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Work Hours Calculator

Enter when you clocked in and out and how long your break was to get the hours in a shift — shown both as hours and minutes and as decimal hours, the form payroll systems use. Overnight shifts are handled automatically.

Your numbers

e.g. 9:00 AM or 09:00

e.g. 5:30 PM or 17:30

min

Result

Hours worked
8:00
Decimal hours
8
for payroll
Breakminutes
30
Breakdown
ItemValue
Shift (start → end)8:30
Break (unpaid)0:30
Hours worked8:00
Decimal hours8.00 h
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How the hours are counted

Subtract the start from the end, then take off the break. From 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM is 8 hours 30 minutes; with a 30-minute unpaid break, that leaves 8:00. If the end time is earlier than the start — an overnight shift like 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM — the calculator adds 24 hours so the total comes out right.

Hours and minutes vs decimal hours

Payroll runs on decimal hours, not clock time. 8 hours 30 minutes is 8.5 hours, and 8 hours 15 minutes is 8.25 — you divide the minutes by 60. The classic mistake is to read 8:30 as "8.30"; it is not. This calculator shows both forms so you can copy the right one onto a timesheet.

Paid and unpaid breaks

A meal break is usually unpaid, so it is subtracted here. Short rest breaks may be paid depending on your employer and local law — if yours are, set the break to 0. This tool counts clock time only; overtime, shift differentials and rounding rules are set by your employer or jurisdiction.

Frequently asked questions

Sources