What this hours calculator does
You type a start time, an end time, and any unpaid break. The tool subtracts the break from the clock time and gives you the shift length in hours and minutes. It also shows the same length in decimal hours, which is what payroll systems use. If you enter an hourly rate, it multiplies that rate by the decimal hours to estimate gross pay for the shift.
This page handles one shift. If you need to add up a full week, use the time card calculator instead.
How the maths works
The formula is simple: hours worked = clock out minus clock in minus unpaid break. The calculator converts both times to minutes after midnight, subtracts, then removes the break minutes.
Here is a worked example. You clock in at 8:07 am and out at 4:33 pm, with a 60-minute unpaid break.
- 8:07 am is 487 minutes after midnight.
- 4:33 pm is 993 minutes after midnight.
- 993 minus 487 = 506 minutes on the clock.
- 506 minus 60 minutes of break = 446 minutes worked.
- 446 minutes is 7 hours 26 minutes.
- 446 divided by 60 = 7.43 decimal hours.
At $20 an hour, that shift pays 7.43 x $20 = $148.60 in gross pay. The result is an estimate. Your employer's payroll record is the final word.
Overnight shifts
If the end time is earlier than the start time, the shift crossed midnight. The calculator treats the end time as the next day. A 10:00 pm to 6:00 am shift becomes 8 hours, not a negative number. You do not need to type dates.
Decimal hours and the 7.30 trap
Decimal hours are minutes divided by 60. So 7:30 is 7.5 hours, 7:20 is 7.33, 7:15 is 7.25, and 7:45 is 7.75. Typing 7.30 when you mean seven and a half hours is short by 12 minutes. That mistake costs you money on every shift.
Rounding rules
Some employers round punches to the nearest 5, 6, or 15 minutes. Under US federal rules (FLSA regulations), rounding is allowed only if it is applied consistently and does not, over time, favour the employer. This calculator rounds each shift's total when you choose a rounding rule.
Pay, overtime, and when to switch tools
The pay figure here is gross pay for one shift. It does not include overtime, taxes, or deductions. For a full paycheck estimate, use the paycheck calculator.
US federal law (the Fair Labor Standards Act, FLSA) requires 1.5 times your regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. There is no federal daily overtime. California adds daily overtime: 1.5x after 8 hours in a day and 2x after 12, plus the weekly rule. Other states have their own rules, so check your state's rules.
Worked example: 42 hours at $20 with weekly overtime = 40 x $20 + 2 x $30 = $860.
Switch to the time card calculator when you need to add up several days, track a full workweek, or apply overtime across a week. This page is built for one shift only.
Quick answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 8:07 am to 4:33 pm with a 60-minute break | 7 hours 26 minutes, or 7.43 decimal hours |
| 7:30 in decimal hours | 7.5 hours |
| 7:20 in decimal hours | 7.33 hours |
| 7:15 in decimal hours | 7.25 hours |
| 7:45 in decimal hours | 7.75 hours |
| 10:00 pm to 6:00 am | 8 hours (crosses midnight) |
For a full-time year, 40 hours x 52 weeks = 2,080 hours. Monthly pay is the annual figure divided by 12, not a biweekly paycheck times 2. There are 26 biweekly paychecks, so two months a year have three.
If you are paid a salary and want to know your hourly equivalent, try the salary calculator. For overtime rules across a week, use the overtime calculator. For decimal conversions on their own, see the decimal hours calculator.