Work Hours Calculator — Weekly Timesheet & Overtime Tracker
This work hours calculator computes your total weekly hours from a 7-day timesheet. Enter start time, end time, and break duration for each day to get daily and weekly totals, regular hours, and overtime. Supports cross-midnight shifts and configurable overtime threshold (default 40 hours per FLSA rules).
Weekly Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate total work hours for the week?
Add up the hours worked each day. For each day, subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract any unpaid break time. Sum the daily totals to get your weekly hours. Our timesheet calculator does this automatically for a full 7-day week.
What counts as overtime under the FLSA?
Under the US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt employees must receive overtime pay of at least 1.5× their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a single workweek. Some states like California also have daily overtime rules (1.5× after 8 hours/day, 2× after 12 hours/day).
How do I calculate hours for a shift that crosses midnight?
For cross-midnight shifts, add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting the start time. For example, a shift from 22:00 to 06:00 is calculated as (06:00 + 24:00) − 22:00 = 8 hours. This calculator handles cross-midnight shifts automatically.
How do I convert hours and minutes to decimal hours for payroll?
Divide the minutes by 60 and add to the whole hours. For example, 8 hours 30 minutes = 8 + (30 ÷ 60) = 8.5 decimal hours. Common conversions: 15 min = 0.25h, 20 min = 0.333h, 30 min = 0.5h, 45 min = 0.75h.
Should I include lunch breaks in my timesheet?
Unpaid meal breaks (typically 30 minutes or more when fully relieved of duties) should be deducted from your total hours. Short rest breaks under 20 minutes are generally considered paid time under the FLSA and should not be deducted. Check your employer's policy for specifics.
How many hours is a standard workweek?
A standard full-time workweek in the US is 40 hours, typically 8 hours per day for 5 days. The FLSA overtime threshold is set at 40 hours per week. Some countries define standard hours differently — 35 hours in France, 37.5 in the UK, and 44 in some Asian countries.
What is the difference between regular hours and overtime hours?
Regular hours are hours worked up to the overtime threshold (usually 40 per week). Overtime hours are any hours worked beyond that threshold. Overtime is typically compensated at 1.5× the regular hourly rate, though your employer may pay more.
How do I calculate pay for a week with both regular and overtime hours?
Multiply regular hours by your hourly rate, then multiply overtime hours by 1.5× your hourly rate (or your employer's overtime rate), and add both totals. For example: 45 hours at $20/hr = (40 × $20) + (5 × $30) = $800 + $150 = $950 gross pay.
How to Calculate Work Hours
How to Calculate Work Hours
To calculate the number of hours worked in a day, subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract any unpaid break time. The formula is:
Hours Worked = (End Time − Start Time) − Break Duration
For example, if you start at 9:00 AM, end at 5:30 PM, and take a 30-minute lunch break:
- End time minus start time: 17:30 − 09:00 = 8 hours 30 minutes
- Subtract break: 8h 30m − 30 minutes = 8 hours 0 minutes
Cross-Midnight Shifts
For night shifts that cross midnight (e.g., 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM), add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting:
22:00 to 06:00 (next day)
= (06:00 + 24:00) − 22:00 = 30:00 − 22:00 = 8 hours
Weekly Total
Sum the daily hours across all worked days to get the weekly total. This calculator handles a standard 7-day week (Monday through Sunday) and lets you toggle individual days on or off.
Overtime Rules (FLSA)
In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires that non-exempt employees receive overtime pay for hours worked beyond 40 per week. Key rules:
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Overtime threshold | 40 hours per workweek (federal default) |
| Overtime rate | At least 1.5× the regular hourly rate ("time and a half") |
| Double time | Not required federally; some states (e.g., California) mandate it for daily overtime beyond 12h |
| California daily OT | 1.5× after 8h/day, 2× after 12h/day, and on the 7th consecutive day |
| Exempt employees | Salaried workers meeting FLSA salary and duties tests are generally exempt from OT requirements |
State and local laws may set higher overtime thresholds or rates. Always verify with your state labor department or HR for the rules that apply to your situation.
Timesheet Tips
Record times immediately
Log your start and end times at the moment they happen. Reconstructing times from memory at the end of the week introduces errors that accumulate into significant discrepancies.
Separate paid vs. unpaid breaks
Only unpaid breaks should be subtracted from your total hours. Rest breaks under 20 minutes are typically paid under the FLSA; meal breaks of 30 minutes or more during which the employee is fully relieved of duties are typically unpaid.
Use 24-hour (military) time
Enter times in 24-hour format to avoid AM/PM confusion. 9:00 AM = 09:00, 1:00 PM = 13:00, 5:30 PM = 17:30, midnight = 00:00.
Round consistently
Many employers round time to the nearest 5, 6, or 15 minutes. If your employer uses rounding, apply it uniformly to both start and end times. The FLSA permits rounding to the nearest 5 minutes (or one-tenth of an hour) as long as it averages out over time.
Keep copies of your records
The FLSA requires employers to keep payroll records for at least 3 years. As an employee, keeping your own records protects you in case of wage disputes.
Decimal Hours Conversion
Payroll systems often require hours in decimal format rather than hours and minutes. To convert, divide the minutes by 60:
Decimal Hours = Hours + (Minutes ÷ 60)
| H:MM | Decimal | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 | 8.0000 | 8 + 0/60 |
| 8:15 | 8.2500 | 8 + 15/60 |
| 8:30 | 8.5000 | 8 + 30/60 |
| 8:45 | 8.7500 | 8 + 45/60 |
| 7:20 | 7.3333 | 7 + 20/60 |
| 9:06 | 9.1000 | 9 + 6/60 |
This calculator displays both the formatted (Xh Ym) and decimal (X.XXXX) representation of total hours for easy payroll entry.