15 Kanban Board Examples to Streamline Your Workflow

Looking for the perfect kanban board example to kickstart your project management? Whether you're a solo developer, leading a marketing team, or managing complex software projects, the right kanban board structure can transform how you work.

In this guide, we'll explore real-world kanban board examples across different industries, show you how to set them up, and help you choose the best approach for your specific needs.

What Makes a Good Kanban Board Example?

Before diving into specific examples, let's understand what separates an effective kanban board from a cluttered mess.

A well-designed kanban board includes:

Clear column structure - Each column represents a distinct stage in your workflow, with no ambiguity about when tasks move forward.

Appropriate work-in-progress (WIP) limits - Constraints that prevent team overload and highlight bottlenecks before they become problems.

Visual clarity - Color coding, labels, or other visual elements that communicate status at a glance.

Flexibility to evolve - The structure adapts as you learn what works for your team's unique workflow.

The kanban board examples below demonstrate these principles across various use cases.

1. Basic Kanban Board Example for Beginners

Starting with kanban? Keep it simple with the classic three-column structure.

Columns:

To Do
In Progress
Done

Best for: Solo developers, freelancers, personal projects, or teams just starting with kanban methodology.

Example setup: A freelance web developer tracks client projects. Each card represents a website feature or deliverable. As work progresses, cards move from left to right. The simplicity prevents analysis paralysis while building the kanban habit.

Pro tip: Even this basic structure benefits from WIP limits. Try limiting "In Progress" to 3 items to maintain focus.

2. Software Development Kanban Board Example

Development teams need more granular visibility into their workflow stages.

Columns:

Backlog
Ready for Development
In Development
Code Review
Testing
Deployed

Best for: Software development teams, web agencies, or any team building digital products.

Example setup: A startup's engineering team uses this structure to manage feature development. The "Ready for Development" queue ensures developers always have refined work waiting. Code review and testing stages prevent bottlenecks in quality assurance.

WIP limits:

In Development: 2 per developer
Code Review: 4 total
Testing: 3 total

This prevents developers from starting new work before completing reviews, naturally encouraging collaboration.

3. Jira Kanban Board Example for Agile Teams

Many teams use Jira for kanban project management. Here's an effective Jira kanban board structure.

Columns:

Selected for Development
In Progress
In Review
Testing
Ready for Release
Released

Best for: Agile teams using Jira, especially those transitioning from Scrum or managing ongoing product development.

Example setup: A product team managing both new features and bug fixes. They use Jira's swimlanes to separate "Features" from "Bugs" while maintaining the same workflow. Priority flags help the team focus on critical items.

Jira-specific features to leverage:

Filters to show only relevant work
Quick filters for bug vs feature separation
Release versions to group related work
Automation rules to move cards based on status changes

4. Marketing Team Kanban Board Example

Marketing workflows differ significantly from development, requiring a different board structure.

Columns:

Ideas
Approved
In Creation
In Review
Scheduled
Published

Best for: Content marketing teams, social media managers, or creative agencies managing multiple campaigns.

Example setup: A content marketing team manages blog posts, social media, and email campaigns. Each card type uses different colored labels. The "Scheduled" column ensures nothing gets published without proper timing.

Additional elements:

Due dates visible on cards for deadline management
Content type labels (Blog, Social, Email, Video)
Campaign tags to group related content
Owner assignments to clarify accountability

5. Customer Support Kanban Board Example

Support teams benefit from kanban's visual workflow management, especially when handling high ticket volumes.

Columns:

New Tickets
Investigating
Awaiting Customer
In Progress
Resolved
Closed

Best for: Customer support teams, help desks, or any team managing incoming requests.

Example setup: A SaaS company's support team triages incoming tickets. The "Awaiting Customer" column prevents active tickets from cluttering the board when waiting for user responses. Priority labels (Critical, High, Medium, Low) help team members focus on urgent issues first.

Key metrics to track:

Time in each column (cycle time by stage)
Number of tickets reopened
First response time
Resolution time

6. Personal Productivity Kanban Board Example

Kanban isn't just for teams. Solo workers and entrepreneurs can dramatically improve productivity with personal kanban boards.

Columns:

Inbox (Capture everything)
This Week
Today
Doing (WIP limit: 1)
Done

Best for: Freelancers, solopreneurs, students, or anyone managing personal projects and tasks.

Example setup: A freelance designer manages client work and business development. The "Inbox" captures all tasks as they arise. During weekly planning, priority items move to "This Week." Each morning, specific tasks move to "Today." The strict WIP limit on "Doing" enforces single-tasking.

Why this works: The structure creates a natural prioritization funnel while the WIP limit prevents multitasking, which research shows reduces productivity by up to 40%.

7. Product Design Kanban Board Example

Design workflows require iteration and feedback loops that standard kanban boards don't always capture well.

Columns:

Design Backlog
Research
Sketching/Wireframes
High-Fidelity Design
Review & Feedback
Design Approved
Handed Off

Best for: UX/UI designers, product designers, or design teams managing multiple projects.

Example setup: A product design team working on a mobile app uses this board to track feature designs from concept to developer handoff. The feedback column includes a checklist for stakeholder approvals before moving to "Design Approved."

Collaboration features:

Design file links attached to each card
Feedback tracking in card comments
Stakeholder mentions for approval requests
Design system tags to identify reusable components

8. Free Kanban Board Template for Startups

Budget-conscious startups need flexibility without expensive tools. Here's a free kanban board structure you can implement in any tool.

Columns:

Icebox (Long-term ideas)
This Sprint
In Progress
Review
Done

Best for: Early-stage startups, bootstrap companies, or teams testing kanban before committing to paid tools.

Example setup: A three-person startup uses Trello's free tier or even a physical whiteboard. The "Icebox" prevents good ideas from cluttering active work. "This Sprint" creates a lightweight commitment without full Scrum overhead.

Free tools to consider:

Trello - Generous free tier, simple interface
GitHub Projects - Free with GitHub, great for developers
Notion - Flexible database views, free for individuals
Physical board - Sticky notes and whiteboard markers

9. DevOps Kanban Board Example

DevOps teams manage both planned work and unplanned incidents, requiring a specialized board structure.

Columns:

Backlog
Ready
In Progress
Review
Deployment Pipeline
Monitoring
Complete

Best for: DevOps engineers, SRE teams, or infrastructure teams managing both projects and operational work.

Example setup: A DevOps team manages infrastructure projects while handling production incidents. They use horizontal swimlanes to separate "Planned Work" from "Incidents." Critical incidents can bypass the backlog, jumping straight to "In Progress" with appropriate flags.

Additional swimlanes:

Planned infrastructure work
Incidents and hotfixes
Technical debt
Automation projects

Automation opportunities: Connect to CI/CD pipelines so deployments automatically move cards to "Monitoring" when code ships.

10. Sales Pipeline Kanban Board Example

Sales teams can visualize their pipeline as a kanban board, treating deals as cards moving through stages.

Columns:

New Lead
Qualified
Proposal Sent
Negotiation
Closed Won
Closed Lost

Best for: Sales teams, business development reps, or account managers tracking deals.

Example setup: A B2B SaaS sales team tracks enterprise deals through their pipeline. Each card represents a potential customer with key information visible: company name, deal size, and expected close date. The visual board makes pipeline health obvious at daily standups.

Card information to include:

Company/contact name
Deal value
Expected close date
Last interaction date
Next action required

11. Event Planning Kanban Board Example

Event planners juggle numerous tasks with hard deadlines, making kanban particularly effective.

Columns:

Ideas
Approved
Vendor Research
Booked/Ordered
In Progress
Completed
Event Day Checklist

Best for: Event coordinators, conference organizers, or wedding planners.

Example setup: A corporate event planner manages a tech conference. Each major component (venue, catering, speakers, AV equipment) has its own card. Dependencies are tracked so venue booking happens before catering contracts. The "Event Day Checklist" column holds all final-hour tasks.

Time-based organization: Use due dates aggressively and consider weekly swimlanes as the event approaches to ensure everything stays on track.

12. Content Creation Kanban Board Example

Content creators need to manage ideas, drafts, reviews, and publishing schedules efficiently.

Columns:

Content Ideas
Researching
Writing/Creating
Editing
SEO Review
Scheduled
Published

Best for: Bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, or content creators managing their publication pipeline.

Example setup: A tech blogger manages article production. Ideas move to "Researching" when selected for the next batch. The "SEO Review" stage ensures keyword optimization before scheduling. Published articles archive automatically after 30 days to keep the board clean.

Efficiency tips:

Batch similar tasks (research multiple topics, then write multiple drafts)
Use checklists within cards for standard steps (outline, draft, images, meta description)
Track performance metrics on published cards to inform future content

13. Bug Tracking Kanban Board Example

Software teams often separate bug tracking from feature development for clearer priority management.

Columns:

Reported
Triaged
Ready to Fix
In Progress
Testing
Verified Fixed
Closed

Best for: QA teams, development teams with high bug volumes, or mature products in maintenance mode.

Example setup: A mobile app team tracks bugs separately from new features. During triage, bugs get severity labels (Critical, High, Medium, Low). Critical bugs can jump the queue with expedite lanes. The "Verified Fixed" stage prevents premature closure.

Priority system:

Critical - Production down, data loss, security issues
High - Major feature broken, affects many users
Medium - Minor functionality issues, workarounds exist
Low - Cosmetic issues, nice-to-have fixes

14. Agency Client Management Kanban Board Example

Agencies managing multiple clients need clear visual separation while maintaining workflow consistency.

Columns:

Client Requests
Scoping
Approved
In Progress
Client Review
Revisions
Delivered

Best for: Digital agencies, consulting firms, or freelancers managing multiple clients simultaneously.

Example setup: A web design agency uses horizontal swimlanes for each client, maintaining the same workflow across all accounts. Color coding indicates project type (website, branding, maintenance). The "Client Review" column triggers automated notifications to clients.

Client management tips:

Use swimlanes or labels to separate clients visually
Set client-specific WIP limits to balance workload
Include buffer time for revisions in estimates
Track billable hours on cards for invoicing

15. IT Operations Kanban Board Example

IT teams handle both planned projects and unplanned support requests, requiring flexible board structures.

Columns:

Request Intake
Prioritized
Assigned
In Progress
Testing/Validation
Deployed
Closed

Best for: IT departments, system administrators, or infrastructure teams managing both projects and tickets.

Example setup: An internal IT team manages everything from laptop setups to network upgrades. They use card types to distinguish "User Requests," "Projects," and "Maintenance." An "Urgent" swimlane handles critical issues that need immediate attention regardless of other work.

Request categories:

Hardware requests
Software installations
Access/permissions
Infrastructure projects
Maintenance tasks

How to Choose the Right Kanban Board Example for Your Team

With so many kanban board examples, how do you select the right starting point?

Consider your workflow complexity: Start simple if you're new to kanban. You can always add columns later. Teams often begin with "To Do, Doing, Done" and evolve as they identify bottlenecks.

Think about your team size: Smaller teams can get away with simpler boards. Larger teams need more structure to prevent chaos and improve coordination.

Identify your unique bottlenecks: Your board should make bottlenecks visible. If code review is consistently slow, make it a distinct column so everyone can see the backup.

Account for external dependencies: If you frequently wait on clients, vendors, or other teams, include "Blocked" or "Awaiting External" columns.

Common Kanban Board Mistakes to Avoid

Even with great kanban board examples, teams make predictable mistakes:

Too many columns: More columns don't mean better visibility. They often just create confusion. Start with 5-7 columns maximum and consolidate where possible.

No WIP limits: Without limits, kanban becomes just a visual to-do list. The power comes from constraining work in progress to highlight bottlenecks and maintain focus.

Unclear definition of done: Teams waste time moving cards back and forth when column definitions are ambiguous. Document exactly what must be true for a card to move forward.

Ignoring blocked items: Cards stuck in a column signal systemic issues. Address blocks immediately rather than letting them age.

Not reviewing and iterating: Your board should evolve. Review it regularly and adjust the structure based on what you learn.

Free Kanban Board Tools to Try

You don't need expensive software to implement these kanban board examples. Here are solid free options:

For physical boards: A whiteboard, painter's tape for columns, and sticky notes work brilliantly for co-located teams. The tactile nature of physical boards encourages engagement.

For digital teams:

Trello - The most accessible free kanban board tool with a generous free tier
GitHub Projects - Free with GitHub, excellent for development teams
Notion - Flexible and free for individuals, great for personal kanban
Jira Free - Limited to 10 users but full-featured for small teams
Kanbane - AI-powered with smart task generation and predictive prioritization

Taking Your Kanban Board to the Next Level

Once you've implemented a basic kanban board example, consider these advanced techniques:

Add metrics tracking: Measure cycle time, throughput, and flow efficiency to identify improvement opportunities. Most digital tools provide these analytics automatically.

Implement classes of service: Not all work is equal. Use expedite lanes for urgent items and standard lanes for regular work to manage expectations appropriately.

Create ticket aging policies: Cards that sit too long need attention. Visual aging (changing card colors based on age) makes stale work obvious.

Use swimlanes strategically: Horizontal swimlanes can separate work types, team members, or priority levels without cluttering your board with additional columns.

Automate routine movements: Many tools allow automation rules to move cards based on triggers, reducing manual overhead.

The Future: AI-Powered Kanban Boards

Traditional kanban board examples require manual task creation, prioritization, and board management. The next evolution brings AI into the workflow.

Modern AI-powered kanban tools can:

Generate tasks automatically from project descriptions
Predict bottlenecks before they impact delivery
Suggest optimal task prioritization based on dependencies and team capacity
Adapt board structure to match your evolving workflow
Provide intelligent insights about team performance and process improvements

This eliminates the main reason teams abandon kanban boards - the manual overhead of keeping them updated and relevant.

Getting Started with Your Kanban Board

Ready to implement one of these kanban board examples? Here's your action plan:

Step 1: Choose the example closest to your workflow from this guide.

Step 2: Select your tool - physical board or digital platform based on your team's location and preferences.

Step 3: Set up your columns and document what each column means. Create a definition of done for each stage.

Step 4: Add your current work to the board. Don't try to capture everything - start with active projects.

Step 5: Set initial WIP limits. A good starting point is 2-3 items per person in "In Progress."

Step 6: Hold a daily standup around the board. Focus on moving cards forward, not starting new work.

Step 7: Review and adjust weekly. What's working? What's causing confusion? Iterate your board based on real experience.

Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect Kanban Board Example

The perfect kanban board example doesn't exist in a template - it emerges from your team's real workflow and evolves as you learn what works.

Start with one of the examples in this guide that matches your context. Keep it simple initially, then add complexity only when bottlenecks or confusion arise. Remember that kanban is about continuous improvement - your board should change as your understanding deepens.

The most important step is starting. Pick an example, set up your board, and begin moving cards. You'll quickly discover what works for your unique situation.

Whether you choose a free kanban board solution or invest in specialized tools, the visualization and flow management principles remain the same. Focus on making work visible, limiting work in progress, and continuously improving your process.

Ready to try a kanban board that thinks? Start with a template that matches your workflow, or explore AI-powered options that automate the heavy lifting of board management and task prioritization.