openproject/docs/system-admin-guide/time-and-costs/README.md

---
sidebar_navigation:
  title: Time and costs
  priority: 680
description: Define cost types and change the currency in OpenProject.
robots: index, follow
keywords: cost type, currency, time and costs, budget
---
# Time and costs

You can configure costs in OpenProject and create cost types to track unit costs. Also, you can configure the currency you want to use for your cost reports.

Navigate to *Administration* -> *Time and costs*.

## Settings

Navigate to *Administration* -> *Time and costs* -> *Settings* to define settings for costs in OpenProject.

1. Configure the **currency used in the system, e.g. EUR**.
2. **Specify the format of the currency**, if the number should be before or after the currency, e.g. 10 EUR, or $ 10.
3. Press the blue **Apply** button to save your changes.

![image-20201006155423521](image-20201006155423521.png)

## Create and manage cost types

You can create and manage **cost types** to [book unit costs to work packages in OpenProject](../../user-guide/time-and-costs/cost-tracking/).

Navigate to -> *Administration* -> *Time and costs* -> *Cost types* to create and manage unit costs types.

Click the green **+ Cost type** button to create a new cost type.

You can set the following options:

1. Enter a **name** for the cost type.
2. Define the **unit name** for this cost type, e.g. Euro, piece, day, etc.
3. Set the **pluralized unit name**, e.g. Euros, pieces, days, etc.
4. Choose if the cost type should be the **default cost type** when booking new unit costs.
5. Define the Rate history and **set a date** from which this cost type should be valid and **set a rate** (in the specified unit) for this date.
6. With the + icon you can add **additional rates for other dates**.
7. The delete icon will **remove a rate** for a certain date.
8. Do not forget to **save** your changes.

![Sys-admin-budgets-cost-types](Sys-admin-budgets-cost-types.png)

In the overview list of all cost types you can define the following.

1. **Filter for cost types at a certain fixed date** in the list
2. Choose whether also locked cost types should be displayed
3. Press the blue **apply** button: This way you will get the cost types with the rate (at the chosen fixed date) displayed in the list below.
4. Click on the name of a cost type to **edit an existing cost type**.
5. **Set a current rate** (for the current valid from period) and press the save icon to apply it.
6. **Lock** a cost type.
   Please note that you **can only lock but not delete** cost types.

![Sys-admin-budgets-cost-types-list](Sys-admin-budgets-cost-types-list-1579853898118.png)

<div class="alert alert-info" role="alert">
**Note**: With cost types you can also book any kind of units to work packages, e.g. vacation days, leaves, travel days, etc.. Just choose 1 as a unit. This way, you could e.g. track vacation days against a vacation budget and evaluate the days in the [cost reporting](../../user-guide/time-and-costs/reporting/).
</div>