Excel attendance sheet for construction workers

“I Thought We Had 20 Guys Here Today?”

That’s what I said one morning on-site, staring at a slab that clearly wasn’t ready and a crew that seemed way smaller than promised.

Our subcontractor swore they had 20 workers on-site.
I counted maybe 12.
Nobody could tell me exactly who showed up, for how long, or if they even started on time.

That was the moment I realized I needed something better than scribbled names on a scrap of cardboard. So I did what any stressed-out engineer would do—I opened Excel and built my own attendance tracker.

Fast forward two years, and I use that same simple sheet on every project. It’s not fancy, but it works. And it’s saved me time, money, and a lot of unnecessary arguments.

Why Attendance Tracking on Construction Sites Actually Matters

On most jobs, especially in finishing stages, you’ve got multiple trades coming and going. Carpenters one day, tilers the next, then suddenly 40 guys show up for a last-minute push—and you have no clue if they’re all supposed to be there.

Tracking who’s on-site isn’t about micromanaging. It’s about:

• Making sure you only pay for hours worked

• Knowing if you’re understaffed (before it’s too late)

• Avoiding disputes with subcontractors

• Staying compliant with safety or labor laws

• Having proof if things go sideways

I’ve had subcontractors try to bill for double the number of workers they actually had. But because I had an attendance log signed daily by the foreman, I had proof. That one spreadsheet saved our project $12,000. Not bad for something that took 5 minutes to fill out.

What a Good Excel Attendance Template for a Construction Site Should Include

Let’s be honest—most Excel templates online are overkill.

You don’t need macros or a 10-tab monster of a file. You just need something simple enough to use every day, even in a dusty site office with a slow laptop.

Here’s what’s worked best for me:

Basic Structure:

• Date

• Worker name

• Trade / Subcontractor

• Time in / Time out

• Total hours

• Remarks (e.g., late, left early, sick)

Optional (but super helpful):

• Overtime calculation

• Automatic total man-hours

• Dropdown lists for names and trades

• Weekly or monthly summary tab

• Highlighting absentees in red

Pro tip: keep it on Google Sheets if you want the foreman to update it from his phone. It syncs daily and you can access it anytime.

How I Actually Use It on My Sites

Step 1: Keep a Master List of Workers

Start a sheet with all names, trades, and the companies they work for. From there, create dropdowns so you’re not typing names every time.

Step 2: Fill Out the Daily Log

Each day, someone (usually the site admin or foreman) notes who’s on-site and for how long. I prefer doing this on-site first thing in the morning and then again before the crew leaves.

Step 3: Weekly Review

Every Friday, I review the week’s attendance totals. If one trade looks light on hours compared to the work expected, I follow up.

It’s that simple. No extra software, no drama.

Real-Life Example: The Day the Inspector Showed Up

We once had a labor inspector do a surprise visit.
He asked, “Can I see your attendance logs for the last 14 days?”
I opened my Excel sheet, showed him everything—worker names, hours, who signed off.

He looked surprised and said, “Most sites I visit don’t even track this properly.”

That sheet kept us out of trouble and showed the inspector we were running a tight ship. And all I did was update one Excel file daily.

For Beginners: Keep It Stupid Simple

If you're not great with Excel (or just hate it), don't worry. You don’t need anything fancy. Just follow these rules:

• Use filters — so you can sort by name, trade, or date

• Color-code late or missing entries

• Keep formulas locked — protect columns that calculate hours

• Print a weekly version for signing off

And most importantly: back it up daily. One corrupted file and you’re done.

FAQ: Construction Site Attendance Sheets

Can I use this for multiple sites?

Absolutely. Just copy the file, rename it with your site code or project name, and keep one per job.

Do I need to be good at Excel?

No. If you can enter names in a table and use basic formulas, you’re good. Most templates are plug-and-play.

Can this sheet calculate pay?

Yes. Just add a column for hourly rate and multiply it by total hours. Boom—payroll report.

What about digital apps or biometrics?

They’re great for big projects with bigger budgets. But Excel works just fine for most sites—and doesn’t require internet or licenses.

Final Thoughts: Sometimes the Best Tool is the One You Already Have

You don’t need expensive software to track who’s on-site. You just need to stay consistent.

This Excel sheet helped me:

• Catch billing errors

• Plan manpower better

• Stay compliant during audits

• Build trust with clients and contractors

All with a file that takes five minutes a day to update.

If you don’t already have a proper attendance log, now’s the time to start. You’ll thank yourself later when things go sideways and you’ve got the records to prove your case.

Want My Free Template?
You can grab the exact attendance tracking sheet I use on all my sites—clean, simple, and fully editable.

Let’s run smarter sites, one sheet at a time.