How to track billable time
Billable time is every minute you spend on work a client has agreed to pay for: design, writing, meetings, calls, research and revisions. The easiest way to capture it is to start a timer the moment you start a task and stop it when you switch to something else. Type a short task description – it becomes the line item on your invoice – and add the client or project so you can filter and bill each client separately.
Forgot to start the timer? Use Add time manually and enter the time as hours and minutes (1:30) or decimal hours (1.5). The timer keeps running even if you close the tab or restart your browser, because the start time is saved on your device; only one timer can run at a time, which keeps your records honest.
Rounding rules: 6-minute and 15-minute increments
Many professionals bill in fixed increments instead of exact minutes. Choose a rounding option and each entry is rounded up to the next increment before totals and invoices are calculated. Your tracked minutes are never changed, so you can switch rounding at any time.
| Increment | Decimal | Common with | A 20-minute call bills as |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | exact | Designers, developers billing actual time | 0.33 h |
| 6 minutes | 0.1 h | Lawyers, accountants, consultants | 0.4 h |
| 15 minutes | 0.25 h | Agencies, trades, IT support | 0.5 h |
Worked example: on one day you log a 20-minute call, 1 hour 50 minutes of drafting and an 8-minute email. Exact time is 2.30 h. With 6-minute rounding the entries bill as 0.4 + 1.9 + 0.2 = 2.5 h; with 15-minute rounding they bill as 0.5 + 2.0 + 0.25 = 2.75 h. At $100 an hour that is $230, $250 or $275.
Lawyers traditionally bill in tenths of an hour, so even a short email counts as 0.1 h. Whatever you choose, state the rule in your contract or engagement letter so clients aren't surprised.
From hours to invoice
- Set your hourly rate and currency. Not sure what to charge? Work it out with the hourly rate calculator.
- Pick a client in the filter so the totals show only their unbilled time.
- Tick Group by task if you want one line per task (for example "Design – 12.5 h") instead of one line per day.
- Click Create invoice from unbilled time. The invoice generator opens with your line items, hours and rate filled in, and the entries are marked as billed so you never charge twice.
If you only need to add up hours for a single job, the billable hours calculator is quicker. For employee shifts with breaks and overtime, use the time card calculator.
Tips for accurate timesheets
- Write descriptions the client will understand. "Revised homepage hero after feedback" justifies the hours better than "Design".
- Track non-billable time too (admin, sales, learning) under your own name as the client. It shows how many hours you really work and keeps your rate realistic.
- Review entries daily. Five minutes at the end of the day catches a timer you forgot to stop.
- Invoice on a schedule – weekly or monthly – so unbilled hours don't pile up and cash keeps flowing.
- Export a CSV before you invoice; it is a ready-made timesheet you can attach as backup for the client.
Your data stays in your browser
There is no account and no server: time entries, your rate and the running timer are stored in your browser's local storage on this device. That keeps client work private, but it also means entries don't sync between devices and are deleted if you clear your browser data – export a CSV regularly as a backup.
Frequently asked questions
Does the timer keep running if I close the page?
Yes. The start time is saved in your browser, so when you come back the timer shows the full elapsed time. Only one timer can run at a time; stop it to save the entry.
How does 6-minute rounding work?
Each entry is rounded up to the next tenth of an hour: 1–6 minutes bills as 0.1 h, 7–12 minutes as 0.2 h and so on. The original minutes are kept, so you can turn rounding off at any time.
How do I invoice a client for tracked hours?
Choose the client in the filter, set your hourly rate and click Create invoice from unbilled time. The invoice generator opens with one line per entry (or per task if Group by task is ticked) and the entries are marked as billed.
Is my time data private?
Yes. Everything is stored only in your browser on this device – nothing is sent to a server. Export a CSV to back it up or move it to another device.
