How to use this hours calculator
- Between two times: choose a start and end time (or press Now), and add your break in minutes. The result updates as you go.
- Weekly timesheet: fill in the days you worked and leave the rest blank. Copy Monday to weekdays saves typing for a regular week. Add an hourly rate to see your pay, including overtime.
- Add up hours: enter durations in hours and minutes, choose whether to add or subtract each one, and read the total.
The Time format switch at the top changes every time box between 12-hour (AM/PM) and 24-hour. Nothing you enter is saved; use Print on the timesheet for a copy.
How to calculate hours worked
Hours worked are the time between clocking in and clocking out, minus any unpaid breaks:
Hours worked = End time − Start time − Break
Worked example: you start at 8:45 AM, finish at 5:15 PM and take a 30-minute lunch.
8:45 AM to 5:15 PM is 8 hours 30 minutes. Subtract the 30-minute break: 8 hours 0 minutes, or 8.00 decimal hours.
It is easiest to count whole hours first (8:45 AM to 4:45 PM is 8 hours), then add the leftover minutes (4:45 to 5:15 is 30 minutes).
How to subtract a lunch break
Enter the break in minutes rather than as a time of day. A 30-minute lunch is 30, an hour is 60 and two 15-minute breaks are 30. If your breaks are paid, leave the box empty so they count as worked time. A break can't be longer than the shift itself; the calculator will tell you if it is.
Overnight shifts
If your end time is earlier than your start time, the shift crosses midnight. The calculator adds a day to the end time, so 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM counts as 8 hours, and it shows a note so you know. In the weekly timesheet, enter an overnight shift on the day it started.
Converting minutes to decimal hours for payroll
Payroll and invoicing tools usually want hours as a decimal. Divide the minutes by 60 and add them to the whole hours:
Decimal hours = Hours + Minutes ÷ 60
| Minutes | Decimal hours |
|---|---|
| 5 | 0.08 |
| 10 | 0.17 |
| 15 | 0.25 |
| 20 | 0.33 |
| 30 | 0.50 |
| 45 | 0.75 |
So 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours. Watch out for 7:30 in h:mm, which is 7.50 decimal hours, not 7.30.
12-hour vs 24-hour (military) time
The 24-hour clock counts from 00:00 at midnight to 23:59, so there is no need for AM or PM. To convert a PM time, add 12 to the hour (except 12 PM itself). For 12 AM, use 00.
| 12-hour | 24-hour |
|---|---|
| 12:00 AM (midnight) | 00:00 |
| 6:00 AM | 06:00 |
| 12:00 PM (noon) | 12:00 |
| 1:00 PM | 13:00 |
| 6:30 PM | 18:30 |
| 11:59 PM | 23:59 |
Overtime basics
Overtime is work beyond a set number of hours, often paid at a higher rate such as 1.5 times your normal pay. The timesheet uses a simple weekly rule: hours up to your chosen limit are regular and the rest are overtime. In real life the rules can depend on daily limits, weekends, holidays, your contract and local law, so treat the result as an estimate rather than legal or payroll advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours worked with a lunch break?
Subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract the break. 8:45 AM to 5:15 PM is 8 hours 30 minutes; with a 30-minute lunch that is 8 hours worked. Enter the break in minutes and the calculator does the subtraction for you.
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. 15 minutes is 0.25 hours, 30 minutes is 0.50 and 45 minutes is 0.75, so 8 hours 45 minutes is 8.75 hours. Payroll systems usually expect decimal hours.
What happens if a shift goes past midnight?
If the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator treats it as an overnight shift that ends the next day. 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM is 8 hours. A note under the result tells you when this has happened.
How is overtime calculated in the weekly timesheet?
It uses a simple weekly threshold: hours up to the limit you choose (for example 40) are regular, and anything above it is overtime, paid at the multiplier you pick, such as 1.5 times. Real overtime rules differ by country, state and employer, so check what applies to you.
Does the calculator save my timesheet?
No. Everything stays in the open page and is cleared when you refresh or close it. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere. Use the Print button if you want a paper or PDF copy of your week.
What is 8 hours 30 minutes in decimal?
8 hours 30 minutes is 8.5 hours, because 30 minutes is half an hour. Written as h:mm it is 8:30, which is easy to mistake for 8.30 hours, so be careful which format a form asks for.