Kodavara Guide
ClickUp Custom Task IDs per List or Project: What ClickUp Does and Your Options
ClickUp's Custom Task IDs give tasks a prefix and a running number, but they are set per Space. If you need a separate series for each List or project, with its own prefix, restarts or a number that appears on a document, you need another route. This guide shows both.
Last reviewed October 2026. ClickUp changes often, so check ClickUp's help center for the latest. Written by Kodavara, an independent ClickUp Partner. Not published or endorsed by ClickUp.
What ClickUp Does Today
What You Can Do Natively
Start with the features available on your ClickUp plan.
Turn It On Per Space
Open the App Center, find Custom Task IDs and select the Spaces. Each Space gets its own prefix, always in capitals, and a starting number above zero.
Automatic Numbering
New tasks in the Space increment from your starting number, for example SALES-123. ClickUp says the IDs work in views, git integrations and other places regular IDs are used.
Moving Tasks
Moving a task to another Space that uses Custom Task IDs gives it a new ID from that Space. The underlying ClickUp ID never changes.
Good for Simple Needs
If one prefix and one counter per Space is enough, the native feature is the simplest answer.
Where It Falls Short
The Gaps People Run Into
If these are your problem, keep reading.
- The scope is the Space. There is no way to number per Folder, per List or per project inside one Space.
- Numbers cannot restart each year or month, and the pattern cannot include dates or custom field values.
- There is no central place to see every custom ID, or the history of IDs used.
- A moved task gets a new ID in its new Space, so a number is not permanent.
- The ID is not written into a field you can place on a document.
Worked Example
Example: Separate Series for Each Project
Each List gets its own pattern, counter and restart rule. The number is written to a custom field or the task name when the task reaches the status you choose.
| List | Pattern | Restart | Example Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Projects | WEB-{YYYY}-{counter} | Each year | WEB-2026-0042 |
| Marketing Requests | MKT-{counter} | Never | MKT-0107 |
| Support Cases | CASE-{YY}{MM}-{counter} | Each month | CASE-2610-0031 |
| Contracts | CTR-{FY}-{counter} | Each fiscal year | CTR-FY27-0009 |
Sample data for illustration.
How Render Sequencer Does It
Set It Up Once
The Sequencer numbers tasks by rule, with a separate series wherever you need one.
Create a Series for Each List or Folder
Give each series its own pattern, padding, starting number and restart rule, and limit it to the List or Folder it should number.
Choose Which Tasks Qualify
Number only tasks in the status you choose, with the tags, task types or created-after date you set.
Test on a Real Task
See every rule checked and the number it would get, without using one up.
Pick Where the Number Goes
Write it to a custom field, the task name, a comment or a tag. Render does not change ClickUp's own Custom Task ID.
Add the ClickUp Automation
Build an automation that calls the series when a task reaches your chosen status. A task asked twice gets the same number back, so retries are safe.
FAQ
Common Questions
Not here? Ask us.
Can ClickUp number tasks per List?
There is no per-List or per-project numbering. Custom Task IDs are set per Space.
Can ClickUp numbers restart every year?
Not natively. The Sequencer can restart yearly, monthly, daily or on a fiscal year, using your time zone.
Will the Sequencer replace ClickUp's Custom Task IDs?
No. It writes the number to a field or the task name. ClickUp's own Custom Task ID is left alone.
Can two tasks get the same number?
No. A number is unique for the life of the series, even when many tasks are numbered at the same moment.
Will it number my old tasks?
Only if you allow it. Choose a created-after cutoff when you set a series up so existing work is left alone.
When should I stay with the native feature?
When one prefix and one running counter per Space is enough. It costs nothing extra and needs no setup beyond the App Center.
Keep Reading
Related Guides
WBS Numbering
ClickUp has no built-in WBS numbering.
Read the Guide →GuideTask to PDF
How to turn a ClickUp task into a PDF: native print and Docs export, and how to generate a branded job sheet with checklist and custom fields.
Read the Guide →GuideSync Custom Fields
ClickUp can reuse a custom field across lists, but values do not sync.
Read the Guide →LiveRender Sequencer
The Kodavara app behind this guide, with features, examples and FAQs.
Learn More →Want Help Setting This Up?
Tell us what you are trying to get done and we will point you at the fastest route.