Timesheet Template
A timesheet records hours worked for payroll, client billing or project tracking. This weekly template logs each day's start, end, break and total, sums the week, and leaves room for approval — the Excel version totals automatically so payroll and invoicing are quick and accurate.
Last reviewed 2026-07-08
Template preview
- Employee / contractor:
- Name
- Week starting:
- 2026-07-06
- Project / client:
- Acme Co
- Manager:
- Approver name
- Rate (optional):
- $45.00/hr
| Day | In | Out | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 09:00 | 17:30 | 8.0 |
| Tue | 09:00 | 17:00 | 7.5 |
| Wed | 09:00 | 18:00 | 8.5 |
| Thu | 09:00 | 17:00 | 7.5 |
| Fri | 09:00 | 13:00 | 4.0 |
| Total hours | 35.5 | ||
| Amount (hrs × rate) | $1,597.50 | ||
| Approved by / date | ____________ | ||
How to fill in each field
In / out / break
Log start, end and any unpaid break so daily hours are accurate.
Common mistake: Recording only a daily total, which is hard to verify or dispute.
Weekly total
Sum the week; the Excel version does this automatically with a formula.
Common mistake: Manual addition errors that throw off payroll or billing.
Project / client
Tag hours to a project or client if you bill or cost by them.
Common mistake: No project tag, so billable vs non-billable can't be split.
Approval
Include an approver signature/date line for payroll or client sign-off.
Common mistake: No approval field, delaying payroll or disputed billable hours.
Related templates & variants
A timesheet records hours. To bill those hours to a client, carry the total into the freelance invoice or consulting invoice.
A freelance invoice template for hourly and fixed-project work. Track billable hours, rates and deposits.
A consulting invoice template with monthly retainer, day-rate work and reimbursable expenses.
A free Excel invoice template with auto-calculating totals and tax. Download the .xlsx, or copy the table. Includes formulas and a field-by-field guide.
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Frequently asked questions
What should a timesheet include?+
The employee or contractor, the week/period, project or client, daily start/end and breaks, daily and weekly totals, an optional rate and amount, and an approval line.
Does the Excel timesheet total automatically?+
Yes — the .xlsx version sums the hours column and can multiply by your rate, so the weekly total and amount update as you enter times.
How do timesheets relate to invoicing?+
For hourly work, the approved timesheet total feeds your invoice. Keep the timesheet as the backup record in case a client questions billed hours.
Sources & further reading
- Add custom fields to a weekly timesheet (WorkflowMax)— support.workflowmax.com
- Time sheet fields (Salesforce)— help.salesforce.com
We review authoritative guidance when building each template. Links are for reference only.