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How to Track Percentage Completion and Effort in Microsoft Planner

Phi Hung Vo Oct 7, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users want to know how to input exact percentage completion and estimated effort metrics for tasks to better monitor project progress.

How to Track Percentage Completion and Effort in Microsoft Planner

Product: Microsoft Planner
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing project timelines, evaluating team workload, and tracking detailed task progression.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Planner currently lacks built-in data fields for inputting task percentage completion or estimated effort hours.

Before you start

Verify if your Microsoft 365 subscription includes access to Microsoft Project or Planner Premium, as these upgraded versions offer more advanced project management tracking features.

Solution 1Recommended

Submit Feature Feedback to Microsoft

Since Planner lacks built-in fields for precise percentage and effort tracking, the official recommendation is to request this feature directly from the development team.

Microsoft actively monitors user requests on their feedback portal to prioritize future updates. Submitting your need for effort estimation and percentage tracking helps accelerate its development.

Access the feedback portal

Navigate to the official Microsoft Planner Feedback Portal online via your web browser.

Search for existing requests

Use the search bar to look for 'Percentage Complete' or 'Effort Estimate' to see if a similar request has already been made by the community.

Submit or upvote

If a request exists, click 'Vote' to support it. If not, click 'Send feedback' to create a new submission detailing why these fields are essential for your workflow.

Current Progress Tracking Limits: Currently, Planner only supports three basic progress states: Not Started, In Progress, and Completed.

Solution 2

Use Checklists for Approximate Progress Tracking

While you cannot set an exact numeric percentage, you can use task checklists to visually estimate how much of a specific task has been accomplished.

Solution 3

Export to Excel for Manual Tracking

You can export your current Planner data to a spreadsheet software to manually add columns for effort and percentage completion.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Project Timelines and Effort with WPS Spreadsheet

If Microsoft Planner's basic tracking doesn't meet your needs, you can easily build highly customizable project trackers, Gantt charts, and effort estimation sheets using WPS Spreadsheet, a free and lightweight Microsoft Office alternative.

1. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and select 'Spreadsheet' to create a new workbook.
2. Search for a project template: Navigate to the 'Templates' tab and search for 'Project Management' or 'Gantt Chart'.
3. Input task details: Download your preferred template and input your tasks, estimated effort hours, and current completion percentages.
4. Track progress automatically: Use built-in formulas to automatically calculate overall project progress and remaining effort.

Easily calculate and track exact percentage completion and effort using custom formulas.Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) project management templates and files.Free, lightweight, and features a familiar tabbed user interface for seamless migration.Includes a rich template library with ready-to-use Gantt charts and task trackers.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Microsoft Project support percentage completion and effort estimation?

Yes, unlike Microsoft Planner, Microsoft Project is designed for advanced project management. It includes built-in fields for precise % Complete, Actual Effort, and Estimated Effort.

Can I use Power Automate to add effort tracking to Microsoft Planner?

While Power Automate cannot add custom fields directly inside the Planner UI, you can use it to sync your Planner tasks with a third-party project management app or an Excel spreadsheet where you can track time and effort.

How do I show task progress on the Planner dashboard?

Planner automatically aggregates task statuses (Not Started, In Progress, Completed) into visual charts. You can view these by clicking the 'Charts' tab at the top of your plan to see a high-level overview of your team's progress.

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