How to use this tool
- Enter start and end times for each day you worked.
- Add unpaid break minutes for each shift.
- Read the daily hours, weekly total in hours and decimals, and pay if you entered a rate.
Working out hours between two times
Convert both times to minutes after midnight, subtract, and take off unpaid breaks. A shift from 22:00 to 06:00 crosses midnight, so 24 hours are added to the finish time and it counts as 8 hours. Use 24-hour time or the AM/PM picker on your phone; both work.
Decimal hours for payroll
Payroll systems use decimal hours, where 15 minutes is 0.25, 30 minutes 0.5 and 45 minutes 0.75. So 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours. Multiply decimal hours by the hourly rate to get gross pay. For yearly or monthly pay from an hourly wage, use the salary calculator.
Breaks and overtime
In the US, the Department of Labor says short breaks of up to 20 minutes are generally paid, while meal breaks of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid. Overtime at 1.5× usually applies over 40 hours a week under federal law. In the UK, most workers can't be made to work more than 48 hours a week on average. Rules vary by state and employer, so check your contract.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours is 9 to 5?
8 hours, or 7.5 hours with a 30-minute unpaid lunch.
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. 20 minutes is 0.33 hours.
How do I calculate an overnight shift?
Enter the times as normal. If the end time is earlier than the start, the calculator adds 24 hours.
Are lunch breaks counted as work hours?
Usually not, if they're 30 minutes or more and you're fully relieved of duties.