Free tool
Work Hours Calculator
Unpaid break, subtracted from the shift.
Tired of calculating manually?
Track it automatically with WorkHours.
How this is calculated
Hours worked are the end time minus the start time, minus the break. A 9:00 to 17:30 day with a 30-minute break is 8 hours, or 8.00 decimal hours.
If the end time is earlier than the start, the shift is counted past midnight. 22:00 to 6:00 is 8 hours. Decimal hours are what most timesheets and payroll sheets expect: 15 minutes is 0.25, and 30 minutes is 0.50.
Minutes to decimal hours chart
Payroll and invoices usually want time as a decimal. Divide the minutes by 60: 45 minutes is 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75 hours. Some employers round to tenths of an hour, which are 6-minute steps.
| Minutes | Decimal hours |
|---|---|
| 1 min | 0.02 |
| 5 min | 0.08 |
| 6 min | 0.10 |
| 10 min | 0.17 |
| 12 min | 0.20 |
| 15 min | 0.25 |
| 20 min | 0.33 |
| 25 min | 0.42 |
| 30 min | 0.50 |
| 35 min | 0.58 |
| 40 min | 0.67 |
| 45 min | 0.75 |
| 50 min | 0.83 |
| 55 min | 0.92 |
| 60 min | 1.00 |
Worked examples
Each row is the end time minus the start time, minus the unpaid break. The last shift runs past midnight.
| Shift | Break | Hours worked | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM | 30 min | 8h 00m | 8.00 |
| 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | 30 min | 7h 30m | 7.50 |
| 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | 60 min | 8h 00m | 8.00 |
| 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM | 45 min | 7h 45m | 7.75 |
| 6:00 AM – 2:15 PM | 15 min | 8h 00m | 8.00 |
| 10:00 PM – 6:00 AM | 30 min | 7h 30m | 7.50 |
How to fill in a time card
- Write down the clock-in and clock-out time for each day, not only the total. Mistakes are easier to spot.
- Record unpaid meal breaks separately. Short breaks your employer pays for count as time worked.
- Add the daily totals for the week, then convert to decimal hours if payroll asks for it.
- Compare the weekly total with your overtime threshold, which is often 40 hours in the US.
Breaks and the law
In the US, federal law does not require meal or rest breaks for adults, but several states do. Short breaks of about 20 minutes or less are customarily paid as working time. In Germany, the Working Hours Act requires at least 30 minutes of break after 6 hours of work and 45 minutes after 9 hours.
The calculator subtracts whatever break you enter, so use the break your job actually gives you.
Common questions
How do I calculate hours worked?
Subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract the unpaid break. From 9:00 to 17:30 with a 30-minute break, the result is 8 hours.
What if I work past midnight?
When the end is earlier than the start, this calculator treats it as an overnight shift and adds the hours after midnight. 22:00 to 6:00 with no break is 8 hours.
What are decimal hours?
Payroll often wants 7.50 instead of 7 hours 30 minutes. Fifteen minutes is 0.25 hours, thirty minutes is 0.50, and forty-five minutes is 0.75. Both forms are shown.
How many hours is 9 AM to 5 PM?
9 AM to 5 PM is 8 hours. With a 30-minute unpaid lunch, it is 7 hours 30 minutes, or 7.50 decimal hours.