How to use the hours calculator
- Start and end time — the time picker follows your device's 12- or 24-hour setting. If the end time is earlier than the start, the shift is assumed to run past midnight.
- Unpaid break — minutes off the clock, such as a lunch break. Leave it at 0 if all your time is paid.
- Hourly rate — optional. Enter it to see gross pay for the shift.
How hours worked are calculated
Both times are converted to minutes after midnight. The start is subtracted from the end; if the result is negative the shift crossed midnight, so 24 hours (1,440 minutes) is added. The break is then subtracted:
minutes worked = (end − start) − break, and decimal hours = minutes worked ÷ 60.
Worked example: an overnight shift
A shift from 10:00 PM to 6:15 AM with a 45-minute unpaid meal break:
- 10:00 PM is 1,320 minutes after midnight; 6:15 AM is 375 minutes.
- 375 − 1,320 = −945, so add 1,440: the shift spans 495 minutes, or 8 hours 15 minutes.
- Subtract the break: 495 − 45 = 450 minutes = 7:30, which is 7.5 decimal hours.
- At $24 an hour the shift pays 7.5 × $24 = $180 before taxes.
Hours and minutes vs decimal hours
"7:30" means 7 hours 30 minutes, but 7.30 decimal hours is only 7 hours 18 minutes. Mixing the two up on a timesheet underpays or overpays. Payroll multiplies decimal hours by the rate, so convert minutes by dividing by 60:
| Minutes | Decimal hours |
|---|---|
| 5 min | 0.08 |
| 6 min | 0.10 |
| 10 min | 0.17 |
| 15 min | 0.25 |
| 20 min | 0.33 |
| 30 min | 0.50 |
| 40 min | 0.67 |
| 45 min | 0.75 |
| 50 min | 0.83 |
Breaks and overtime rules
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, short rest breaks of about 5 to 20 minutes count as paid work time, while bona fide meal periods — typically 30 minutes or more, with the employee fully relieved of duty — don't have to be paid. That's why only unpaid breaks belong in the break field. Many states add their own meal and rest break requirements.
The FLSA requires non-exempt employees to be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Federal overtime is based on the week, not the day, though a few states, such as California, also have daily overtime. Add up each day's decimal hours to check your weekly total.
Tips for accurate timesheets
- Record start and end times when they happen rather than reconstructing them at the end of the week.
- Shifts of 24 hours or longer can't be described by two clock times — split them into two entries.
- Some employers round punches to the nearest 5, 6 or 15 minutes. Federal rules allow rounding only if it averages out so that employees are paid for all the time they actually work.
To compare an hourly wage with a yearly salary, try the salary to hourly calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours worked?
Subtract the start time from the end time, add 24 hours if the shift crosses midnight, and subtract unpaid breaks. 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM with a 30-minute lunch is 8 hours 30 minutes minus 30 minutes = 8 hours.
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. 15 minutes is 0.25 hours, 20 minutes is 0.33 and 45 minutes is 0.75, so 6 hours 45 minutes is 6.75 decimal hours.
Does the calculator handle overnight shifts?
Yes. When the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator assumes the shift ended the next day and adds 24 hours.
Should I subtract my breaks?
Subtract only unpaid breaks. Under federal rules, short rest breaks are normally paid work time; unpaid meal breaks where you are fully relieved of duty are not.
How do I total my hours for the week?
Calculate each day separately and add the decimal hours together. Decimal hours add like ordinary numbers, while hours:minutes values need the minutes carried over every 60.
Last updated: October 8, 2026