How to Use ClickUp for Time Tracking

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How to Use ClickUp for Time Tracking and Productivity

ClickUp is more than a project management tool. Used correctly, it becomes a powerful time tracking hub that can replace tools like TMetric while centralizing work, tasks, and productivity insights in one place.

This how-to guide walks you step by step through setting up time tracking, managing billable work, and using reports so your team always knows where time is going.

Why Use ClickUp Instead of Standalone Time Trackers

Traditional apps like TMetric focus only on tracking hours. ClickUp combines time tracking with tasks, docs, and project workflows so that every minute is directly tied to real work.

Key benefits include:

  • One workspace for tasks, documents, and tracked time
  • Less context switching between multiple tools
  • Better reporting because time is linked to tasks, lists, and projects
  • Flexible dashboards and views for teams and managers

Because of this, many teams move from single-purpose tools to ClickUp to gain a full view of productivity.

Set Up Your Workspace in ClickUp

Before tracking hours, configure your workspace so time entries always have context.

Create Spaces and Folders in ClickUp

  1. Log in to your workspace.

  2. Create a Space for each department or major client.

  3. Inside each Space, add Folders for projects, sprints, or engagements.

  4. Within each Folder, create Lists that group related tasks (for example, Design, Development, Marketing).

This structure makes it easy to see how tracked time rolls up from tasks to Lists, Folders, and Spaces in ClickUp.

Build Task Templates in ClickUp

Time tracking is most valuable when it is consistent. Create reusable task templates so your team always has a clear place to log time.

  1. Open any List and click + Task.

  2. Add standard fields such as description, assignee, due date, and custom fields if needed.

  3. Save as a Template so you can reuse it across projects.

  4. Encourage your team to create tasks from these templates before they start work and time tracking in ClickUp.

Enable Time Tracking in ClickUp

Next, turn on the native time tracking features so you can start logging hours directly on tasks.

Turn On the Time Tracking Feature

  1. Go to your workspace settings.

  2. Navigate to the ClickApps section.

  3. Locate the Time Tracking option.

  4. Enable it for the Spaces where you want to track hours.

Once enabled, you will see a time tracking area inside each task in ClickUp.

Configure Time Tracking Options in ClickUp

Fine-tune how your team records their time:

  • Billable vs non-billable: Allow users to mark entries as billable.
  • Required time tracking: Decide whether certain Lists or workflows require a time entry before tasks can move stages.
  • Time rounding: Choose whether to round entries for easier invoicing.

These settings help ClickUp behave more like a dedicated time tracking tool while still keeping everything in one platform.

Track Time on Tasks in ClickUp

With configuration complete, you can start capturing work hours directly on tasks.

Start and Stop Timers in ClickUp

  1. Open a task from any List.

  2. Locate the Time Tracking area in the task sidebar or header.

  3. Click Start to begin the timer when you start working.

  4. Click Stop when you finish or switch tasks.

  5. Confirm or edit the duration if needed.

This method works well for focused work sessions and keeps a precise record of how long each task took in ClickUp.

Log Time Manually in ClickUp

Sometimes you will need to add time after the fact, such as meetings or quick tasks.

  1. Open the relevant task.

  2. In the time tracking section, select Log Time or the manual entry option.

  3. Enter the date, start and end times, or total duration.

  4. Mark the entry as billable or non-billable if available.

  5. Save the entry so ClickUp attaches it to the task history.

Encourage your team to log time daily so your reports in ClickUp remain accurate.

Manage Billable Hours in ClickUp

For client work or internal chargebacks, capturing billable time correctly is essential.

Mark Billable Entries in ClickUp

  1. When you start a timer, check whether the time should be billable.

  2. If manual logging, enable the Billable toggle or field.

  3. Use consistent naming for tasks so invoices are easy to understand.

By tagging entries correctly, ClickUp reporting can separate billable and non-billable hours for each project.

Group Billable Work by Client or Project

Use Spaces, Folders, or custom fields to identify clients or cost centers.

  • Create one Space per client, then Lists for each project.
  • Alternatively, use a Client custom field on tasks.
  • Filter ClickUp reports by that field to generate billable summaries.

This structure ensures every tracked minute in ClickUp can be matched to the right invoice or internal report.

Analyze Productivity with ClickUp Reports

Time tracking is only useful when you can analyze it. Reporting in ClickUp helps you understand workload, efficiency, and project health.

Use Time Reports in ClickUp

  1. Open the reporting or dashboards area.

  2. Select a Time-based widget or report type.

  3. Filter by Space, Folder, List, assignee, or date range.

  4. Group data by task, user, or billable status.

These reports show where your team spends time, which tasks consume the most hours, and whether work is aligned with priorities in ClickUp.

Build Custom Dashboards in ClickUp

Dashboards let you combine time metrics with task completion and workload data.

  • Add Time Tracking widgets to show total hours per user.
  • Include Task widgets to track work in progress.
  • Use Charts to visualize billable vs non-billable time.
  • Share dashboards with stakeholders so they can review ClickUp data without digging into every task.

Over time, you can refine these dashboards to highlight the metrics that matter most to your organization.

Replace TMetric with ClickUp Step by Step

If you currently use TMetric or a similar tool, you can transition gradually.

  1. Map your current structure: List your clients, projects, and categories in your existing time tracker.

  2. Mirror the structure in ClickUp: Create Spaces, Folders, Lists, and fields that match how you already work.

  3. Run a pilot: Ask one team or project to track time only in ClickUp for a few weeks.

  4. Compare reports: Ensure ClickUp reports provide the detail you need to invoice or analyze productivity.

  5. Decommission legacy tools: Once reports match your needs, encourage all teams to use time tracking exclusively in ClickUp.

If you want to review what teams look for when comparing options, you can study tools positioned as TMetric alternatives at this detailed overview.

Optimize Your ClickUp Setup Over Time

After your team has used time tracking for a while, refine your workflows.

  • Review which tasks frequently exceed their estimated time and adjust planning.
  • Use ClickUp reports to rebalance workload between team members.
  • Clean up unused Lists or Spaces so time tracking remains simple.
  • Update templates and custom fields when you discover better ways to categorize work.

For deeper process optimization and automation strategies around tools like ClickUp, you can consult specialists such as Consultevo to design scalable setups for larger teams.

Final Thoughts on Using ClickUp for Time Tracking

By enabling time tracking, building clear task structures, and using reports effectively, you turn ClickUp into a unified system for projects, productivity, and billable work. Start with a single team, refine your approach, and then roll out your time tracking framework across the organization for consistent, reliable insights.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.

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