# How to Use Jira for Sprint Planning: Backlog to Sprint Start > Learn how to use Jira for sprint planning with our step-by-step guide. We cover agile sprints, backlog refinement, capacity planning, and how to create a sprint in Jira. Source: https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/jira-sprint-planning-guide-backlog-start --- 1 million+ businesses helped. Get advice Get Free Advice [Home](https://www.softwareadvice.com/) / [Resources](https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/) / Jira for Sprint Planning: A Practical Guide From Backlog to Sprint Start # Jira for Sprint Planning: A Practical Guide From Backlog to Sprint Start By: [David Jani](https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/author/david-jani/) on June 1, 2026 On this page: - What is sprint planning and an agile sprint? - Step 1: Sprint backlog refinement (setting up for success) - Step 2: Estimating work and aligning capacity - Step 3: How to create a sprint in Jira - Step 4: Starting the sprint and tracking progress - Common sprint planning pitfalls (and how to avoid them) TL;DR This guide provides a practical, step-by-step workflow for using Jira in sprint planning, covering four essential phases: refining the backlog by prioritizing and defining tasks; estimating work and capacity using methods like story points; creating and configuring the sprint in Jira; and tracking progress on the active sprint board. Jira for sprint planning in [project management](https://www.softwareadvice.com/project-management/) can make the process easier, but turning agile theory into a complete workflow remains challenging for many teams. [Jira](https://www.softwareadvice.com/project-management/atlassian-jira-profile/) is a comprehensive sprint planning tool, but that depth adds a learning curve. This guide explains how to use Jira for sprint planning from start to finish, covering all stages from refining your backlog to launching the main sprint with confidence. This focuses on creating realistic, well-structured sprint plans that align with your real-world workflows. The goal: to create a sprint plan that your team can realistically deliver with little friction or disorganization. **Questions that this article answers:** - What is an agile sprint - What is sprint planning - How to create a sprint in Jira ## What is sprint planning and an agile sprint? Before getting into sprint planning in Jira, understand these key terms. **Sprint planning** is the process where product management teams and aligned stakeholders decide what work should be committed to a specific sprint. It helps teams align on priorities, approach, and capacity. **An agile sprint** is a fixed time period, usually lasting two-to-four weeks, where teams complete planned work. In [agile project management](https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/agile-decision-making/), the planning stage is vital to ensure teams use capacity effectively. ### Why software workflows matter for modern agile teams Project management software centralizes tasks, communication, and progress tracking. However, as projects grow more complex, teams must do more with fewer resources. Software Advice’s 2025 project management trends survey\* shows that 41% of PMs adopt a hybrid of methodologies in their teams. This makes flexible tools essential. Jira and other competitors often have features that can complement hybrid strategies, but identifying them and understanding how they support your specific workflows is the key to getting results. ## Step 1: Sprint backlog refinement (setting up for success) The first step to any effective sprint is prioritizing tasks in your existing backlog. An organized backlog speeds up planning and improves task selection, helping teams target the highest priority jobs. Conversely, a disorganized backlog slows decisions and creates unclear work expectations. **Task** **Why it is important for sprint planning** Review open tickets for relevance and priority Teams focus primarily on work that still matters and needs to be completed, rather than outdated or low-value items. Give each issue a clear description and acceptance criteria Avoids rework and ambiguous tasks, while making teams fully clear about the scope, expectations, and completion criteria of the work. Break down larger tasks into manageable units Creates a clearer view of the work needed to complete tasks and improves predictability and progress tracking of work. Assign priorities based on business value Prioritizes the most impactful work first so that sprint outcomes support strategic objectives. Group related tasks by epics or labels Simplifies backlog organization by improving visibility into individual tasks and their contributions to larger initiatives. Manage these tasks in Jira’s backlog view within your company’s Scrum space. These create a prioritized list of tasks that can be added to sprints in the later steps. While organizing the backlog may seem like a simpler or lower-priority task, it is, in fact, vital to the foundations of a sprint. This is also a step where some teams struggle, not from the difficulty of using a tool like Jira, but because they lack the more structured workflows and steps required at a broader level. Using a structured approach to task management more broadly can help here. Additionally, [task management](https://www.softwareadvice.com/project-management/task-management-comparison/) features within Jira or other platforms can support these processes.  ## Step 2: Estimating work and aligning capacity After refining the backlog, the next step is to plan work around your team’s capacity. Estimation and capacity planning help keep the sprint realistic, and Jira offers several methods to track these metrics. When deciding how to categorize work, teams can use Jira’s story points, which assess work based on its complexity and scale. Alternatively, PMs can use more traditional time-based estimates, which assume the number of hours or days needed until completion in Jira projects. **Story points** **Time**  **Focus** Complexity Duration **Flexibility** High Low **Best for** Agile teams\` Fixed schedules Estimates don’t need to be perfect; what matters more is consistency. However, that’s only half the story, as another crucial factor is understanding the capacity available from your team. **Some key factors to consider when planning capacity:** - Available working hours - Planned time off or holidays - Non-sprint responsibilities Teams sometimes overcommit when they lose track of capacity constraints. Using tools such as [scheduling software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/scheduling/) or basing estimates on data collected from [time-tracking tools](https://www.softwareadvice.com/project-management/time-tracking-comparison/) from similar tasks can help when mapping out the time and effort commitments. Clear allocation of time and resources helps teams keep their sprint goals realistic. ## Step 3: How to create a sprint in Jira When setting up Jira sprints, you’ll need to follow this workflow within your project’s backlog view: 1. Click “Create Sprint” 2. Drag issues from your backlog into the sprint container 3. Review the total workload in the sprint and adjust as necessary based on time-frames and capacity. 4. Set the sprint start and end dates Before starting the sprint fully, make sure you’ve double-checked the following: - The sprint goals are clear and realistic - Tickets are clearly named and defined - Workloads fit the capacity of the sprint ## Step 4: Starting the sprint and tracking progress The sprint begins once you click “Start Sprint” in the backlog view and confirm the name, goal, and start and end dates. Project managers or Scrum masters can then track ongoing progress from Jira’s active sprint board. Here, tickets appear by status, indicating if they’re to be done, in progress, complete, or stuck. To maintain visibility throughout the process, teams should ensure that they: - Update tickets regularly - Raise blockers quickly - Maintain clear communication Additionally, Jira Scrum board users can generate sprint reports from the Reports tab in the sidebar menu to monitor progress.  ## Common sprint planning pitfalls (and how to avoid them) Sprint planning issues can occur in any tool. Jira simplifies many steps in organizing and planning sprints, but misaligned workflows can disrupt planning. We observed this in previous research\*, where 41% of PMs report software adoption challenges due to poor onboarding and workflow misalignment. This demonstrates that PM tools alone don’t fix broken processes and may even amplify them if left unaddressed. **Planning pitfall** **Solution** An overloaded sprint Use [capacity planning tools](https://www.softwareadvice.com/manufacturing/capacity-planning-comparison/) like Jira Tempo or other alternatives to manage the scope before starting. Overlooking team availability Factor in possible factors like upcoming PTO, projects, meetings, and holidays that could upend capacity. Poorly defined backlog items Enforce strict ticket standards during refinement, establishing clear naming conventions, minimum levels, details, and other definitions. Forcing Jira to dictate the workflows Jira is highly customizable and should be configured to match the workflows your team actually uses, rather than dictating the flow of tasks. FAQ **Can you do sprint planning in Jira without using Scrum?** Yes. Jira supports flexible workflows, including hybrid methodologies that blend agile with other frameworks. Teams can customize boards, workflows, and issue types to fit their process. This means sprint planning doesn’t have to follow strict Scrum rules; it can be adapted to how your team actually operates. **How do I move incomplete tasks to the next sprint in Jira?** Jira automatically prompts you to move incomplete tasks when closing a sprint. You can: - Move them to the next sprint directly - Return them to the backlog - Re-estimate them if priorities or scope have changed The key is reviewing why the task wasn’t completed before rolling it forward. **What is the difference between a Jira Epic and a Sprint?** A Jira Epic groups more extensive work across multiple sprints, while a Sprint focuses on short-term tasks completed in a fixed timeframe. Jira offers a mix of sprint management features but may not be the perfect fit for every PM team. [Explore 5 of the top alternatives to Jira](https://www.softwareadvice.com/project-management/atlassian-jira-profile/alternatives/) based on Software Advice user scores. * * * ### Survey methodology **\*Software Advice's Project Management (PM) Software Trends Survey** was conducted in July 2025 among 2,545 respondents in Australia (n=240), Brazil (n=227), Canada (n=227), France (n=241), Germany (n=224), India (n=216), Italy (n=227), Mexico (n=236), Spain (n=239), the U.K. (n=237), and the U.S. (n=231). The goal of the study was to understand the PM methodologies and software that companies are using, their benefits and challenges, and the impact of AI on project management. Respondents were screened for full-time employment at companies with more than one employee, working in management-level roles or above. Respondents were also confirmed to be at least partially responsible for PM software purchase decisions and operations within their organization.