How to calculate hours worked
For each shift, subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract any unpaid break. Add the days together for your weekly total. The only tricky part is that time uses base 60, so it's easiest to convert everything to minutes first.
Decimal hours = Minutes worked ÷ 60
Example: you clock in at 8:45 AM, clock out at 5:15 PM and take a 30-minute unpaid lunch.
- 8:45 AM to 5:15 PM = 8 hours 30 minutes = 510 minutes
- 510 − 30 break = 480 minutes
- 480 ÷ 60 = 8.00 hours
For an overnight shift from 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM, add 24 hours to the end time: (30:30 − 22:00) = 8 h 30 min.
Hours and minutes vs. decimal hours
Payroll systems multiply your hours by your pay rate, so they need hours as a decimal: 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours, not 7.45. Writing 7.45 would underpay you by 18 minutes. Divide the minutes by 60 to convert — or use our time to decimal calculator and its full conversion chart.
| Minutes | Decimal | Minutes | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0.08 | 35 | 0.58 |
| 10 | 0.17 | 40 | 0.67 |
| 15 | 0.25 | 45 | 0.75 |
| 20 | 0.33 | 50 | 0.83 |
| 25 | 0.42 | 55 | 0.92 |
| 30 | 0.50 | 60 | 1.00 |
Overtime rules
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt employees must be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour over 40 in a workweek. The FLSA does not require daily overtime, overtime on weekends, or double time — but some states do:
- California: 1.5× after 8 hours in a day or 40 in a week; 2× after 12 hours in a day; special rules for the seventh consecutive day.
- Alaska and Nevada: daily overtime after 8 hours (Nevada only for workers earning under 1.5× the minimum wage).
- Colorado: overtime after 12 hours in a day or 40 in a week.
Tick "Daily overtime after 8 hours" to apply California-style daily overtime (1.5× after 8 hours, 2× after 12). Weekly overtime then applies only to regular hours beyond your weekly threshold.
New for 2025–2028: the federal "no tax on overtime" deduction lets you deduct the premium part of qualified overtime (the extra 0.5× in time-and-a-half) from federal taxable income, up to $12,500 a year. See how it affects your pay in the paycheck calculator.
Are breaks paid?
Federal law treats short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes as paid work time, while bona fide meal periods of 30 minutes or more — where you are fully relieved of duty — can be unpaid. Many states require meal and rest breaks, and some require them to be paid. Only enter unpaid break time in the calculator.
Rounding time punches
Some employers round clock-in and clock-out times to the nearest 5, 6 (tenth of an hour) or 15 minutes. The Department of Labor allows this only if it is neutral over time — rounding must not consistently favor the employer. If your time card is regularly rounded against you, keep your own records with a calculator like this one.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours worked in a week?
For each day, subtract your start time from your end time and remove unpaid breaks. Convert each day to minutes, add them up, then divide by 60 to get decimal hours for the week.
How do I convert 7 hours 30 minutes to decimal?
Divide the minutes by 60: 30 ÷ 60 = 0.5, so 7 hours 30 minutes = 7.5 hours.
Is lunch included in hours worked?
An unpaid meal break of 30 minutes or more is not counted as hours worked if you are completely relieved of duty. Short rest breaks (5–20 minutes) must be counted and paid under federal law.
How is overtime calculated?
Overtime hours are paid at 1.5× your regular hourly rate. For example, 45 hours at $20/hour is 40 × $20 = $800 plus 5 × $30 = $150, for $950 total.
How do I calculate hours for an overnight shift?
If the end time is earlier than the start time, add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting. The calculator does this automatically.