For an exceptionally detailed discussion of the chronology of Shakespeare’s works (including discussion of the many disputes about the chronology) see William Shakespeare: A Textual Companion, by Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor (Norton, 1997), pp. 69–144. See also the similarly detailed discussion by David Bevington, editor, The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Longman, 1997), pp. A1–A21. Bevington helpfully gives the full titles of quarto (small format) printings and also makes their dates of publication quite clear.
Plays were usually first performed not long after they were written. In some cases, we have evidence of first (or at least early) performances; in some cases, we do not. Whereas dates of first printings are usually solid, dates of first performances are often conjectural.
Even the best experts often disagree about the dates of probable composition of Shakespeare’s works. In the listing below, Bevington’s suggestions are cited along-side those of G. Blakemore Evans (in The Riverside Shakespeare, 2nd ed., Houghton Mifflin, 1997, pp. 77–87) and Wells and Taylor. The frequent variances will give some idea of how often even the best students of these issues can disagree.
Love’s Labour’s Lost (Bevington: c. 1588–97; G. B. Evans: 1594–95 [“revised 1597 for court performance”]; Wells and Taylor: 1593–95; comedy; first known printing, 1598).
The Henry the Sixth Plays (Bevington: c. 1589–92; G. B. Evans: 1589–90 [revised 1594–95 for Part One; 1590–91 for Part Two; 1590–91 for Part Three]; Wells and Taylor: Part Three, 1590–92; Part Two: 1590–91; Part One: 1591–92 [with other authors]. Three history plays; the second part was first printed in 1594; the third part was first printed in 1595; the first part [perhaps the last written of the three] was first printed in 1623).
Titus Andronicus (Bevington: c. 1589–92; G. B. Evans: 193–94; Wells and Taylor: 1590–91; tragedy; first known printing, 1594).
The Comedy of Errors (Bevington: c. 1589–94; G. B. Evans: 1592–94; Wells and Taylor: 1592–94; comedy; first known printing, 1623).
The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Bevington: c. 1590–94; G. B. Evans: 1594; Wells and Taylor: 1589–93; comedy; first known printing, 1623).
The Taming of the Shrew (Bevington: c. 1590–93; G. B. Evans: 1593–94; Wells and Taylor: 1590–93; comedy; first known printing, 1623).
Venus and Adonis (Bevington: 1592–93; G. B. Evans: 1592–93; Wells and Taylor: 1593; narrative poem; first known printing, 1593).
Richard the Third (Bevington: c. 1592–94; G. B. Evans: 1592–93; Wells and Taylor: 1592–93; history play; first known printing, 1597).
The Rape of Lucrece (Bevington: 1593–94; G. B. Evans: 1593–94; Wells and Taylor: 1594; narrative poem; first known printing, 1594).
The Sonnets (Bevington: 1593–1603; G. B. Evans: 1593–1609; Wells and Taylor: 1598–1609; sonnet collection; first known printing, 1609).
King John (Bevington: c. 1594–96; G. B. Evans: 1594–96; Wells and Taylor: 1594–96; history play; first known printing, 1623).
Romeo and Juliet (Bevington: 1594–96; G. B. Evans: 1595–96; Wells and Taylor: 1594–95; tragedy; first known printing, 1597).
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bevington: c. 1595; G. B. Evans: 1595–96; Wells and Taylor: 1594–95; comedy; first known printing, 1600).
Richard the Second (Bevington: c. 1595–96; G. B. Evans: 1595; Wells and Taylor: 1594–96; history play; first known printing, 1597).
The Merchant of Venice (Bevington: c. 1596–97; G. B. Evans: 1596–97; Wells and Taylor: 1596–97; dark comedy; first known printing, 1600).
Henry the Fourth, Part I (Bevington: 1596–97; G. B. Evans: 1596–97; Wells and Taylor: 1596–97; history play; first known printing, 1598).
Henry the Fourth, Part II (Bevington: 1597–98; G. B. Evans: 1598; Wells and Taylor: 1597–98; history play; first known printing, 1600).
The Merry Wives of Windsor (Bevington: 1597–1601; G. B. Evans: 1597 [“revised c. 1600–01”]; Wells and Taylor: 1597; comedy; first known printing, 1602).
Much Ado About Nothing (Bevington: 1598–99; G. B. Evans: 1598–99; Wells and Taylor: 1598–99; comedy; first known printing, 1600).
As You Like It (Bevington: 1598–1600; G. B. Evans: 1599; Wells and Taylor: 1599–1600; comedy; first known printing, 1623).
Henry the Fifth (Bevington: 1599; G. B. Evans: 1599; Wells and Taylor: 1599; history play; first known printing, 1600).
Julius Caesar (Bevington: 1599; G. B. Evans: 1599; Wells and Taylor: 1599; tragedy; first known printing, 1623).
Hamlet (Bevington: c. 1599–1601; G. B. Evans: 1600–01; Wells and Taylor: 1600–01; tragedy; first known printing, 1603).
Twelfth Night (Bevington: 1600–02; G. B. Evans: 1601–02; Wells and Taylor: 1602–03; comedy; first known printing, 1623).
The Phoenix and the Turtle (Bevington: finished by 1601; G. B. Evans: c. 1601; Wells and Taylor: 1601; allegorical poem; first known printing, 1601).
Troilus and Cressida (Bevington: c. 1601–02; G. B. Evans: 1601–02; Wells and Taylor: 1602–03; “problem play?”; first known printing, 1609).
A Lover’s Complaint (Bevington: c. 1601–05; G. B. Evans: 1602–08; Wells and Taylor: 1598–1609; narrative poem; first known printing, 1609).
All’s Well That Ends Well (Bevington: c. 1601–05; G. B. Evans: 1602–03; Wells and Taylor: 1603–05; comedy; first known printing, 1623).
Measure for Measure (Bevington: 1603–04; G. B. Evans: 1604; Wells and Taylor: 1604; dark comedy; first known printing, 1623).
Othello (Bevington: 1603–04; G. B. Evans: 1604; Wells and Taylor: 1603–04; tragedy; first known printing, 1622).
King Lear (Bevington: 1605–06; G. B. Evans: 1605; Wells and Taylor: 1605–08; tragedy; first known printing, 1608).
Timon of Athens (Bevington: 1605–08; G. B. Evans: 1607–08; Wells and Taylor: 1604–07 [with Thomas Middleton]; tragedy; first known printing, 1623).
Antony of Cleopatra (Bevington: 1606–07; G. B. Evans: 1606–07; Wells and Taylor: 1606–07; tragedy; first known printing, 1623).
Macbeth (Bevington: 1606–07; G. B. Evans: 1606; Wells and Taylor: 1606; tragedy; first known printing, 1623).
Pericles (Bevington: 1606–08; G. B. Evans: 1607–08; Wells and Taylor: 1608–09 [with George Wilkins]; comedy or “romance”; first known printing, 1609).
Coriolanus (Bevington: c. 1608; G. B. Evans: 1607–08; Wells and Taylor: 1608; tragedy; first known printing, 1623).
Cymbeline (Bevington: c. 1608–10; G. B. Evans: 1609–10; Wells and Taylor: 1610–11; comedy or “romance”; first known printing, 1623).
The Winter’s Tale (Bevington: c. 1609–11; G. B. Evans: 1610–11; Wells and Taylor: 1609–10; comedy or “romance”; first known printing, 1623).
The Tempest (Bevington: c. 1611; G. B. Evans: 1611; Wells and Taylor: 1610–11; comedy or “romance”; first known printing, 1623).
King Henry the Eighth (Bevington: 1613; G. B. Evans: 1612–13; Wells and Taylor: 1613 [with John Fletcher]; history play; first known printing, 1623).
The Two Noble Kinsmen (Bevington: 1613–14; G. B. Evans: 1613; Wells and Taylor: 1613–15 [with John Fletcher]; tragicomedy; co-written with John Fletcher; first known printing, 1634).
The listing above follows Bevington’s suggested order of possible composition; here, on the other hand, is the order suggested by G. B. Evans: 1 Henry VI; 2 Henry VI; 3 Henry VI; Richard III; Venus and Adonis; The Comedy of Errors; Sonnets; The Rape of Lucrece; Titus Andronicus; The Taming of the Shrew; The Two Gentlemen of Verona; Love’s Labor’s Lost; King John; Richard II; Romeo and Juliet; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; The Merchant of Venice; 1 Henry IV; The Merry Wives of Windsor; 2 Henry IV; Much Ado about Nothing; Henry V; Julius Caesar; As You Like It; Hamlet; The Phoenix and the Turtle; Twelfth Night; Troilus and Cressida; A Lover’s Complaint; All’s Well That Ends Well; Measure for Measure; Othello; King Lear; Macbeth; Antony and Cleopatra; Coriolanus; Timon of Athens; Pericles; Cymbeline; The Winter’s Tale; The Tempest; Henry VIII; The Two Noble Kinsmen.
Here is the order of possible composition suggested by Taylor and Wells: The Two Gentlemen of Verona; The Taming of the Shrew; 3 Henry VI; 2 Henry VI; Titus Andronicus; 1 Henry VI [with other authors]; Richard III; The Comedy of Errors; Venus and Adonis; Sonnets; The Rape of Lucrece; Love’s Labor’s Lost; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Romeo and Juliet; Richard II; King John; The Merchant of Venice; 1 Henry IV; The Merry Wives of Windsor; 2 Henry IV; Much Ado about Nothing; Sonnets, A Lover’s Complaint; The Passionate Pilgrim; Henry V; Julius Caesar; As You Like It; Hamlet; The Phoenix and the Turtle; Twelfth Night; Troilus and Cressida; Measure for Measure; Othello; All’s Well That Ends Well; Timon of Athens; King Lear; Macbeth; Antony and Cleopatra; Pericles; Coriolanus; The Winter’s Tale; Cymbeline; The Tempest; Henry VIII; The Two Noble Kinsmen.