Employee Timesheet Template
Track hours worked, breaks, and overtime so employees are paid accurately for each pay period.
Opens a fillable version in your browser. Free, no account, and free to download. This is a helper, not the official form.
About Timesheet
A timesheet records the hours an employee works during a pay period. It captures start and end times, break periods, and total hours, and it may separate regular hours from overtime. Employers use timesheets to calculate pay and to keep required records of time worked.
Accurate timesheets protect both employees and employers by creating a clear record of hours. They support payroll, help managers monitor workloads, and provide documentation if questions about pay ever arise.
This is a general template, not an official form. Adjust the pay period, overtime rules, and break tracking to match your company policy and applicable wage and hour laws.
Who needs to complete it
- Hourly employees who need to report their time worked
- Managers who review and approve staff hours
- Small business owners running payroll without dedicated software
- Contractors billing clients by the hour
How to fill out Timesheet
- 1Enter the employee name, title, and department.
- 2Enter the manager name and the pay period start and end dates.
- 3For each day, record the start time, end time, and any breaks taken.
- 4Calculate the total hours worked for each day.
- 5Separate regular hours from overtime hours where applicable.
- 6Add up the totals for the full pay period.
- 7Have the employee sign to confirm the hours are accurate.
- 8Have the manager review and approve the timesheet.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate overtime on a timesheet?
Overtime is usually the hours worked beyond a set threshold, often 40 hours in a workweek, paid at a higher rate. The exact rules depend on federal and state law and your job classification, so apply the threshold and rate that fit your situation.
Do I need to track unpaid breaks?
Recording breaks helps you calculate paid hours correctly and document compliance with break requirements. Many employers note both the break start and end times so the total worked hours are accurate.
Should employees and managers both sign the timesheet?
A signature from the employee confirms the hours are accurate, and manager approval creates a clear record for payroll. Signed timesheets are helpful if a pay dispute ever comes up.
Can I rely on this timesheet template?
This is a general template and wage and hour laws vary by state, so confirm your local requirements for overtime, breaks, and record keeping before you rely on it.