Before software, there was the time card: a stiff slip of paper with a hole at the top, pushed into a clock that stamped the time of arrival and departure. The clock is gone from most workplaces, but the card has a charm and a usefulness that outlasts it. A long, narrow card is easy to hang on a rack, quick to fill in, and clear to read. This template recreates it, in a size of 4 by 9.5 inches, for a fortnight of days.
A Kraft Card With a Punch Hole
The page is a warm kraft brown with an inner cream card, slightly rounded at the corners. A circle near the top edge marks the hole for the rack or hook. The whole design is drawn from shapes, so you can recolour the card or remove the hole. The look is nostalgic, and it suits workshops, cafes, small factories, makerspaces, and anyone who likes tools that feel real.
Typewriter Type for a Stamped Look
All the text uses Courier Prime, a typeface that echoes old typewriters and time clocks. TIME CARD is set in bold capitals with wide spacing, between two heavy rules. The header fields carry small spaced labels and bold values. Using one monospaced font throughout keeps the card visually unified and reminds people of the stamped numbers of the original.
Name, Card Number and Pay Period
The four fields near the top are name, card number, department, and pay period. The sample belongs to Hector Alvarez, card 0457, in packing, for the period 2 to 15 November. Card numbers are useful when several people share similar names, and the department field helps a supervisor sort a stack at the end of the period.
Fourteen Days on One Card
| Column | What goes in it | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Day number and weekday | 2 Mon |
| IN | Time of arrival | 8:55 AM |
| OUT | Time of departure | 5:02 PM |
| HRS | Hours after a 30-minute break | 7.62 |
The card lists a full fortnight from Monday 2 November to Sunday 15 November, with weekends left blank in the sample.
Reading the Total Box
A black bar near the bottom of the card shows total hours in cream type. In the sample, it reads 76.68 for the ten working days. The two weekday sets run 7.52 to 7.82 hours, because clock times vary by a few minutes, just as they do on a real time clock. The slightly irregular times make the sample feel authentic.
Filling the Card by Hand
This card is designed to be printed and written on by hand, or filled in at a time clock by stamping over the cells. The cells are tall enough for handwriting, and the alternating cream and tan rows help the eye follow a line from left to right. At the end of the period, the employee adds the hours column and writes the total.
Using It With a Time Clock
If you own a mechanical or electronic time clock that prints on cards, check the card size it takes and match the template to it. Standard cards vary by make, so measure your slot before printing. Where a clock does not fit, a hand-filled card is a perfectly good record on its own.
Printing on Card Stock
This template is made for card stock. Choose 100 to 200 gram paper, set the printer to the heavy paper option, and print at actual size. Trim around the cream card if you wish to remove the brown margin, or leave the margin for a framed look. Keep spare blank cards beside the rack, ready for new starters.
Hanging Cards on a Rack
Punch the hole with a standard hole punch, and hang the cards on a hook or a simple rack by the door. At the start of the period, put new cards in alphabetical order. Moving a card from one rack to another when someone arrives and leaves was part of the old ritual, and it is a surprisingly good way to see at a glance who is in.
Editing the Fields and Rows
All the text is editable, and the table is a real Table object. To change the pay period, retype the field. To make a one-week card, delete seven rows and reduce the card height by shortening the cream rectangle. The sign-off lines for employee and supervisor are at the bottom.
Signing at the End of the Period
Employee and supervisor lines sit under the total box. The employee signs to confirm the hours, and the supervisor signs to approve them. A signed card goes to payroll, which keeps it for the required retention period. Check local rules, because they differ from place to place.
Why Some Workplaces Still Prefer a Paper Time Card
A paper card needs no login, no battery, and no internet connection. It works during a power cut, in a yard or a workshop with dirty hands, and for staff who are not comfortable with apps. It is also visible to everyone, so a supervisor sees at once who has clocked in. For small teams, that simplicity is often worth more than automation.
Storing Completed Time Cards Safely
When the period ends, collect the cards, check the totals, and file them in date order in a labelled box or folder. Scanning each card takes seconds and gives you a backup. Keep the originals for as long as your local rules require, then shred them. A tidy archive makes any later question about hours a quick lookup instead of a hunt.
Making the Time Card Work for a Seasonal or Temporary Crew
Temporary workers join and leave quickly, and a card per person is an easy way to track them. Hand over a blank card on the first day, ask the worker to fill in their name and card number, and file it at the end of the placement. The cards then double as a simple record of who worked when.
Time Card Questions
Can I use it for a weekly pay period?
Yes. Fill in only the first seven rows, or delete the extra rows.
Does it fit a standard time clock?
That depends on the clock. Measure your slot and compare it with 4 by 9.5 inches.
Why is the total typed?
The table holds text. Add the hours column yourself and type the total.
