# How to see how long a Jira work item has been open

> The Days open for Jira template adds a Days open column after Created in Jira's List view, in your own browser.

Published 2026-09-27, updated 2026-09-28 · Jira · https://skins.dev/blog/jira-issue-age/

Asked for since 22 June 2007: Atlassian's Jira tracker (JRACLOUD-12958), https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRACLOUD-12958 (143 votes on Cloud, 252 on Data Center).

**Jira shows when a work item was created, but not how many days it has been open. The Days open for Jira template adds that count as a column in the List view, in your own browser, with no admin rights needed.**

## Steps

1. In Skins Studio, open **Explore**, pick **Days open for Jira** and click **Create App**.
2. On Jira, open the **Skins** side panel from the browser toolbar. The skin is listed under **On this page**.
3. Switch it on. Jira reloads with the Days open column.

<iframe class="demo-film" src="/how/template-film.html?t=jira-days-open" title="Turning on the Days open for Jira template" loading="lazy"></iframe>

## What you get

- A Days open column right after Created in the List view.
- Built from Jira's own header and cells, so it matches the other columns.
- Open work items show days open on a lozenge: green under a week, amber under 30 days, red from 30 days.
- Done work shows "Done" instead of a count.

## Limits

- Only in the List view, only in your browser.
- Not a Jira field: you can't search it in JQL or sort a filter by it.
- Doesn't feed dashboards, reports or SLA tracking.
- Colleagues see the column only if they turn it on too.

## Other options

- **Calculated custom field**: computes the age as a field. Needs a site admin to set up and maintain.
- **Scripted field from a Marketplace app**: the same, as a script. Needs a site admin, and the app is paid.
- **Ask Atlassian**: vote on the ticket.

Try Skins: https://skins.dev/ · Install: https://skins.dev/docs/install/