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Free Timesheet Template — Fill Out & Download Instantly

Free — No Sign-Up RequiredPDF & WordContent date March 22, 2026

A timesheet is a document that records the hours an employee or contractor works during a specific pay period. Timesheets are used for payroll processing, client billing, project tracking, and compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime requirements.

⚠️ Important: This is a general informational template, not legal advice or a guarantee of validity. Requirements vary by state and situation. Verify current official requirements and seek a licensed attorney for consequential matters. Review our sources and methodology.

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What Is a Timesheet Template?

A timesheet is a document that records the hours an employee or contractor works during a specific pay period. Timesheets are used for payroll processing, client billing, project tracking, and compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime requirements. This template provides a clear, professional timesheet covering up to two weeks of daily time entries, with fields for regular hours, overtime, and supervisor approval..

When Do You Need It?

Use this template for hourly employees who need to track their hours for payroll, contractors who bill clients by the hour, or any organization that needs to document work hours for FLSA compliance. Timesheets should be submitted at the end of each pay period and approved by a supervisor before payroll is processed..

What's Included in This Template

  • Employee and department identification
  • Pay period start and end dates
  • Daily time entries (time in, time out, lunch break, total hours) for up to 10 days (2 weeks)
  • Weekly totals for each week
  • Overtime hours tracking
  • Total regular and overtime hours
  • Optional hourly rate and earnings calculation
  • Employee and supervisor signature lines
  • Approval date field

How to Fill It Out

1
Enter Employee and Period Information — Fill in the employee's name, ID, department, and manager. Select the pay period type and enter the start and end dates of the period covered.
2
Log Daily Hours — For each workday, enter the time in, time out, and lunch break duration. The total hours for each day will be based on these entries.
3
Record Weekly Totals — Sum the daily hours for each week. Enter total regular hours and any overtime hours worked (hours over 40 in a workweek under federal FLSA rules).
4
Sign and Submit for Approval — The employee signs and dates the timesheet certifying the accuracy of the hours reported. The supervisor reviews and signs to approve before payroll processing.

Legal Requirements & Notes

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to keep accurate records of hours worked for non-exempt employees. Non-exempt employees must be paid overtime (1.5x regular rate) for all hours over 40 in a workweek. Some states (e.g., California) require daily overtime for hours over 8 in a day. Employers must retain payroll and time records for at least three years under the FLSA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) — those who are paid hourly or who do not meet the salary and duties tests for exemption — must have their hours tracked. Exempt salaried employees are generally not required to track hours for payroll purposes, though some organizations use timesheets for project billing or resource planning.