# Utilisation rate

> Billable time divided by available working time, usually expressed as a percentage for a person or team.

## What it means

Definition for consultancies and agencies: billable hours divided by available hours, with a worked example using clearly fictional numbers; which hours count as available (leave, admin, training) and why a team does not aim for 100%. British ‘utilisation’ and US ‘utilization’ explained. PlexiDesk does not calculate utilisation; say so plainly, and add only that a Table of time entries with a Chart can show it if you keep the entries (/help/widget-table, /help/widget-chart). Related: scope-creep, statement-of-work, planning-fallacy.

## A practical example

A fictional consultant records 24 billable hours from 32 available hours: 24 ÷ 32 = 75% utilisation.

## Put it into practice

- Name the concrete situation before applying the label. Utilisation rate is useful only when it changes a choice, boundary or next action.
- Make the state visible: write the owner, time, source or stopping condition down instead of relying on memory.
- Review what happened. Keep the part that reduced ambiguity and change the part that added ceremony without helping the work.

## How it relates to Plexii