How it works
A time card (or timesheet) records when you start and finish each day. To get paid hours, subtract the unpaid break from each day, add the days together, and convert the total to decimal hours, which is what payroll multiplies by your rate.
daily hours = end − start − break · decimal hours = hours + minutes ÷ 60 overtime = weekly hours above the limit (40) · pay = regular × rate + overtime × rate × 1.5Worked example. Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:30 with a 30-minute lunch = 8:00 a day. Saturday 9:00 to 13:00 adds 4:00. The week totals 44:00, or 44.00 hours: 40 regular and 4 overtime. At $20 an hour: 40 × 20 + 4 × 30 = $920.
Typing times
- Use 24-hour times: 17:30 for 5:30 pm. You can also type 1730 or 17.30.
- Night shifts: if the end time is earlier than the start (22:00 to 06:00), the calculator counts it as finishing the next day — 8 hours.
- Leave a day empty if you did not work. The break is in minutes.
Minutes to decimal hours
| Minutes | Decimal | Minutes | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0.10 | 30 | 0.50 |
| 15 | 0.25 | 45 | 0.75 |
| 20 | 0.33 | 50 | 0.83 |
A common payroll error is treating 7:45 as 7.45 hours; it is 7.75. Over a month that mistake can cost hours of pay.
Overtime rules
Under the US Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees get at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Some states, such as California, also count daily overtime over 8 hours. Other countries use different limits — change the weekly limit and multiplier to match your contract.
Need just one shift? Use hours between times. For overtime pay alone, try the overtime calculator, and turn the hourly rate into a yearly figure with the salary calculator.