---
title: "Adding a progress bar to a task"
description: "Add a progress bar to a task to track a measurable metric such as budget, articles written, or units sold. You set the value manually, and each task can have one progress bar."
category: collaboration
section: projects-and-tasks
type: Tutorial
lastUpdated: 2026-08-09
locale: en
canonical: https://support.talkspirit.com/en/collaboration/how-to-add-a-progress-bar-to-your-task
---

# Adding a progress bar to a task


A progress bar tracks a measurable metric on a task, such as budget spent, articles written, or units sold. You set the current value yourself, by moving a slider or typing a number, so the bar is independent of subtask completion. Each task can have one progress bar. It appears in the task's **Progress** section and on the task card once the value is above zero.

## How do I add a progress bar?

1. Open the task to show its details.
2. In the **Progress** section, click **Add progress** (the **+** button).

The progress bar is created straight away on a default **0** to **100%** scale, starting at 0. There is no name to enter and no confirmation step.

![The task's Progress section with a newly added progress bar on the default 0 to 100% scale: the slider at its start position, the current value 0, and the % unit next to it](/images/collaboration/how-to-add-a-progress-bar-to-your-task/progress-section-default-scale.png)

## How do I set the unit and value range?

Change the unit and range after the bar is created.

1. Click the **unit** shown next to the value.
2. Select a preset (**%**, **pts**, **h**, **€**, **$**, **k**, or **M**), or type a **Custom unit** such as MRR.
3. When the unit or range is no longer the default 0 to 100%, the **Start** and **Target** fields appear below the bar. Set them to define your range, for example 0 to 500.
4. Set the current value by dragging the slider or typing the number next to the bar.

The percentage is calculated from the current value within the range you set.

![The unit picker open next to the progress bar, showing the preset grid (%, pts, h, €, $, k, M) and the Custom unit field with an OK button](/images/collaboration/how-to-add-a-progress-bar-to-your-task/progress-unit-picker.png)

## Where does the progress bar appear?

The progress bar appears in three places:

- In the task's **Progress** section, where you set and edit it.
- On the **task card** in **Board** view, once the value is above zero.
- As the **Progress** column in **List** view, when that column is shown.

![A task card in Board view showing an orange progress bar at 60% pinned at the bottom of the card, below the priority and due date](/images/collaboration/how-to-add-a-progress-bar-to-your-task/board-card-progress-bar.png)

## What is tracked in the task's activity?

Every change to the progress bar is recorded in the task's **Activity** tab:

- Adding the progress bar.
- Changing its unit or value range.
- Updating the current value.
- Removing the progress bar.

## Next steps

- [Adding subtasks to a task](/collaboration/how-to-add-subtasks-to-a-task)
- [Adding, editing, archiving, and deleting tasks](/collaboration/how-to-add-edit-archive-and-delete-tasks)
- [List, Board, Timeline and Calendar project views](/collaboration/kanban-hierarchy-list-timeline-task-board-views)