Utility
Hours Calculator
Count exactly how long a shift ran. Enter start and end times, subtract unpaid breaks, and get the result both as hours-and-minutes and as the decimal format payroll systems use — plus what the shift pays at your hourly rate.
Time worked
8h 0m
Decimal hours (for timesheets)
8
Pay for this shift
$160.00
Weekly pay (5 shifts like this)
$800.00
End times earlier than the start time are treated as an overnight shift. Decimal hours are minutes ÷ 60 — the format most payroll systems expect.
How it works
The calculator converts both times to minutes since midnight, takes the difference, and subtracts your unpaid break. If the end time is earlier than the start, it assumes an overnight shift and adds 24 hours — so 22:00 to 06:00 correctly reads as 8 hours.
Timesheets and payroll systems almost always want decimal hours, not hours-and-minutes. The conversion is minutes divided by 60: 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75, not 7.45 — mixing those up is the classic timesheet error, and it compounds every pay period.
US federal law doesn't require meal breaks, but when employers provide short breaks (5–20 minutes) they must be paid; bona fide meal periods of 30+ minutes can be unpaid. Only subtract the breaks that are genuinely unpaid.
Minutes worked = (end − start) − unpaid break
(+ 24h if the shift crosses midnight)
Decimal hours = minutes worked / 60
Pay = decimal hours × hourly rate
Example: 9:00 → 17:30 − 30 min break = 8h 0m = 8.00 hrs × $20 = $160Frequently asked questions
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. 15 minutes = 0.25, 30 = 0.50, 45 = 0.75, and 20 minutes = 0.33. So 7 hours 20 minutes is 7.33 decimal hours — never write it as 7.20.
How does the calculator handle overnight shifts?
If your end time is earlier than your start time, it assumes you worked through midnight and adds 24 hours. A 22:00–06:00 shift with a 30-minute break correctly computes as 7.5 hours.
Should breaks be paid or unpaid?
Under US federal rules, short rest breaks of 5–20 minutes count as paid work time, while genuine meal periods of 30 minutes or more — where you're fully relieved of duties — can be unpaid. State laws sometimes add stricter requirements.
How do I total hours for a whole week?
Calculate each day's decimal hours, then add them. Decimal format makes weekly totals trivial: 8.25 + 7.75 + 8.5 + 8 + 7.5 = 40 hours exactly — that's why payroll prefers it.
When does overtime start?
US federal law requires 1.5× pay after 40 hours in a workweek for non-exempt employees. Some states go further — California, for example, adds daily overtime after 8 hours in a single day.