Calculate Hours Worked
Subtract clock-in from clock-out, then subtract any break time that shouldn't count as worked time. The calculator below does this instantly and converts the result to decimal hours too.
Weekly work hours calculator
| Day | Start | End | Break (min) | Total | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Total hours worked
0 hr
0.00 decimal hours
Formula: Hours worked = clock-out − clock-in − excluded breaks
For an overnight shift, treat clock-out as occurring on the following day.
How to calculate hours worked
Find the elapsed time between the start and end of a shift, then subtract any break that should not count as worked time.
Example: 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM is 8 hours 45 minutes. Subtract a 30-minute excluded lunch and the result is 8 hours 15 minutes, or8.25 decimal hours.
A reliable manual process:
- Check AM/PM carefully.
- Subtract start time from end time.
- If the shift crosses midnight, continue the end time into the next day.
- Subtract only breaks that should be excluded.
- Add exact daily durations for a weekly total.
- Convert minutes to decimals only when needed.
Do not treat minutes as hundredths. 8 hours 30 minutes is 8.5 hours, not 8.30 hours.
Work-hours examples
| Clock in | Clock out | Excluded break | Worked | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | 4:30 PM | 30 min | 8 hr | 8.00 |
| 8:15 AM | 5:00 PM | 30 min | 8 hr 15 min | 8.25 |
| 9:00 AM | 5:30 PM | 60 min | 7 hr 30 min | 7.50 |
| 7:45 AM | 4:15 PM | 45 min | 7 hr 45 min | 7.75 |
| 10:00 PM | 6:30 AM | 30 min | 8 hr | 8.00 |
Calculating hours with lunch or other breaks
Calculate the full elapsed shift, then subtract a break only if it should be excluded from the worked-time total you need.
8:00 AM → 5:00 PM = 9 hours
With a 45-minute excluded lunch: 9:00 − 0:45 = 8 hours 15 minutes
For payroll or compliance, whether a break is compensable can depend on applicable law, policy, agreements, and what occurred during the break. The calculator totals your inputs; it does not determine a break's legal status.
How to calculate an overnight shift
A shift from 10:30 PM to 6:30 AM lasts 8 hours: 1 hour 30 minutes before midnight plus 6 hours 30 minutes after midnight.
An end time earlier on the clock can therefore mean "next day," not a negative duration. For shifts longer than 24 hours or ambiguous dates, record dates as well as times.
For U.S. employers using work-time records for payroll, the Department of Labor requires covered employers to keep accurate records of hours worked. See theU.S. Department of Labor's FLSA recordkeeping guidance.
Hours and minutes vs decimal hours
| Hours:minutes | Decimal |
|---|---|
| 1:06 | 1.10 |
| 1:15 | 1.25 |
| 1:30 | 1.50 |
| 1:45 | 1.75 |
| 7:20 | 7.3333… |
| 8:30 | 8.50 |
Convert minutes with minutes ÷ 60. Use the hours to decimal converter for this step, or thedecimal hours calculator if you need to convert in both directions. Converting a standalone number of minutes rather than a full shift? Use theminutes to decimal calculator.
Avoid unnecessary rounding
Add precise elapsed time first and round only at the stage required by the payroll or billing rule you follow. Rounding every shift can produce a different total from adding precise durations and rounding once.
A trustworthy calculator should preserve precise values internally and should not silently move punches to convenient intervals.
Overtime is a separate question
A weekly total tells you how long someone worked. It does not, by itself, establish which hours legally qualify for overtime. Rules vary by jurisdiction and worker circumstances.
If you already know the qualifying overtime hours, use the overtime calculator for the pay arithmetic.
Common mistakes
- 8:30 ≠ 8.30 decimal hours. It equals 8.50.
- Do not deduct lunch twice. Separate lunch clock-out/in punches may already remove it.
- Handle midnight explicitly. 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM is normally 8 hours.
- Do not round too early. Small errors can accumulate across shifts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours worked between two times?
Subtract clock-in from clock-out, then subtract breaks that should not count. For an overnight shift, treat clock-out as occurring the next day.
How do I calculate hours worked with a 30-minute lunch?
Calculate elapsed time and subtract 30 minutes if lunch is excluded. 8:00 AM–5:00 PM is 9 hours; minus 30 minutes is 8 hours 30 minutes.
What is 8 hours 30 minutes in decimal hours?
8.5 hours because 30 ÷ 60 = 0.5.
How do I calculate weekly hours?
Calculate each shift, subtract applicable excluded breaks, then add the daily durations. Keep exact time until the final conversion or required rounding step.
Can I use this result for payroll?
The arithmetic can be used as an input, but verify the break, rounding, overtime, and recordkeeping rules applicable to your situation.