Calculate the hours you worked between a start and end time, minus unpaid breaks, in hours and minutes and as a decimal for timesheets and pay.
How to calculate hours worked
- Convert start and end times to a 24-hour clock or count the minutes between them.
- Subtract any unpaid breaks.
- Convert to decimal hours for pay by dividing the minutes by 60.
Hours worked = (end time − start time) − unpaid breaks
Decimal hours = hours + minutes ÷ 60
Worked example
A shift from 8:30 AM to 5:15 PM is 8 hours 45 minutes long. With a 45-minute unpaid lunch, you worked exactly 8 hours, or 8.00 decimal hours. Five days like that add up to 40 hours.
Minutes to decimal hours
| Minutes | Decimal | Minutes | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 0.25 | 45 | 0.75 |
| 20 | 0.33 | 50 | 0.83 |
| 30 | 0.50 | 10 | 0.17 |
A common mistake is writing 7 hours 30 minutes as "7.30" on a timesheet. It should be 7.50.
Overnight shifts
If the end time is earlier than the start time, such as 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM, the calculator assumes the shift crosses midnight and counts 8 hours 30 minutes before breaks.
Frequently asked questions
Are breaks paid?
Under U.S. federal rules, short breaks (typically 5 to 20 minutes) are generally paid, while meal breaks of 30 minutes or more where you are fully relieved of duty are usually unpaid. State laws can add requirements.
How do I total a whole week?
Use the time card calculator to enter each day separately and include overtime.
Related tools
Results are estimates for planning only. Check your employment contract, company policy and local labor laws for exact pay rules.