What Is Reverse Scheduling?
Reverse scheduling (backward pass planning) starts from your deadline and works backward through each project phase to determine when work must begin. Enter phases from last to first — the tool calculates each phase's start and end date, and shows the overall project kickoff date needed to meet your deadline.
How to use: type the last phase first (e.g., final cleaning), then the second-to-last (e.g., trim and fixtures), and so on. Include buffer time within each phase duration — 10–20% extra per phase helps absorb delays from weather, inspections, or material lead times.
Typical interior renovation order (enter in reverse): demolition → rough-in (plumbing/electrical) → insulation → drywall → tile → painting → flooring → doors/trim → cleaning. Adjust phase durations for your specific project scope and crew size.
Frequently Asked Questions
This calculator assumes sequential phases. If you have parallel phases (e.g., electrical and plumbing running simultaneously), your total project duration will be shorter than shown.
It means the project cannot realistically finish by the deadline with the durations entered. You'll need to either shorten phases, run some in parallel, or negotiate a later completion date.