Kodavara Guide
ClickUp Relationships and Rollups: What They Do and Where They Stop
Relationships link tasks across Lists, and rollups, now called relationship columns, show or total their values. They are useful, but they are display columns with limits: a formula cannot use them, and only some field types can be calculated. This guide explains how they work and how to get a stored total instead.
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.
Two Kinds of Relationship Field
A Relationship custom field can link to any task in the Workspace, or only to tasks from a specific List. Only the specific-List type can pull custom fields into columns.
Relationships Are Not Dependencies
Linked tasks relate work that does not depend on each other. Dependencies are separate, with Blocks and Blocked by.
Relationship Columns, Formerly Rollups
In List view they can show dates, time tracked, time estimate, sprint points, status and, for List-to-List relationships, custom fields. Where a field can be calculated, you choose sum, average or range. Otherwise the values appear as a comma-separated list.
Calculations Are Limited
Custom Field calculations depend on the field type, and rolling up other types, such as dropdowns, is an open request. Standard fields such as time and points are handled separately.
Where It Falls Short
The Gaps People Run Into
If these are your problem, keep reading.
- Rollups from relationships cannot be used in Formula fields. It is an open request on ClickUp's feedback board.
- They are display columns in List view, so the total is not a value stored on the task. Check whether they can be used in automations before relying on them.
- AI custom fields cannot use relationship or rollup values, only task IDs.
- Supported calculations depend on the field and relationship type. Some types can be listed but not summed.
- Passing a value from a parent down to its subtasks, or rolling values up from subtasks to a parent, are requests rather than features.
Worked Example
Example: Native Rollup or a Stored Total?
A relationship column is the right tool for a quick view. When you need the total as a real value, with a code passed down, a link follows a different path.
| What You Need | ClickUp Relationship Column | With Code Linker |
|---|---|---|
| See total hours of linked tasks | Sum shown in List view | Total written onto the anchor task |
| Use that total in a formula | Not supported | Total stored in a field you can use |
| Pass a project code to linked tasks | Not supported | Value passed down, and followed on change |
| Total a dropdown or text field | Listed, not calculated | Choose from sum, count, min, max or completion |
Sample data for illustration.
How Render Code Linker Does It
Set It Up Once
Code Linker works alongside relationships. It links an anchor task to its work, passes values down and writes totals up as stored values.
Pick the Anchor Task
Choose the project or client task that should hold the total and the code.
Choose the Linked Work
Select the Lists or Folders that hold the work, and decide whether new Lists in a Folder are followed.
Define Totals Up and Values Down
Pick totals such as sum, count, minimum, maximum and completion, and the fields to pass down.
Preview the Result
See counts, sample rows, blocked rows with reasons and every total with its formula. The preview writes nothing.
Activate
Turn the link on. Each field has one owner, so two links cannot fight over the same field.
FAQ
Common Questions
Not here? Ask us.
What is a rollup in ClickUp?
A rollup shows or totals values from related tasks. It is now called a relationship column in List view, and where a field supports calculation you can choose sum, average or range.
Are relationships the same as dependencies?
No. Relationships link related tasks. Dependencies mark one task as blocking or waiting on another.
Can a formula use a rollup?
Not currently. Using rollups from relationships in Formula fields is an open request on ClickUp's feedback board.
Can I roll up a dropdown or text field?
ClickUp can list those values, but the calculations available depend on the field and relationship type.
Does Code Linker replace relationships?
No. Relationships are still how you link related tasks. Code Linker passes values down and writes totals up, which relationship columns do not store.
Which field types does Code Linker handle?
Text, dropdown, number, currency and date. It does not convert between types or currencies.
Keep Reading
Related Guides
Sync Custom Fields
ClickUp can reuse a custom field across lists, but values do not sync.
Read the Guide →GuideCustom Task IDs
ClickUp Custom Task IDs work per Space.
Read the Guide →GuideAI Credits and Admin Tasks
Some ClickUp AI features use credits.
Read the Guide →LiveRender Code Linker
The Kodavara app behind this guide, with features, examples and FAQs.
Learn More →Want Help Setting This Up?
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