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Work Hours Calculator

Enter the start and end time for each day or shift, or the hours you already know. The work hours calculator subtracts unpaid breaks and totals your time in hours and minutes and in decimal hours, with an average per entry and an optional pay estimate.

Runs in your browserFree, no signupFormula shown below
Enter time as
8h8.00 h
8h 30m8.50 h
7h 45m7.75 h

Total hours worked

Total time
24h 15m24.25 decimal hours
Total minutes
1,4553 entries counted
Average per entry
8h 5m8.08 h
Breaks deducted
1h 45mAdd a rate to estimate pay
Hours by entry
Hours by entry
Day 18.00 h (Worked hours: 8, Break hours: 0.5)
Day 28.50 h (Worked hours: 8.5, Break hours: 0.75)
Day 37.75 h (Worked hours: 7.75, Break hours: 0.5)

Need overtime and a weekly pay estimate? Use the time card calculator.

Work Hours Calculator, printed from employeecalculators.com/work-hours-calculator/. Estimates of gross amounts before taxes and deductions, based on the values entered; not payroll or legal advice.

How the work hours calculator works

  1. Pick how you enter time. Use start and end times from a clock or schedule, or hours and minutes you already know.
  2. Add one row per day or shift. Rename rows if you like, such as "Monday" or "Site visit". Add as many as you need.
  3. Enter unpaid breaks for each row, in minutes.
  4. Read the totals. Total time, total minutes, the average per entry, and a chart of each entry.

Work hours formula

The full method, including the common 7:30 vs 7.30 mistake, is in how to calculate hours worked. Night shifts follow the add-24-hours rule.

Hours worked = (end time − start time) − unpaid breakWhen the end time is earlier than the start, add 24 hours because the work ended the next day.
Decimal hours = total minutes ÷ 60
Average per entry = total minutes ÷ entries with time worked

Worked example: three days

8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, 9:00 AM to 6:15 PM, 7:45 AM to 4:00 PM, at $20.00 an hour

  1. Day 1: 8 h 30 m minus a 30-minute break = 8h.
  2. Day 2: 9 h 15 m minus a 45-minute break = 8h 30m.
  3. Day 3: 8 h 15 m minus a 30-minute break = 7h 45m.
  4. Total: 24h 15m = 24.25 decimal hours, an average of 8h 5m a day.
  5. At $20.00 an hour: 24.2500 × $20.00 = $485.00 before taxes.

Common shift lengths

Hours worked for common schedules, with and without a 30-minute unpaid lunch.

ShiftLengthWith 30-min lunchDecimal hours
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM8h7h 30m7.50
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM8h 30m8h8.00
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM9h8h 30m8.50
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM8h7h 30m7.50
9:00 AM to 5:30 PM8h 30m8h8.00
7:00 AM to 3:30 PM8h 30m8h8.00
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM12h11h 30m11.50
10:00 PM to 6:00 AM8h7h 30m7.50

Assumptions

  • Times are whole minutes. Results are exact; decimal hours are rounded to two places for display only.
  • An end time earlier than the start time means the work ended the next day. Equal start and end times are flagged rather than guessed.
  • Only the break minutes you enter are subtracted. Under federal rules, short rest breaks are generally paid; bona fide meal periods of about 30 minutes or more generally are not.
  • The pay estimate uses one rate and no overtime, and is before taxes and deductions.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours is 8 AM to 5 PM?

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 9 hours. With a 30-minute unpaid lunch, it is 8 hours 30 minutes, or 8.5 decimal hours. With a 1-hour unpaid lunch, it is 8 hours.

How do I calculate hours worked between two times?

Subtract the start time from the end time using a 24-hour clock, then subtract unpaid breaks. Work in minutes to avoid mistakes, and divide by 60 for decimal hours. If the end is earlier than the start, the work ended the next day, so add 24 hours.

What is the difference between this and the time card calculator?

The work hours calculator totals any list of days or shifts, either from start and end times or from durations, and gives an average per entry. The time card calculator is laid out as a Monday-to-Sunday week and adds overtime rules and a weekly pay estimate.

Can I enter hours I already know instead of clock times?

Yes. Switch to “Hours and minutes” and type each entry as hours and minutes worked, for example 7 hours 45 minutes.

Does this calculate overtime?

No. It totals hours and multiplies by a single rate if you add one. For overtime, use the overtime calculator or the time card calculator.

Related guides

How to Calculate Hours WorkedCalculate hours worked from clock-in and clock-out times, subtract breaks, and total a week correctly. Includes the 7:30 vs 7.30 mistake and worked examples.
Time Card CalculatorTotal a week of shifts, subtract unpaid breaks, and split regular from overtime hours.Hours and Minutes CalculatorAdd up a list of hours and minutes and get the total in decimal hours and pay.Shift Hours CalculatorPaid hours for day and night shifts, a shift timeline, and the time your shift ends.Decimal Hours CalculatorConvert hours and minutes to decimal hours for payroll, and back again.

How this calculator was built. The formula, defaults, and edge cases are documented in a research record and covered by automated tests. It estimates gross amounts from your inputs; it does not determine legal entitlements, taxes, or take-home pay. Read our methodology and disclaimer.

Last updated:

Sources