TL;DR: To set a due date on a task in Wrike, open the task, click the Date field, and select your due date from the calendar. You can also set dates directly from Table view or the Gantt Chart.
Hey Community! 👋
Every task needs a deadline. Setting a due date in Wrike makes sure your work shows up on calendars, dashboards, and timelines so nothing slips through the cracks. Here's what that means and how to do it.
What's a Due Date?
It's the date by which a task needs to be completed. Don't confuse it with the completion date, which is when the task actually gets marked as done.
In Wrike, setting a due date makes your task visible on calendars, dashboards, and timelines and if the due date passes without completion, the task is flagged as overdue.
How to Set a Due Date from Item View
This is the most common way to add dates to a task:
- Open the task you want to schedule.
- Click the Date field on the task panel.
- In the date picker that opens, set the Start date and Due date.
- Click Save.
Quick shortcuts: You'll see Today and Tomorrow options in the date picker for fast scheduling.
How to Set a Due Date from Table View
If you're working with a list of tasks, Table view lets you set dates without opening each task:
- Navigate to the folder, project, or space where the task lives.
- Switch to Table view.
- Make sure the Start date and Due date columns are visible.
- Double-click the cell in the Due date column next to your task.
- Select the date from the calendar that appears.
- Click anywhere outside the date picker to save.
Quick shortcut: If multiple tasks share the same due date, set it on one task, then drag the small dot in the bottom-right corner of the cell down to apply the same date to the tasks below.
How to Set a Due Date from the Gantt Chart
The Gantt Chart gives you a visual way to schedule tasks:
- Navigate to the folder, project, or space where the task is located.
- Switch to Gantt Chart.
- If the task is unscheduled, it appears at the bottom of the timeline. Click and drag it to the desired dates.
- Release your mouse to set the schedule.
You can also reschedule tasks by dragging and dropping them along the timeline.
A Simple Real-World Example
You're a project manager and your team needs to deliver a client presentation by Friday. You open the task "Finalize presentation deck," click the Date button, set the start date to Wednesday and the due date to Friday, and save.
The task now appears on your team's calendar and in the Gantt Chart, and anyone assigned to it can see exactly when it's due.
Good to Know
Detail | What to remember |
|---|
Who can set dates? | All users except Collaborators, Contributors, and Viewers. |
Working days only | This option is checked by default. Only weekdays count when calculating the end date based on duration. Uncheck it if you want weekends included. |
Due date without a start date | If you set only a due date (no start date), the task becomes a milestone: a single-day marker with no duration. |
Start date without a due date | This is not possible for tasks. If you remove the due date, the start date is cleared too and the task becomes unscheduled. (Projects can have independent start and due dates.) |
Changing the duration | If you change the duration, the due date shifts accordingly. |
Date-only fields | Wrike's built-in Start date and Due date fields support dates only, not specific times. If you need times, use a date-type custom field with the time option enabled in Wrike Labs. |
Maximum duration | Task duration cannot exceed 1,095 days. For longer timelines, consider using projects instead. |
Overdue tasks | If a task's due date passes and the task is still active, it's marked as overdue. You'll see this reflected in dashboards and filters. |
Learn More
For the full details on scheduling, the Wrike Help Center is a great next stop:
Related Posts in This Series
📌 Need to assign someone to that task? Check out "How to Assign a Task in Wrike".
📌 Want to track your deadlines in one place? See "How to Find Work Assigned to You in Wrike".
📌 Wondering about task statuses? See "How to Change Task Status in Wrike" (link coming soon).
Over to You
Do you usually set due dates from the task panel, Table view, or the Gantt Chart? Any tips for keeping your team's deadlines on track? Let us know below! 👇
