{"head":{"title":"Project Timeline Estimator (PERT) | OceanLab","description":"Estimate a software project timeline from best, likely and worst-case weeks per phase. Get the expected date and a safer date to promise, using PERT.","canonical":"https://oceanlab.in/tools/project-timeline-estimator"},"tool":{"slug":"project-timeline-estimator","path":"/tools/project-timeline-estimator","name":"Project timeline estimator","h1":"Project timeline estimator","lede":"Give best, likely and worst-case weeks for each phase and get an expected finish date and a safer one to promise.","category":"delivery","categoryTitle":"Run the project","method":["Each phase uses the PERT three-point formula: expected = (best + 4 × likely + worst) ÷ 6, and spread (standard deviation) = (worst − best) ÷ 6.","Phases run one after another, so the expected total is the sum of the phases. The spread of the total is the square root of the summed squares, assuming phases vary independently.","The 85% and 95% figures add 1.04 and 1.645 standard deviations, a normal approximation. Dates count calendar weeks from the start date.","The default weeks are an example for a first product release, not a benchmark."],"sources":[],"faq":[{"question":"Which date should I promise?","answer":"The 85% date is a common choice: likely enough to keep, without padding every phase. The expected date is a coin toss."},{"question":"Why do worst cases matter so much?","answer":"Overruns are bigger than early finishes, so the worst case pulls the expected value up more than the best case pulls it down."},{"question":"Can phases overlap?","answer":"This model runs them in sequence. If design and build overlap, shorten the build phase by the overlap."},{"question":"Is anything I enter sent anywhere?","answer":"No. The tool runs in your browser and there is no sign-up. Nothing leaves the page unless you choose to email your result to OceanLab."}],"updatedAt":"2026-10-25"},"related":[{"href":"/tools/sprint-velocity-calculator","label":"Sprint velocity calculator","detail":"Enter the points finished in recent sprints and see the average velocity and how many sprints the backlog will take."},{"href":"/tools/team-size-calculator","label":"Team size calculator","detail":"Enter the hours of work and the weeks you have, and see the smallest team that fits, allowing for coordination."},{"href":"/tools/fixed-vs-time-materials","label":"Fixed vs time and materials","detail":"Answer six questions about your project and see which contract model fits, what drove it and what it might cost."}],"studies":[{"meta":{"slug":"setback","industry":"govtech","projectType":"Permits & licences","country":"us","tags":["enterprise"],"compliances":["IBC and IRC","IFC","IECC","NEC (NFPA 70)","ADA Title II","WCAG 2.1 AA","Section 508","Title VI language access","PCI DSS"],"cover":{"src":"/case-studies/setback/01-home.png","width":1440,"height":1000}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Setback - Permitting and Licensing Platform with Parallel Plan Review","description":"Designed and built a clickable permitting and licensing platform for a US city's development services department: completeness checks before the review clock starts, building, zoning, fire and public works reviews running in parallel against city targets, an inspection board that checks certifications, and one record for every permit with its parcel, parties, holds, fees and inspections.","category":"GovTech / Permits & Licences","client":"City of Wrenfield Falls Development Services Department"}}},{"meta":{"slug":"qafila","industry":"ecom","projectType":"Order management system","country":"jo","tags":["enterprise"],"compliances":["Jordan PDPL","Saudi PDPL","UAE PDPL","JoFotara e-invoicing","Jordan sales tax and GCC VAT","JFDA and SFDA cosmetics clearance"],"cover":{"src":"/case-studies/qafila/01-home.png","width":1440,"height":1000}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Qafila - Order Management System for Omnichannel Beauty Retail","description":"Designed and built a clickable order management system for an Amman beauty retailer selling through 60 stores, two distribution centres, its own website and app, and Amazon, Noon and a fashion marketplace across Jordan and the GCC: every order in one place, sourcing that explains itself, and one dashboard for every stuck order.","category":"E-commerce & D2C / Order Management","client":"Dar Zanbaq Beauty"}}},{"meta":{"slug":"lendwell","industry":"banking","projectType":"SME loan origination","country":"gb","tags":["fintech","saas","enterprise"],"compliances":["Consumer Credit Act","MLR 2017","UK sanctions (OFSI)","UK GDPR"],"cover":{"src":"/case-studies/lendwell/01-home.png","width":1440,"height":1000}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Lendwell - SME Loan Origination from Application to Funded","description":"A loan origination platform for Harbour Capital, a UK digital lender offering £25,000 to £500,000 term loans to small businesses - one workspace for applications, KYB and KYC, open banking and bureau data, underwriting, credit committee, offers and funding.","category":"Banking / SME Lending","client":"Harbour Capital"}}},{"meta":{"slug":"pylon","industry":"insurance","projectType":"Insurance operations console","featured":true,"country":"us","tags":["insurtech","ai","saas","enterprise"],"compliances":["SOC 2 Type II","HIPAA-aligned","GDPR","ISO 27001"],"cover":{"src":"/pylon-1.png","width":1440,"height":1207}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Building Pylon - AI-Native Insurance Operations from Prototype to Production","description":"Replaced fragmented policy spreadsheets and disconnected claims tools with a unified AI-driven workspace, designed and shipped in 8 weeks via clickable AI prototype.","category":"InsurTech","client":"Pylon"}}}],"more":[{"href":"/case-studies","label":"All case studies","detail":"Every OceanLab product build."},{"href":"/ai-automation","label":"AI automation","detail":"AI built into real business workflows, with people in charge."}],"today":"2026-10-25"}