Free Excel Timesheet Templates to Track Work Hours and Payroll

With a well-structured Excel timesheet template, you can easily record employee attendance, monitor billable hours, and ensure accurate payments without investing in expensive software. Whether managing a small business, a remote team, or a personal work schedule, the right Excel template can streamline your time-tracking process.

However, with so many options available, the important question is: Which Excel timesheet templates are ideal for your specific needs? In this blog, we will answer this question and also explore better alternatives to Excel employee timesheets to help you improve efficiency and automate the process further.

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9 Excel Timesheet Templates

With so many Excel-based time tracking templates available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve curated a list of the best options, each offering unique features for tracking employee work hours. 

Whether you need a weekly, biweekly, or monthly timesheet template, we have an option that suits your needs.

1. Excel Timesheet Template by Microsoft365

Microsoft 365 provides a basic yet effective and simple Excel Timesheet Template suitable for individuals and small teams.

Doubled down as an employee timesheet template, it offers a straightforward layout for daily time entries. Users can record start and end times, as well as breaks. They can quickly input their daily hours and calculate the total hours worked on a weekly or monthly basis.

Here’s what you’ll like:

• Customize fields to add notes, adjust formulas, or tailor the template to your specific needs
• Export and share timesheets easily by saving them as a PDF or Excel file for managers or clients
• Use offline without interruptions by accessing and updating your timesheet anytime, anywhere

2. Excel Weekly Timesheet Template by Microsoft365

If you need a simple way to track work hours, the Excel Weekly Timesheet Template by Microsoft 365 is the solution. This structured spreadsheet makes it easy to enter start times, end times and breaks while calculating the total hours worked at the end of the week.

With dedicated fields for clock-in and clock-out times, lunch breaks, sick days, and overtime hours, this template ensures accuracy in tracking regular hours. It also has built-in formulas to automatically calculate total hours worked at the end of each week, eliminating manual calculations and reducing payroll errors.

Here’s what you’ll like:

• Keep your timesheet organized with a clean, easy-to-read layout
• Save time by printing or exporting completed timesheets for quick review
• Customize fields to fit your work schedule, overtime rules, or additional details like pay periods

3. Excel Employee Timecard Template by Microsoft365

Designed for businesses that need a structured time-tracking approach, the Employee Timecard Template by Microsoft 365 offers a clear format for logging work hours, breaks, and overtime.

The template’s detailed layout allows for accurate tracking of employee work hours and includes fields for task information. As a result, you get detailed inputs for time spent on each activity. Employees easily enter their shifts, ensuring accurate payroll calculations.

Here’s what you’ll like:

• Record daily clock-in and clock-out times in a structured format
• Export timecards for easy payroll processing and approvals
• Modify the template to include overtime, PTO, or shift differentials

4. Excel Timesheet with Breaks Template by Microsoft365

Tracking breaks is just as important as tracking work hours, and the Excel Weekly Timesheet Template by Microsoft 36 ensures that both are recorded accurately. This template is perfect for businesses that need detailed time logs, allowing employees to enter start and end times while factoring in breaks.

This template also focuses on accurately recording break times, which is essential for complying with labor laws and ensuring fair pay.

Here’s what you’ll like:

• Log paid and unpaid breaks to maintain accurate records
• Adjust break durations to match company policies or labor laws
• View total worked hours at a glance with automatic calculations

5. Excel Small Business Weekly Time Record Template by Microsoft365

Small business owners looking for an easy-to-use time tracking tool will find value in the Excel Small Business Weekly Time Record Template by Microsoft 365. Designed for teams that don’t rely on complex payroll systems, this template offers a balance of simplicity and functionality to track hours worked each week.

Here’s what you’ll like:

• Stay on top of weekly work hours without the need for expensive software
• Maintain clear records with a well-structured timesheet format
• Modify the template to include additional details like overtime or project-based tracking

6. Excel Biweekly Timesheet Template by TimeDoctor

For businesses and freelancers who process payroll every two weeks, the Excel Biweekly Timesheet Template by TimeDoctor offers a structured way to record work hours over 14 days.

This biweekly timesheet template comes with pre-built formulas that calculate work hours for both weeks automatically. The clean layout allows easy data entry and review, making it a go-to choice for businesses that want a straightforward yet effective way to track work time.

Here’s what you’ll like:

• Log daily hours and breaks while reviewing total hours at the end of each pay cycle
• Reduce errors by ensuring accurate tracking of regular hours and overtime
• Export timesheets effortlessly for approvals or record-keeping

7. Excel Weekly Timesheet Template by Vertex42

Vertex42’s weekly timesheet template offers a clean and professional design focusing on ease of use. It allows for detailed time entries, including project codes, task descriptions, and notes.

Moreover, it provides ample space for detailed time entries, allowing users to track their time precisely. Perfect for individuals and businesses, this template offers a practical way to keep track of weekly work schedules in a structured, printable format.

Here’s what you’ll like:

• Categorize their time and gain insights into their work patterns by project codes and task descriptions
• Quickly calculate total work hours, including overtime hours
• Save, print, or email completed timesheets with ease

8. Excel Timecard Calculator Template by Vertex42

The Excel Timecard Calculator Template by Vertex42 is an excellent tool for businesses and individuals who need to calculate total work hours, overtime, and pay automatically. Unlike basic timesheets, this template has built-in formulas that do the math for you, reducing errors and saving time.

Users enter their clock-in and clock-out times, and the weekly timesheet template instantly calculates total hours worked, overtime, and even gross pay if an hourly rate is included. 

Here’s what you’ll like:

• Automate hour calculations to save time and prevent errors
• Customize the template to fit your company’s time-tracking policies
• Track overtime and break deductions with built-in formulas

9. Excel Timesheet Template by Myhours

The Excel Timesheet Templates by Myhours come in multiple formats, allowing you to download the option you need. Whether it is a monthly, weekly, biweekly, or even daily timesheet template, you get the option designed to simplify time tracking and provide accurate records of employee hours.

Designed with simplicity and efficiency, these templates allow users to input work hours, breaks, and overtime seamlessly.

Here’s what you’ll like:

• Choose from multiple formats, including weekly, bi-weekly, and project-based tracking
• Customize templates to fit different job roles, industries, or billing structures
• Export timesheets effortlessly for invoicing or payroll processing

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Limitations of Using Excel for Timesheet Templates

While free Excel timesheets offer a convenient and accessible solution for tracking employee work hours, they also come with certain limitations. These limitations can hinder efficiency, accuracy, and scalability, especially for larger teams or businesses with complex time tracking needs.

Some of these limitations include:

• Lack of real-time collaboration: While Excel files are either stored locally or in the cloud, it is difficult for multiple users to access and update the Excel spreadsheet simultaneously. This leads to version control issues and delays in data collection
• Lack of automatic reminders: Unlike a calendar app or productivity tool, Excel doesn’t provide automatic reminders. This can make it challenging to ensure timely updates from all employees
• Manual errors: Since most Excel employee timesheet templates depend on manual entry of work hours, some discrepancies crop up, especially if tracking multiple projects or client billing
• Lack of analytics: While most Excel spreadsheets help you with automatic calculations of work hours, sick days, and rest breaks, they lack robust reporting and analytics capabilities similar to a workforce analytics tool
• Data security: An Excel spreadsheet might be accidentally deleted, lost, or accessed by unauthorized users if not properly managed. This is a big lapse, especially since this data is used for billing, payroll, and other HR requirements

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10 Alternatives to Excel Timesheet Templates

If you’re looking for a more efficient, automated, and collaborative time-tracking approach, switching to ClickUp’s time-tracking templates is a game changer. Unlike Microsoft Excel, ClickUp’s templates and time-tracking cards offer real-time monitoring, automatic calculations, and seamless integrations with payroll and project management tools for everyday work.

If you spend too much time manually entering data, switching between spreadsheets, or dealing with version control issues, you might want to consider the ClickUp Project Time Tracking feature.

By using this automated function, you eliminate the need for manual spreadsheets and gain advanced features like:

• Start and stop timers to effortlessly track time spent on each task, eliminating the need for manual guesswork or entries
• Generate real-time reports to understand where your team’s work hours are going and make it easier to bill clients
• Sync tracked time with payroll, invoices, and productivity tools without the extra hassle
• Set hourly rates, track billable vs. non-billable hours, and even automate timesheet reminders to log time to make time-tracking and productivity management more streamlined

What are ClickUp users saying about it? Here’s what Gemma Kuenzi, Art Director at Kredo Inc, had to say:

Below, we’ve listed some of the best ClickUp templates to replace traditional spreadsheet templates and take the features of ClickUp Project Management to the next level. Each timesheet template is built for a specific purpose, helping you track hours effortlessly, improve productivity, and streamline payroll processes.

1. ClickUp Consultant Time Tracking Template

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Consultants juggle multiple clients, projects, and billable hours—making time tracking a crucial part of their workflow. The ClickUp Consultant Time Tracking Template helps you log hours seamlessly, track billable vs. non-billable time, and generate precise reports without the hassle of spreadsheets.

Unlike static Excel templates, this dynamic tool provides real-time insights, helping consultants optimize their schedules and maximize revenue. With easy-to-use tracking fields and automated calculations, you can focus on delivering value instead of worrying about time logs.

What you’ll love about it:

• Automate time tracking with built-in ClickUp features to reduce manual entries
• Get instant breakdowns of billable and non-billable hours for accurate invoicing
• View your work in multiple formats—list, board, or calendar—to fit your workflow
• Sync with integrations like Google Calendar to track time seamlessly across tools

2. ClickUp Services Timesheet Template

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Managing work hours for a service-based business is tricky. The ClickUp Services Timesheet Template helps you accurately record employee hours, breaks, and overtime in one centralized place.

This template’s best feature is that it simplifies the process of tracking employee time for service-based businesses. Moreover, the template’s integration with ClickUp features, such as task management and communication, enhances team collaboration and project visibility.

What you’ll love about it:

• Assign tasks directly within the timesheet to keep track of work in real time
• Set up automatic time tracking for recurring tasks—no need for manual updates
• Generate client-ready reports in seconds to simplify invoicing
• Access your timesheet anywhere with mobile-friendly tracking on the go

3. ClickUp Attorney Time Tracking Template

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Legal professionals know that every billable minute counts. The ClickUp Attorney Time Tracking Template helps law firms, solo attorneys, and legal teams capture every hour worked—ensuring accurate billing and time management without spreadsheets slowing them down.

This template from ClickUp lets attorneys track time against specific cases, create a timesheet to link billable hours to tasks, and generate reports for clients in just a few clicks.

What you’ll love about it:

• Log time directly within case files for precise tracking
• Set hourly rates per client and auto-calculate billing totals
• Generate instant timesheets with filters for case, client, or date range
• Retrieve time logs from any device, ensuring you never miss a billable minute

4. ClickUp Personal Time Management Sheet Template

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Need help managing your time for personal and professional goals? The ClickUp Personal Time Management Sheet Template helps you break your day into manageable blocks, prioritize important tasks, and identify time-wasters. Whether you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, or just someone looking to optimize your schedule, this template has you covered!

It allows for easy task planning, time logging, and analysis of time usage, helping you identify areas for improvement. The best part about this template is that it is easy to adopt and configure to calculate weekly or monthly timesheets and provide actionable inputs automatically.

 What you’ll love about it:

• Plan your day with an intuitive time-blocking system
• Track personal vs. professional time to maintain work-life balance
• Get automated insights into where your time goes each week
• Customize categories to fit your lifestyle—work, fitness, learning, or leisure

5. ClickUp Time Allocation Template

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Suppose you ever wonder where all your time goes. In that case, the ClickUp Time Allocation Template helps teams and individuals break down time spent on different projects, clients, or tasks—giving you a data-driven approach to productivity.

Free from the hassle of Excel spreadsheets with endless rows, this template provides clear, visual insights into how your time is distributed, helping you allocate resources more effectively.

What you’ll love about it:

• Categorize time by project, client, or priority for easy tracking
• Visualize time allocation with charts and graphs for quick insights
• Identify inefficiencies and optimize workflows based on real data
• Set alerts if certain tasks or projects consume too much time

6. ClickUp Time Management Schedule Template

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The ClickUp Time Management Schedule Template is designed to help users create and manage their daily or weekly schedules. It provides a structured framework for planning tasks, setting deadlines, and tracking progress, promoting better time management and productivity.

This template enables users to create detailed schedules, assign tasks to specific time slots, and monitor their progress. It further helps to ensure that tasks are completed on time and that time is used effectively.

What you’ll love about it:

• Use calendar, board, or list views to structure your schedule the way you like
• Assign priorities and deadlines to focus on high-impact work
• Automate recurring tasks to eliminate the tedious process and improve efficiency.
• Sync with your calendar apps and time tracking software for an effortless scheduling experience

Learn how to track time with ClickUp 👇

7. ClickUp Time Box Template

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Time-boxing is a proven technique for boosting productivity, and the ClickUp Time Box Template makes it easy to implement. Plan focused work sessions, set time limits for tasks, and track progress—all within a structured ClickUp workflow.

Unlike Excel, which requires manual input, this template integrates with ClickUp’s automation to help you stick to time limits and optimize efficiency.

What you’ll love about it:

• Set time blocks for tasks to prevent distractions and boost focus
• Receive automatic notifications when time is up to keep sessions structured
• Track completed vs. scheduled tasks for better productivity insights
• Adjust time allocations dynamically without reformatting spreadsheets

8. ClickUp Time Analysis Template

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The ClickUp Time Analysis Template helps you track, categorize, and analyze your daily activities to optimize productivity. By understanding time usage patterns, you eliminate inefficiencies and make data-driven improvements to your workflow.

It also provides detailed reports and visualizations of time spent on tasks and projects. This allows you to understand how you spend your monthly or weekly hours and make amends accordingly.

What you’ll love about it:

• Analyze time trends with visual reports and real-time analytics
• Track project timelines to see where delays happen
• Monitor team capacity to prevent burnout and overload
• Export detailed reports to share insights with stakeholders

9. ClickUp Fillable Timeline Template

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Timelines are essential for visualizing project progress and deadlines, but manually creating them is almost always a hassle. The ClickUp Fillable Timeline Template makes it easy to design structured timelines for projects, events, and goals—all within an interactive ClickUp view.

This template allows you to adjust deadlines dynamically, track dependencies, and easily manage shifting timelines.

What you’ll love about it:

• Create adjustable project timelines without reformatting spreadsheets
• Link tasks to milestones to keep progress on track
• Use Gantt charts for a clear visual representation of deadlines
• Collaborate with teams in real time without outdated file versions

10. ClickUp Hourly Time Tracking Template

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When managing hourly work, accuracy is everything. Whether you’re a freelancer billing clients or a manager tracking employee hours, the ClickUp Hourly Time Tracking Template simplifies the process.

Log hours, categorize tasks, and generate reports effortlessly—all in one place. With a clear, visual layout, teams and individuals better understand workflows, avoid scheduling conflicts, and keep everyone aligned on project timelines.

What you’ll love about it:

• Start and stop timers directly from tasks for accurate logging
• Get real-time summaries of total hours worked per task or project
• Automatically calculate billable hours for easier invoicing
• Generate instant reports to review productivity trends

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What Makes a Good Excel Timesheet Template?

A good Excel timesheet template is a game-changer, whether you are a freelancer tracking your billable hours or an HR managing regular and overtime hours. Here are some factors that will help you pick the best one:

• Clear time entry fields: Select an Excel timesheet template that allows you to input work hours easily, breaks, and overtime requests, similar to a time-tracking software
• Automated calculations: Choose a timesheet template that includes built-in formulas to automatically calculate total hours worked, overtime, and wages to streamline payroll processing
• Customization: Go for an Excel timesheet template with customization options to easily modify entries and format based on your specific need, such as tracking daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly hours worked
• Timesheet compliance: Prioritize labor laws compliance so that if you are working in a specific industry or geographic area, your timesheet table adheres to these laws and supports legal compliance for your domain
• Integration with other tools: Pick free timesheet templates that work not only within the Excel system but integrate with other tools and apps like rostering software and project management tools

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Efficiently Track Your Time with ClickUp

Excel timesheet templates are a great starting point for tracking work hours, but they only take you so far. Some cons that slow you down and reduce efficiency are manually entering data, dealing with formula errors, and struggling with limited automation.

If you’re looking for a smarter, faster, and more collaborative way to track time, it’s time to switch to ClickUp, the everyday app for work! ClickUp’s time tracking tools, automated reports, and real-time insights make managing work hours effortless. Whether you’re a freelancer, HR professional, or business owner, ClickUp ensures seamless time tracking, accurate payroll management, and enhanced productivity!

Try ClickUp for free today and say goodbye to manual spreadsheets and hello to a smarter way to track time! 🚀

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