Solve the Travelling Salesman Problem in Excel | Multi-Stop Route Optimizer Template

Solve the Travelling Salesman Problem in Excel with a Multi-Stop Route Optimizer

Imagine you have a stack of addresses for deliveries, sales calls, or a whirlwind city tour. You want to start at one place, visit every stop once, and finish back at the start or at a different location. The goal is simple to state and maddening to solve: find the shortest possible route that visits all stops exactly once. That is the Travelling Salesman Problem in Excel, and yes, you can solve it without specialized software or a PhD in algorithms using this Excel template.

Why solving the Travelling Salesman Problem in Excel matters

In plain English, optimizing multi-stop routes saves time, fuel, and stress. For businesses it improves delivery efficiency and customer experience. For trip planners it removes the guesswork. Using Excel as the interface means the tool fits into workflows that already exist, and it is approachable for anyone who can paste a list of addresses into a spreadsheet.

Quick overview of how the route optimizer works

The template calculates the optimal order of stops and returns the total distances and travel times between consecutive points. It uses live data from Google Maps, so the results reflect real-world travel conditions. You control the start and end locations, paste your stops, press a single button, and get the optimized route back in seconds.

Step-by-step: From addresses to optimized route

1. Enter your start and end addresses. The end address can be the same as the start or different if you prefer a one-way route.
2. Paste the list of stops. The tool accepts full or partial addresses, building names, landmarks, or even geo coordinates.
3. Click the optimize button. The template calculates the best order and shows distances and times for each leg.
4. View or export the route. You can open the route in Google Maps, send it to your smartphone for navigation, or save it as a PDF for printing.

What you see in the results

The output lists your start and end addresses, the optimal order of stops, the distance between each pair of consecutive points, and travel time for each leg. Everything is based on live traffic if you choose to include it.

Settings you can tweak

Before you run an optimization, check the settings to match your needs. Important options include:

• Units: Miles or kilometers.
• Travel mode: Driving, walking, bicycling, or two-wheeler.
• Time format: Minutes, hours, or both.
• Live traffic: Include current traffic conditions or use uncongested estimates.

How the template finds the optimal route

Under the hood the spreadsheet taps into Google Maps to compute distances and times. That means results reflect real routes and traffic. To use this functionality you will need a Google Maps API key. Getting one takes only a couple of minutes and is free to start. Google provides 10,000 route calculations per month free with that key. Each time you press the optimize route button it counts as one route calculation. If you exceed the free quota, the current rate is about $5 for every additional 1,000 calculations.

Pricing

• Google: 10,000 free calculations per month; 5 USD for each 1,000 calculations
• Excel template: One time payment, lifetime license

Practical limits and compatibility

A few practical details to keep in mind:

• Waypoint limit: The tool supports up to 25 waypoints between start and end. This limit comes from Google Maps.
• Excel versions: Works on most desktop Excel versions from Excel 2007 up through Excel 365 on Windows and Mac. The web version of Excel is not supported.
• Purchase model: The template is a one-time purchase. After purchase you receive the Excel file, a license key, and a getting started guide in a welcome email.

Tips for better results

• Use clear, consistent address formatting. Partial addresses and landmarks are fine, but cleaner input reduces ambiguity.
• Decide whether live traffic should be included depending on whether you need typical conditions or real-time estimates.
• Keep the number of stops within the 25-waypoint limit, or split into multiple routes if you have more locations.

Now that we understand the problem, let us reflect for a moment

Tackling the Travelling Salesman Problem in Excel turns a classic algorithmic headache into a practical tool for everyday planning. It is not magic; it is applying real-world mapping data to an optimized search so you can focus on the job instead of the route. Think of it like using a good map and a bit of logic to avoid unnecessary backtracking.

“What is the shortest possible route that covers all stops one time?” That is the question this tool answers for you.

Wrapping up

If you juggle deliveries, sales visits, field service calls, or multi-stop trips, this Excel solution makes optimization accessible and practical. You get live-aware routes, flexible settings, and a familiar interface. Try it with a handful of addresses first to see how dramatic the time and distance savings can be. And if you like a neat paper backup, export the route as a PDF and stick it to the dashboard like a battle plan (old-school and satisfying). Happy routing, and may your stops always fall into a tidy, efficient line. —Sven