Task duration in Zoho Projects is the estimated length of time required to complete a task, expressed in hours or days. Duration drives how the task appears on the Gantt chart and when subsequent dependent tasks can start. Duration is distinct from effort: a task might take 5 days of calendar time but only 10 hours of actual work.
Duration is the elapsed calendar time from start to finish. Effort (estimated hours) is the total person-hours required. A 5-day duration task may have 40 hours of effort (full time) or 10 hours of effort (2 hours per day with other commitments). Both fields should be populated for accurate scheduling and resource planning.
As work progresses and better estimates are available, update task duration in Zoho Projects to keep the schedule current. The Gantt chart and downstream dependencies will automatically adjust to reflect the revised duration.
Aaxonix is a certified Zoho implementation partner based in Pune. Architecture-first, no surprises.