Schedule Tasks With Duration in ClickUp

Task duration in ClickUp lets you schedule work precisely by setting how long a task should take and how it appears on your Calendar, Gantt, and other views. This guide explains how duration works, how to turn it on, and how to use it day to day.

What is task duration in ClickUp?

Task duration controls the time span shown between a task’s start date and due date. When duration is enabled, you can define how long a task should last, and ClickUp automatically adjusts the end date based on the duration you choose.

Duration is available when your tasks have:

• A start date and a due date
• Either a specific time or all-day settings
• Scheduling in views like Calendar, Gantt, Timeline, and Workload

Using duration makes planning more accurate, especially when you need to balance workload or visualize projects on a timeline.

Enable duration settings in ClickUp

Before using duration, make sure the feature is enabled in your Workspace. You manage this from the settings panel.

Turn on task duration in ClickUp

1. Open your ClickUp Workspace.
2. Go to the settings menu for your Space, Folder, or List where you want to manage scheduling.
3. Locate the Time or Scheduling options that control start and due dates.
4. Ensure both Start date and Due date are enabled so duration can be calculated between them.

Some advanced scheduling capabilities may be limited to specific plans. For the most accurate and up-to-date details on requirements, see the official documentation on the ClickUp Help Center: Use task duration to schedule tasks.

How duration affects dates in ClickUp

When you edit duration, ClickUp updates either the start date or due date depending on how you schedule the task.

Duration with start and due dates

When both dates are set, duration equals the total time between them. Updating duration can change:

• Due date if the start date stays fixed
• Start date if the due date is locked or driven by dependencies
• Both dates if the task is auto-scheduled by dependencies in certain views

The exact behavior depends on the view and scheduling rules, but the key idea is that duration always represents the visible length of the task on the timeline.

Duration for all-day vs. timed tasks in ClickUp

Duration behaves differently depending on whether a task uses all-day settings or specific times.

• All-day tasks: Duration is measured in full calendar days. Increasing duration extends the task across more days on views like Calendar and Gantt.
• Timed tasks: Duration includes both the number of days and the time range between the start and end timestamps.

This distinction helps you plan simple day-based work or detailed hourly schedules across your team.

Set duration from task views in ClickUp

You can set or adjust duration directly from several views. Each view gives a slightly different way to interact with task length.

Adjust duration in the task view

1. Open a task in ClickUp.
2. Click the Due date field or the date section in the task header.
3. Add or confirm a Start date and Due date.
4. Use the calendar panel to drag across multiple days, or set specific times for start and end.

The difference between the start and due date becomes your task duration. If you need the task to be shorter or longer, change one of the dates and the duration updates automatically.

Set duration on the Calendar view in ClickUp

1. Open the Calendar view for your List, Folder, or Space.
2. Locate your task on the calendar grid.
3. Drag the right edge of the task card to extend or shorten its length.
4. Release when the date range matches the duration you want.

As you drag, ClickUp updates both the due date and duration at the same time. This is helpful for quick planning and visual scheduling.

Set duration in Gantt and Timeline views in ClickUp

On timeline-based views like Gantt and Timeline, duration is represented by a horizontal bar.

1. Open your Gantt or Timeline view.
2. Find the task bar that represents the work item you want to adjust.
3. Grab the right edge of the bar to change the end date, or the left edge to move the start date.
4. Drag to the desired date and drop.

The total length of the bar equals the duration. Modifying it will also respect any dependencies or automatic scheduling rules set in the view.

Use duration with dependencies in ClickUp

Dependencies influence how duration works, especially in Gantt and Timeline views. When tasks are linked, changes to one task can shift others.

Auto-scheduling with duration and dependencies

If auto-scheduling is enabled, changing duration for a task can cause ClickUp to automatically move dependent tasks to keep the sequence valid. For example:

• Extending the duration of Task A may push back the start date of Task B if B depends on A.
• Shortening the duration of an upstream task can pull dependent tasks earlier in the schedule.

This automation helps keep complex project plans aligned without manually adjusting every task.

Best practices for using duration in ClickUp

To get consistent, reliable schedules, follow these recommendations when working with duration:

• Always set both start and due dates for work that needs to be scheduled or visualized clearly.
• Use all-day durations for simple tasks that span whole days without specific time windows.
• Add specific times when you need precise hourly planning or resource management.
• Leverage Gantt and Timeline views to see how duration and dependencies work together.
• Review auto-scheduling settings if you use dependencies, so changes to duration behave as expected.

When used consistently, duration makes it easier to report on timelines, forecast workload, and communicate project expectations.

Combine duration with other ClickUp features

Duration becomes even more powerful when combined with other features in your Workspace.

• Workload view: Use duration to estimate how much time team members are assigned across days or weeks.
• Custom Fields: Track estimated vs. actual duration to improve planning accuracy.
• Dashboards: Build widgets based on dates and duration to monitor timelines and capacity.

If you want expert help designing a scalable scheduling system, consider consulting specialists who understand how to structure work management setups. For example, advisory firms like Consultevo can assist with process design and implementation strategy.

Learn more about duration in ClickUp

Features and interfaces can evolve, so it is important to review official documentation for the latest behavior, requirements, and examples. You can find more details in the Help Center article Use task duration to schedule tasks.

By understanding how duration interacts with start and due dates, dependencies, and scheduling views, you can make ClickUp a more accurate reflection of your real project timelines and team workload.

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