Work Hours Calculator

Enter your start time, end time, and optional break to get your total hours worked.

Common shifts

Frequently asked questions

Subtract your start time from your end time to get the total time on site. Then subtract any unpaid break time. The result is your paid work time. For example: 9:00 to 17:30 with a 45-minute break = 8h 30m on site − 45m break = 7h 45m worked.
Divide the minutes by 60. So 7 hours 45 minutes = 7 + (45 ÷ 60) = 7.75 decimal hours. Payroll software usually needs decimal hours rather than hours:minutes format.
If your end time is earlier than your start time (for example, start 22:00 end 06:00), the calculator automatically adds 24 hours to your end time, treating it as the next calendar day. So 22:00 to 06:00 gives 8 hours worked.
Yes. If your total working time exceeds 8 hours (480 minutes), the calculator flags the overtime amount in hours and minutes. This is based on a standard 8-hour working day.
7.5 decimal hours. The formula is: whole hours + (minutes ÷ 60). 30 ÷ 60 = 0.5, so 7h 30m = 7.5 hours.

How to calculate work hours

This calculator is built for a work shift specifically: a start time, an end time, and an unpaid break, with overtime flagged automatically past 8 hours. If all you need is the raw elapsed time between two clock times with no break to subtract, the method below still applies, just skip the break step.

Work hours calculations come up in timesheets, invoices, payroll, and shift planning. The method is the same in all cases.

  1. Record your start and end time to the nearest minute. If your employer rounds to the nearest quarter-hour or half-hour, you may need to apply that rounding before calculating.
  2. Find the total time on site by subtracting the start time from the end time. If you finish after midnight, add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting.
  3. Subtract unpaid break time. Most employment contracts and labour laws specify which breaks are paid and which are not. A 30-minute lunch break is usually unpaid.
  4. Convert to decimal hours if needed. Timesheets and invoices often use decimal hours. Divide the remaining minutes by 60 and add to the whole hours.

Hours to decimal conversion table

  • 15 minutes = 0.25 hours
  • 30 minutes = 0.50 hours
  • 45 minutes = 0.75 hours
  • 20 minutes = 0.33 hours
  • 40 minutes = 0.67 hours
  • 50 minutes = 0.83 hours

Minimum rest break entitlements

In most countries, employees working more than 6 hours are entitled to at least one rest break. In the UK, this is a 20-minute rest break for shifts over 6 hours. In the EU, the Working Time Directive requires an 11-hour daily rest period between shifts. Always check your local employment law for the specific rules that apply to you.

Part-time and shift work

If you work irregular shifts, keep a daily log and add up your hours at the end of the week. Many employees are required to track their own hours for flexible or remote work arrangements. The calculator above makes this quick for any single shift. To add up a week of shifts, run the calculator for each day and sum the decimal hours totals.

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