---
title: "Assign default project labels to expense items"
slug: "assign-default-project-labels-to-expense-items"
tags: ["Area - Jobs, Appts, Projects", "Focus - Construction", "Focus - Service Replacement", "Role - Accountant", "Role - Admin", "Type - Commercial", "Type - Residential"]
updated: 2026-07-11T16:59:59Z
published: 2026-07-11T16:59:59Z
canonical: "help.servicetitan.com/assign-default-project-labels-to-expense-items"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.servicetitan.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Assign default project labels to expense items

## Overview

Set default project labels for pricebook items, job types, and technicians to streamline the labeling of expense items in projects. Labels are used to organize expenses in the Budget vs Actual table. You can view expenses by project phase and then drill down to see the breakdown of spending within each phase.

---

### 

#### Who uses this feature

- Accountants and managers
- Applies to all business types
- Applies to all trades

#### Feature configuration

- This feature is currently in Closed beta and available for specific accounts. To update your account, please contact [Technical Support](https://go.servicetitan.com/#/ask).

## Things to know

- Before you start, make sure to [create project labels and categories](/v1/docs/create-project-labels).
- You can set default labels for pricebook item types and technician labor. You can also assign labels to a specific pricebook item or technician. The assigned label takes precedence over the default label.
- Technicians cannot edit labels in ServiceTitan Mobile.
- Labels on invoices and estimates can be edited from the office.
- Expenses are grouped by label category in the Expense Details table of the project record. You can expand categories to view spending by label. ![Expense details showing budget, actual costs, and variances for various categories.](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/assign-default-project-labels-to-expense-items-image-mj7aiqii.png)

## Assign default project labels

When you add default project labels to an expense type, it's automatically assigned to an item when it's added to a project estimate or invoice. For example, you can set the Labor label as the default for all labor service items.

To add default labels:

1. Go to the navigation bar and click **Settings ![A simple icon representing a settings gear. ](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/icon-gnav-settings-inactive.png)**.
2. In the side panel, click **Operations** > **Project Settings**.
3. Click the **Default Labels** tab.
4. In the *Pricebook Items* section, click the dropdown for a pricebook item type to assign default labels. ![Dropdown menu displaying various default labels for pricebook items in a software interface.](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/assign-default-project-labels-to-expense-items-image-qqo1gx3v.png)
5. Under *Technician Labor*, select default labels for technician labor hours.
6. When you're done, click **Save**.

## Assign project labels to pricebook items

You can assign labels to individual pricebook items so that they're labeled when added to a project invoice or estimate.

To apply project labels to an existing pricebook item, edit the item:

1. Go to the navigation bar and click **Pricebook**.
2. In the side menu, click **Services**, **Materials**, or **Equipment**, depending on the pricebook item you want to edit. The item table opens. ![Pricebook interface displaying services, codes, descriptions, and pricing details for ductwork.](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/assign-default-project-labels-to-expense-items-image-lp6ff2xe.png)
3. Browse the table or use the search field to find the item you want to edit. You can search by item code, name, or description.

> [!TIP]
> **Tip:** Click **Filters** to open the filters menu. You can include items in the table based on price, sold hours, category, and other details. After you set your filters, click **Apply**.

![Filter options for selecting categories, hours, price, and status in a user interface.](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/assign-default-project-labels-to-expense-items-image-1k9i2x14.png)
4. For the item you want to edit, on the right side of the item table, click **More ![](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/assign-default-project-labels-to-expense-items-image-oekbuwmf.png)** and select **View/Edit Item**. ![Service list showing options for sealing ductwork with view/edit functionality highlighted.](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/assign-default-project-labels-to-expense-items-image-gl6yjfzw.png) *Edit Item* opens.
5. Click the **Project Label** dropdown and select the labels you want to assign. ![Dropdown menu showing various project labels including 'Materials' and 'Equipment'.](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/assign-default-project-labels-to-expense-items-image-vzzqxo6o.png)
6. When you're done, click **Save**.

## Apply labels to job types

Assign a label for a project phase to a job type to automatically attribute actuals to that phase. When a job of that type is booked on a project, the label applies to all paid timesheet activities and invoice items on the job.

1. Go to the navigation bar and click **Settings ![A simple icon representing a settings gear. ](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/icon-gnav-settings-inactive.png)**.
2. In the side panel, click **Operations** **>** **Job Types**.
3. Find the job type you want to apply a label to and click **Edit**.
4. Click the **Project Label** dropdown and select the label that corresponds to the appropriate project phase.
5. When you're done, click **Save**.

## Assign labor labels to technicians

Assign labels to each technician for their labor type. For example, all apprentice technicians who work on residential new construction should have project labels *Labor* > *Apprentice Labor*.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** If you don't apply labels to technicians, timesheet labor costs appear in the *Uncategorized* section of the Budget vs Actual table.

1. Go to the navigation bar and click **Settings ![A simple icon representing a settings gear. ](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/icon-gnav-settings-inactive.png)**.
2. In the side panel, click **People** **>** **Technicians**.
3. Find the technician you want to add a label to and click **Edit**.
4. Click the **Project Label** to assign labels. ![Dropdown menu showing various labor roles and skills for project management.](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/assign-default-project-labels-to-expense-items-image-78219hnh.png)
5. When you're done, click **Save**.

## Want to learn more?

- See [Edit pricebook items](/v1/docs/edit-pricebook-items)
- See [Project Job Costing report template](/v1/docs/project-job-costing-report-template)

A pre-release which is limited to certain users. Users must be selected to use the product and be approved before they have access.

[Learn more →](https://help.servicetitan.com/docs/procure-to-pay-p2p-glossary) · [See the full glossary →](https://help.servicetitan.com/docs/glossary-overview)

The calculation of actual costs (labor, materials, overhead) against revenue for each job to determine true profitability.

**What it does:** Shows which job types, technicians, or BUs are truly profitable after accounting for all costs, not just top-line revenue.

**Also called:** Job profitability, Cost tracking

**Tags:** Core

[See the full glossary →](https://help.servicetitan.com/docs/glossary-overview)