A timesheet is a record of how much time you worked over a period — usually broken down by day, client, project, or task. Freelancers and hourly workers use timesheets to track billable hours, and businesses use them for payroll and project costing. The output is a clear total of hours (and often the amount owed).

What should a timesheet include?

At minimum: the date, who or what the work was for (client or project), a short task description, the hours worked, and whether the time is billable. If you bill by the hour, add the rate and a running total so the timesheet doubles as the basis for an invoice.

What are the types of timesheets?

The common types are daily, weekly, and monthly timesheets (grouped by period), and project or client timesheets (grouped by what the time was spent on). Formats range from paper and spreadsheets to time-tracking apps that record hours automatically.

How do freelancers use a timesheet?

Freelancers track billable hours against each client or project, then turn those hours into an invoice. The cleanest setup uses one tool to both track the time and generate the invoice, so the hours flow straight onto the bill instead of being re-typed from a spreadsheet.

Is a timesheet the same as an invoice?

No. A timesheet records the hours you worked; an invoice is the bill you send a client to get paid. They are closely linked — a timesheet is usually the source data for an hourly invoice — but the timesheet is internal tracking and the invoice is the client-facing request for payment.

What Is a Timesheet? Types, What to Include & Examples (2026)

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