Every active sprint automatically generates a burndown chart that tracks remaining work throughout the sprint. Work can be measured in story points or hours, giving your team a clear view of whether the sprint is progressing as planned.
Reading the Chart
The burndown chart compares your team's actual progress against the pace required to complete the sprint on time.
- Ideal line - Represents the expected rate of progress, gradually decreasing from the sprint's total estimated work to zero by the end date.
- Actual line - Shows the amount of work remaining based on your team's completed tasks and current sprint scope.
If the actual line remains above the ideal line, the sprint may be falling behind its planned pace. If it moves below the ideal line, the team is progressing ahead of schedule.
What Updates the Burndown
The actual burndown reflects completed work. A task contributes to the burndown only when it is marked as Done.
Moving a task from To Do to In Progress indicates that work has started, but it does not reduce the remaining work shown on the chart.
This ensures the burndown represents measurable delivery rather than activity alone.
Using Burndown in Standups
Use the burndown chart during daily standups to quickly assess sprint health and identify potential delivery risks. It helps the team answer key questions:
- Are we progressing at the expected pace?
- How much work remains?
- Are we likely to complete the sprint on time?
- Which days had the highest or lowest delivery progress?
By reviewing the burndown regularly, teams can identify deviations early and adjust priorities or workload before the sprint reaches its deadline.