How to Create Time Entries with ClickUp Time Tracking API

The ClickUp Time Tracking API lets you programmatically create precise time entries for tasks, helping you automate reporting and billing while keeping your workspace data consistent.

Understanding the ClickUp Time Entries Endpoint

To create a time entry, you will use the dedicated POST endpoint on the ClickUp API. This operation allows you to log time spent on a task by providing essential details such as the task identifier, duration, and start time.

According to the official documentation at ClickUp Create a Time Entry API, the endpoint is designed to record both tracked and manually added time.

ClickUp Time Entry Endpoint Overview

The endpoint used to create a time entry has the following characteristics:

• HTTP method: POST
• Authentication: Personal token or OAuth token in the Authorization header.
• Content type: application/json request body.

The base URL for the workspace environment is provided in the official ClickUp developer portal, where you can test and inspect example requests and responses.

Prerequisites for Using the ClickUp Time Tracking API

Before you create a time entry through the API, make sure the following requirements are met:

• You have an active ClickUp account.
• You have generated a valid personal or OAuth access token.
• You know the task ID for which you want to log time.
• Your workspace settings allow time tracking on tasks.

These prerequisites ensure that every API call you send to ClickUp can be authenticated and associated with the correct task and user.

Required Fields for ClickUp Time Entries

When creating a time entry, the request body must contain specific properties that the ClickUp API expects. The exact field names and types are defined in the reference documentation.

Core Request Body Fields

Typical fields you need to provide include:

• task_id: Identifies the task being tracked.
• start: A timestamp marking when the tracked time began, commonly in milliseconds since Unix epoch.
• duration: The length of the time entry, usually specified in milliseconds.
• billable: A boolean value that indicates whether the time is billable.

Depending on your configuration, you may also be able to associate tags, descriptions, or user information with the time entry. The ClickUp documentation provides the full schema and any optional properties.

ClickUp Time Entry Example Structure

In practice, the JSON payload resembles a standard object with keys matching the ClickUp API specification. Ensure that you:

• Use valid timestamps and numeric values.
• Respect field types such as boolean for billable flags.
• Only send fields that are supported by the endpoint version you are using.

Step-by-Step: Creating a Time Entry in ClickUp

The following steps outline a typical workflow for creating a time entry with the ClickUp API:

1. Prepare Authentication for ClickUp

First, obtain your API token from your ClickUp account or through your OAuth app. Then include it in the request header:

• Authorization: <your-token>
• Content-Type: application/json

Make sure your token has the required scopes or permissions to interact with time tracking resources in ClickUp.

2. Collect Task and Time Data

Next, gather the data that will define your time entry:

• The task ID in ClickUp for which the time should be recorded.
• The start timestamp of the work session.
• The total duration of the work session.
• Whether the entry should be billable or non-billable.

Accurate data ensures that your ClickUp reports, dashboards, and billing exports remain trustworthy.

3. Build the JSON Payload

Construct a JSON object that matches the required and optional fields accepted by the ClickUp endpoint. Carefully check field names to align with the API reference at the official documentation link.

Typical best practices include:

• Validating required fields before sending the request.
• Converting time values into the formats expected by ClickUp.
• Keeping descriptions concise for easier reporting and filtering.

4. Send the Request to ClickUp

Use your preferred HTTP client (cURL, Postman, or a language-specific library) to send a POST request to the time entries endpoint. Keep the following points in mind:

• The URL must match the environment and version described in the ClickUp API reference.
• Headers must include authentication and content type.
• The request body should be valid JSON with no trailing commas or syntax errors.

Once the request is sent, the ClickUp server will process the data and return a structured response.

5. Handle the ClickUp API Response

The response usually returns the created time entry object, including:

• A unique identifier for the time entry.
• The task association, timestamps, and duration.
• Additional metadata depending on your workspace configuration.

Store this identifier in your system if you plan to update or delete the time entry later via the ClickUp API.

Error Handling and Validation for ClickUp Time Entries

When working with time tracking, you may encounter errors due to invalid tokens, missing fields, or permission issues. The ClickUp API communicates errors using HTTP status codes and messages.

Common ClickUp Error Scenarios

• 401 Unauthorized: The token is missing, invalid, or expired.
• 403 Forbidden: The token does not have rights to create time entries in the target workspace.
• 404 Not Found: The task ID does not exist in the ClickUp workspace or is not accessible to the token owner.
• 400 Bad Request: Required fields are missing or formatted incorrectly.

Always log responses from ClickUp and validate your payload against the documentation to quickly diagnose and resolve issues.

Best Practices for ClickUp Time Tracking Integrations

To keep your integration maintainable and reliable, apply these best practices:

• Centralize configuration for ClickUp tokens and base URLs.
• Implement retries for transient errors or network timeouts.
• Validate user input before creating time entries.
• Map your internal user accounts to ClickUp users when possible.

These guidelines ensure that your integration scales with your team while preserving accurate time records.

Testing Your ClickUp Implementation

Before rolling out your integration to all users, thoroughly test your logic:

1. Create a test task in ClickUp.
2. Send multiple time entry requests with varied durations and start times.
3. Verify that entries appear correctly in the ClickUp interface.
4. Check reports and dashboards to confirm correct aggregation.

After confirming that everything looks correct in ClickUp, you can safely move to production usage.

Additional Resources Beyond ClickUp Docs

If you want expert guidance on planning or optimizing your integration strategy around ClickUp, you can learn more at Consultevo, which provides detailed resources and services related to SaaS workflow optimization and automation.

For complete technical details, field definitions, and the latest updates to the time tracking endpoint, always refer to the official ClickUp Create a Time Entry API reference.

By following the steps above and aligning your payloads and logic with the official specification, you can reliably create time entries through the ClickUp API and integrate accurate time tracking into your own applications and workflows.