Work Hours Calculator
Add your start time, end time, and break duration for each day to calculate daily hours worked, weekly totals, and overtime.
Weekly Work Hours
Enter start time, end time, and break duration for each day
Total Hours (HH:MM)
37:30
Total Hours (Decimal)
37.50
Regular Hours
37:30
Overtime (over 40 hrs)
0:00
How to Calculate Work Hours
Calculating work hours is straightforward. Follow these steps for each workday:
Note your start and end times
Record when you clock in and clock out. Use a consistent format (e.g., 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM).
Subtract your break time
Deduct any unpaid break time from the total. A 30-minute lunch break is the most common deduction.
Convert to decimal if needed
Divide the minutes by 60 to get decimal hours. For example, 7 hours 30 minutes = 7.50 decimal hours.
Add up daily totals
Sum all daily hours to get your weekly total. Any hours over 40 per week are typically overtime.
The formula
Hours Worked = (End Time - Start Time) - Break Duration
Example: Start at 8:30 AM, end at 5:00 PM, with a 30-minute lunch break. Total span = 8 hours 30 minutes. Minus 30-minute break = 8 hours (8.00 decimal).
Common Work Hour Scenarios
Here are typical work schedules and their calculated hours:
| Schedule | Start | End | Break | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 9-to-5 | 9:00 AM | 5:00 PM | 30 min | 7.50 |
| Early shift | 6:00 AM | 2:30 PM | 30 min | 8.00 |
| Late shift | 2:00 PM | 10:00 PM | 30 min | 7.50 |
| Night shift | 10:00 PM | 6:00 AM | 30 min | 7.50 |
| 10-hour shift | 7:00 AM | 5:30 PM | 30 min | 10.00 |
| Part-time | 9:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 0 min | 4.00 |
Why Accurate Hour Tracking Matters
Whether you are an employee keeping track of your own hours or a manager overseeing a team, accurate time tracking prevents payroll errors, ensures labor law compliance, and improves productivity.
Correct pay
Accurate hours mean accurate paychecks. Even small rounding errors compound over weeks and months.
Overtime compliance
The FLSA requires overtime pay at 1.5x for hours beyond 40 per week. Tracking prevents costly violations.
Project costing
Knowing how many hours go into each project helps with budgeting, billing, and profitability analysis.
Work-life balance
Seeing your actual hours helps you set boundaries and avoid chronic overwork and burnout.
Manual calculations are error-prone. Automatic time tracking software eliminates guesswork by recording work hours as they happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert hours and minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60 and add to the hours. For example, 7 hours 45 minutes = 7 + (45/60) = 7.75 decimal hours. This calculator shows both formats automatically.
How is overtime calculated?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt employees must receive overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular rate for all hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Some states, like California, also require daily overtime after 8 hours.
Should I include lunch breaks in my work hours?
It depends on whether your break is paid or unpaid. Unpaid meal breaks (typically 30+ minutes where you are completely relieved of duties) should be deducted. Short rest breaks of 5-20 minutes are generally considered paid time under federal law.
How do I calculate hours for an overnight shift?
This calculator handles overnight shifts automatically. If your end time is earlier than your start time (e.g., start at 10:00 PM, end at 6:00 AM), it correctly calculates the hours across midnight.
What is the standard number of work hours in a week?
The standard full-time work week in the United States is 40 hours, typically spread across five 8-hour days. Any hours beyond 40 are considered overtime for non-exempt employees under the FLSA.
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Stop Calculating Hours Manually
HiveDesk automatically tracks work hours, generates timesheets, and calculates overtime for your entire team. $5/user/month, all features included.