ClickUp time tracking lets you log time on a task by starting a timer or typing the time in by hand, from the task itself, most views, Timesheets, the toolbar or the Quick Action menu. Switch on the Time Tracking Rollup ClickApp if you want each parent task to show the total time from its subtasks as well.
Rollup is the setting worth knowing about. With it on, a task with one hour tracked and a subtask with 30 minutes shows one hour 30 minutes on the task, and selecting the Track Time field shows the split. One exception: when List view shows subtasks separately, tasks don't include rolled-up time estimates.
Where you can start a ClickUp timer
A running timer always shows in the toolbar at the top right, so you won't forget to stop it. You can start one on your computer and stop it on your phone, or the other way round.
| Start from | How |
|---|---|
| A task | Click the start button next to Track Time, below the task name |
| List, Board, Gantt or Calendar view | Right click a task and select Start timer |
| List or Table view | Add the time tracked field, then click the start button |
| Board view | Show the time tracked field on cards, then click the start button on a card |
| Timesheets | Click the start button to the right of a task |
| Toolbar | Pin Tracked Time from the Quick Action menu, click the icon, select a task and start |
| Quick Action menu | Click Track Time, select a task and click start |
| A previous entry | In the Quick Action menu, click start next to it to create a new entry with the same details |
On the Business Plan and above, picking a task is optional when you start a timer from the toolbar or the Quick Action menu. Time tracking availability and limits vary by plan, so check what yours includes in this breakdown of ClickUp pricing.
Adding time by hand
Forgot to start the timer? You can add the time afterwards. ClickUp accepts three formats:
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| hours, minutes, seconds | 2 hours, 10 minutes, 30 seconds |
| h, m, s | 2h, 10m, 30s |
| h:m:s | 2:10:30 |
- In the upper-left of the task, click the Track Time field.
- Enter the amount of time worked.
- Select a date and time range.
- Click Save.
The same steps work from List, Table, Board and Gantt views once the time tracked field is showing, from the Enter time field in Timesheets, and from the toolbar or the Quick Action menu. In a Gantt view you can click the time tracked or the clock icon next to a task.
Owners and admins can add time for someone else: click your name and pick a teammate from the drop-down. You can also mark an entry billable or non-billable, add a description and add time tracking tags. If the Space or Workspace sets entries to billable by default, timer entries are marked billable automatically.
Seeing time against estimates and capacity
When you track time from a view, a progress bar shows how much you've tracked against the task's time estimate. It only appears if the Time Estimate ClickApp is on and the task has an estimate. Click a running timer in the toolbar and a second bar shows how much you've tracked today against your daily capacity, which you can change from Timesheets or Workload view settings.
Turning on Time Tracking Rollup
- Open the App Center.
- Click All ClickApps in the left sidebar.
- Browse or search for Time Tracking Rollup.
- Click the toggle to activate it.
Rollup adds up time from the task, its subtasks and any nested subtasks. You'll see the total in Task view, Calendar view, Board view, Gantt view, Team view and List Info. In a Gantt view, add the Time Tracked column and the parent task shows the total.
Other ways to log time in ClickUp
- The mobile app, where you can create, edit or delete entries.
- ClickUp Brain and Super Agents, which can log time with a duration, date, time range, tags, description and billable status, and create several entries in one request.
- Automations, by adding time tracking instructions to a Super Agent and using the Launch Super Agent Automation Action.
- The ClickUp API, which can get entries in a date range, get running entries, start and stop a timer, and add or remove entry labels.
- The Chrome extension.
If you're building your own reports, it helps to know that time tracking API calls include the task ID, title, status and task tags, plus the Space, Folder, Subfolder and List it sits in. And if work doesn't belong to a task at all, ClickUp lets you track time without one.
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My verdict on ClickUp time tracking
I'd turn on Time Tracking Rollup on day one if your team splits work into subtasks, because otherwise the parent task undercounts. Pin the timer to the toolbar so it's one click away, and if people bill clients, set the Space default to billable so nobody has to remember. If you're still finding your way round Spaces, Lists and views, start with how to use ClickUp.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I add time manually in ClickUp?
Click the Track Time field in the upper-left of a task, enter the amount of time worked, select a date and time range, and click Save.
What time formats does ClickUp accept?
Hours, minutes, seconds written out (2 hours, 10 minutes, 30 seconds), abbreviated (2h, 10m, 30s) or as h:m:s (2:10:30).
Does ClickUp add subtask time to the parent task?
Yes, if you activate the Time Tracking Rollup ClickApp. It shows a sum of time tracked on the task, its subtasks and any nested subtasks.
Can I track time for someone else in ClickUp?
Owners and admins can add tracked time for others by clicking their own name in the entry and choosing someone from the dropdown.
Can I stop a ClickUp timer from my phone?
Yes. You can start a timer on your computer and stop it from your phone, or vice versa.
