Back to Glossary
Schedulingaka: ESaka: EFaka: early dates

Early Start / Early Finish

In Plain English

The earliest possible dates an activity can start and finish based on when all prior tasks are done.

Definition

Early Start (ES) and Early Finish (EF) are forward-pass CPM calculations that determine the earliest possible date an activity can begin and the earliest possible date it can be completed, given its predecessors and durations. ES is calculated as the maximum EF of all predecessors plus any lag. EF equals ES plus duration minus one. These dates define the boundaries within which work can be scheduled without delaying successors.

Related Terms

Frequently Asked Questions

Need more than definitions?

Get AI-powered bid alerts, automated form filling, and proposal drafting.

Start Free Trial

© 2026 ConstructionBids.ai — A LaderaLabs Product