline.
• Use the blank-dates version to teach scale by making a timeline of the school day.

Last reviewed 2026-10-03. Handout Hero designs are original and made for this site. They are general reference material; check your own school, district or tradition where it matters.