What is a timesheet?
A timesheet is a record of the hours a person worked in a given period, usually a day, week or month. It lists start and end times, breaks and often the project, client or task, and is the basis for payroll and invoicing.
What goes on a timesheet
A useful timesheet answers four questions for every working day: when did work start, when did it end, how long were the breaks, and what was the time spent on. From those values you get the hours worked: end minus start minus break. A shift from 07:30 to 16:00 with a 30-minute break is 8 hours.
Many businesses add fields that payroll or the client needs: a cost centre, a shift or allowance code, travel time, kilometres or a signature. Staffing agencies usually need the client to confirm the hours before they can pay the worker and invoice the client.
- Date and day
- Start and end time
- Break in minutes
- Hours worked
- Project, client or task
- Approval or signature
Paper, spreadsheet or app
Paper timesheets and spreadsheets are free and familiar, and for a handful of people they work. The problems grow with the team: forms arrive late, handwriting has to be retyped, totals contain errors and nobody can see who approved what. An app captures the hours when they happen, checks them against breaks and rest rules, routes them for approval and exports them to payroll without retyping.
TimeTracking is free for up to 5 users. Workers record hours on their phone, in the web app or at a shared kiosk with a PIN, and the timesheet moves from draft to submitted, approved, exported and locked.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a timesheet and a time card?
A time card traditionally records clock-in and clock-out times from a time clock. A timesheet is broader: it can also say what the time was spent on and is usually approved before payroll. In everyday use the words overlap.
Related pages
Weekly timesheet
Seven days on one sheet with start, end, break and hours, signed by employee and manager.
Client approval
The client confirming the hours a worker spent at their site, before the hours are paid and invoiced.
Payroll export
A file of approved hours, allowances and expenses per employee, in the layout the payroll system can import.
Hours calculator
Add up a week of shifts with breaks and overnight work. Totals in h:mm and decimal.
See pricing
Free for up to 5 users. Core from €1 per user per month, everything included.
Try TimeTracking free
Free for up to 5 users. Core from €1 per user per month, everything included.