Hourly contracts on Upwork come with a client-set weekly hour limit, which defines the maximum time that can be logged and protected under Upwork's Hourly Protection. Only hours within this cap are billable unless a pre-approved bonus is arranged. Clients can raise the cap anytime (taking effect immediately), but reductions apply only in the following workweek.
Here’s what to know:
- Only the client can adjust the limit, but it should be a collaborative decision. Make sure you both agree on the hours needed before you begin.
- Only hours within the weekly limit are covered by Upwork's Hourly Protection. Anything over the limit won’t be billed.
- If you need to go over the limit, clients can still issue a bonus to cover the extra time. Be sure to discuss a bonus before you log the hours, however.
Pro tip: If you think you’ll need more hours than what’s allowed, don’t wait—message your client early. It shows professionalism, protects your time, and gives you both space to decide if the extra time makes sense.
A few timing notes:
- Increases to the weekly limit take effect immediately. If your client raises the cap midweek, any time you've already logged will count toward the new total.
- Decreases don’t kick in until the next workweek (which starts Monday at 00:00 UTC).