Keeping track of work hours doesn’t need to be complicated — or expensive. With just a few Excel tricks, you can build a clean, accurate timesheet in minutes. Or better yet, grab our free downloadable template and get started right away!
This timesheet is perfect for:
- ✅ Freelancers and contractors logging billable hours
- ✅ Managers tracking employee shifts
- ✅ Teams who want a weekly breakdown of work
📋 What a Timesheet Should Include
Every useful timesheet tracks:
- Date
- Day of the week
- Clock-in and clock-out time
- Break time (in hours)
- Total hours worked (auto-calculated)
🛠 Step-by-Step: How to Build a Timesheet in Excel
1. Set Up the Header
Create a bold, centered title like “Employee Timesheet”. Below it, include fields for employee name, ID, and the week starting date.
2. Create a Work Week Table
Set up columns for:
- Date
- Day
- Time In
- Time Out
- Break (hrs)
- Total Hours (calculated with a formula)
3. Add a Weekly Summary
At the bottom, use this formula to add up the total hours:
=SUM(F8:F12) (or whatever your Total Hours column range is)
🎁 Download the Free Timesheet Template
Ready to get started? Download a fully formatted and formula-ready Excel timesheet template — no setup needed.
📥 Click here to download the Excel Timesheet Template
✨ Pro Tips
- 🖨 Print it weekly for physical signatures
- 🕵️♂️ Use
=TEXT(...,"hh:mm")for precise formatting - 📈 Want graphs or pivot tables? Add your weekly timesheets into a master log
🚀 Final Thoughts
Excel is one of the most powerful tools for tracking time without any subscriptions or logins. This timesheet can evolve with your business — add employees, automate payroll calculations, and more.
Need a multi-employee version or integrated payroll calculator? Just drop a comment — I’ll be happy to build it for you!