To create an automation in Trello, open a board, open the board menu and select Automation, choose an automation type, then Create automation. Add a trigger, add one or more actions, and select Save to activate it. Each automation can run up to 20 actions, and your monthly runs are capped by your Workspace plan.
Pick the right kind of automation first
Every Trello automation has two parts: a trigger, something that happens on the board, and actions, what happens in response. The first choice you make is the type, because it decides what counts as the trigger.
| Type | What starts it | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Rule | Something happening on the board | When a card moves into Done, archive it |
| Scheduled | A set schedule | Weekly or daily housekeeping |
| Due Date | A card's due date | Work that hinges on a deadline |
| Card button | Someone clicking a button on a card | One-click actions on a single card |
| Board button | Someone clicking a button on the board | One-click actions across the board |
Building it, step by step
1. Open the builder
Open a board, then open the board menu (...) and select Automation. You can also click the lightning button at the top of any board.
2. Choose the type
Select Rule, Scheduled, Due Date, Card button or Board button.
3. Start a new one
Select Create automation, or Create button for the button types.
4. Add the trigger
Choose a trigger category, then the trigger itself. Trello's own example is a card being moved into the list Done.
5. Add actions
Add an action, such as archiving the card, and select Add another action for more. Each automation can trigger up to 20 actions. If you need more, create a second automation with the same trigger.
6. Save and check the log
Select Save to save and activate it. Then check the View log icon, which looks like a lightbulb, to confirm it ran or to see any errors.
Three starter recipes
If you're not sure where to begin, these three cover most small teams and only use the features above. A Rule: when a card is moved into Done, archive it, so finished work clears itself away. A Due Date automation: an action you choose that runs on cards as their due date arrives, with a specific time set so it doesn't fire at midnight. A Card button: a one-click button for a set of actions you'd otherwise repeat by hand on every new card. Give each one a name your team will recognise, and if a recipe needs more than 20 actions, split it into two automations sharing the same trigger.
Timing quirks worth knowing
- Scheduled automations have a Run now button, so you can check one works without waiting for the schedule.
- Due date automations trigger at midnight based on your device's timezone, unless you set a specific time. Set one if your team's spread across timezones.
- Copied automations are automatically active, even if the original wasn't. Check before you copy a half-finished rule, or it'll start running straight away.
- Custom automations aren't localised and are only available in English.
Monthly runs and operations
| Workspace | Runs per month | Operations per month |
|---|---|---|
| Free (as of Nov 2026) | 250 | 2,500 |
| Standard | 1,000 | 20,000 |
Quotas are pooled across all boards in a Workspace and reset on the first day of every month at midnight GMT. A single automation run is limited to 20 actions and operations on all plans, and you can enable up to 20 card buttons and 20 board buttons.
Why a busy rule can drain the quota early
Atlassian Support's page on Trello automation quotas and limits explains the catch. Because Free Workspaces have 250 runs and 2,500 operations a month pooled across every board, and some actions, such as sorting a list, use multiple operations, one busy rule can use up the quota for everyone well before the month ends. If automations stop running mid-month, that's the first place to look. Keep heavy actions out of rules that fire on every card move.
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Other tools with board automations
Notion database automations are sequences of actions that happen when a specific change occurs in a database, built from triggers and actions in the same way. If you mainly use Trello for content or campaigns, my Trello marketing strategy guide shows how teams set boards up, and my guide to the Trello calendar view helps with dates.
My advice for your first three automations
Start with one Rule that tidies up, such as archiving cards moved to Done, one Due Date automation for cards that matter, and one Card button for a task you repeat often. Check each one in the log after saving. Keep an eye on the pooled quota on a Free Workspace, and you'll get the time back without surprises at the end of the month.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Trello automation?
Board menu (...) then Automation, or the lightning button on a board.
How many actions can one automation have?
Up to 20.
How many automations can I run on Free?
250 runs and 2,500 operations a month as of Nov 2026, pooled across the Workspace.
When do quotas reset?
The first day of each month at midnight GMT.
Can I test a scheduled automation?
Yes, with the Run now button.
