Work Hours Calculator — Daily, Weekly & Overtime Hours

Calculate net hours for a single shift, build a full weekly timesheet with automatic overtime, or estimate payroll with time-and-a-half. Break deductions, overnight shifts, and CSV export included — all runs locally in your browser.

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By Muhammad Abdullah Rauf · Founder, EverydayTools.proUpdated 2026-05-20· Reviewed by EverydayTools Editorial Team

What is a work hours calculator?

A work hours calculator computes net hours from clock-in and clock-out times, subtracts unpaid breaks, and outputs decimal hours for timesheets and payroll estimates.

Enter a start time, end time, and unpaid break duration to get net hours worked and decimal hours (for example, 7 hours 30 minutes = 7.5). Overnight shifts are handled automatically when the end time is earlier than the start on the clock.

Use decimal hours when exporting totals to time-tracking apps, invoicing clients, or comparing against weekly rollups. This tool runs entirely in your browser—shift times are not uploaded to servers.

Use decimal hours (7.5, not 7:30) when exporting totals to time-tracking apps.

Who uses Work Hours Calculator?

Common real-world scenarios where this tool saves time.

Shift workers

Convert a single clock-in/clock-out pair to net hours and decimal format for your records.

Students and interns

Track practicum hours across placements without a full weekly schedule tool.

Freelancers

Bill clients using decimal-hour totals after deducting unpaid lunch from a work block.

Work Hours Calculator examples

Standard shift with lunch

Input

Start: 9:00 AM · End: 5:00 PM · Break: 30 min

Output

Net hours: 7.5

8 gross hours minus 30-minute unpaid break = 7.5 decimal hours.

Overnight shift

Input

Start: 11:00 PM · End: 7:00 AM · Break: 30 min

Output

Net hours: 7.5

Midnight crossing adds 24h to end time before break deduction.

How to use Work Hours Calculator

  1. Enter your start time

    Type clock-in in HH:MM (AM/PM or 24-hour). Overnight shifts use actual times—midnight crossing is detected automatically.

  2. Enter your end time

    Type clock-out. If end is earlier than start (e.g., 10 PM to 6 AM), 24 hours is added to the end time before subtracting.

  3. Enter unpaid break minutes

    Subtract lunch or other unpaid breaks from gross duration. Paid breaks are not entered here.

  4. Copy decimal hours

    Use the decimal output (e.g., 7.5) when logging hours in spreadsheets or time apps.

Reference tables

Decimal hours vs hours:minutes

FormatExampleBest for
Decimal hours7.5Timesheets, payroll exports, spreadsheets
Hours:minutes7:30Reading clocks and shift schedules
Weekly rollup37.5 totalUse weekly work hours calculator after daily decimals

When to use Work Hours Calculator vs related tools

Related toolUse this tool whenUse related tool when
Time Card CalculatorYou need a single-day hours calculation with break deduction and decimal output.You need to process a paper time card with multiple punch-in/punch-out pairs in a single workday (e.g., for lunch break as separate punches).
Overtime CalculatorYou want a combined timesheet that shows regular hours and overtime in the same view.You already know your total hours and just need to calculate the overtime premium and gross pay quickly.
Paycheck CalculatorYou want to track hours worked and see gross wages from the same tool.You have your hours already and need to calculate take-home pay after federal taxes, state taxes, and deductions.
Hours Between Two TimesYou need to track work hours over a week with break deductions and overtime.You just want to know the raw time span between two clock times for any purpose — not specifically for payroll or timesheets.
Break Time CalculatorYou want to enter break minutes directly and get net work hours.You need to calculate how many breaks you are entitled to based on your total shift length and applicable labor law.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using 7:30 instead of 7.5 decimal hours

7 hours 30 minutes = 7.5 decimal hours, not 7.30.

Deducting paid breaks

Only enter unpaid break minutes; paid rest periods count as worked time.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I handle an overnight shift?

Enter start and end normally. When end is earlier than start, the tool adds 24 hours to the end time before computing net hours.

What is the decimal hours formula?

Decimal hours = whole hours + (minutes ÷ 60). Example: 7h 30m = 7.5.

Should I enter paid or unpaid breaks?

Enter only unpaid breaks (typical meal breaks). Paid breaks stay in gross time.

Is this the same as a weekly timesheet?

The single-day mode focuses on one shift. Switch to weekly mode to enter clock-in/clock-out for each day of the week and get a running total with automatic overtime detection.

Does Work Hours Calculator upload my shift times?

No. Clock-in, clock-out, and break minutes are calculated in your browser with JavaScript—shift data is not sent to EverydayTools servers during normal use.

Can I use decimal hours for payroll?

Decimal hours match many timesheet systems, but employer rounding and break policies may differ—verify with your payroll rules.

How do I calculate my total hours for the week?

Switch to Weekly mode and enter clock-in and clock-out times (plus break minutes) for each day you worked. The calculator sums all days into a weekly total and separates regular hours from overtime. Export as CSV to bring into payroll software.

What is overtime and when does it apply?

In the US, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires premium wages at 1.5× the regular rate for non-exempt employees who work more than 40 hours in a single workweek. Some states like California also require daily premium hours beyond 8 hours. Switch to Overtime mode and enter your regular weekly hours threshold to see how many hours qualify.

How do I calculate time and a half?

Time and a half = regular hourly rate × 1.5. If you earn $20/hr normally, premium hours pay $30/hr. In the Payroll mode, enter your hourly rate and the tool computes straight wages, premium wages, and total gross separately.

What are standard US weekly work hours?

The standard full-time workweek in the US is 40 hours. Beyond 40, federal law requires premium wages at 1.5× the regular rate for non-exempt employees. Part-time is typically under 35 hours. Salaried exempt employees are not covered by premium-hour rules regardless of hours worked.

How do I export my timesheet to CSV?

After entering your weekly schedule in Weekly mode, click the Export CSV button. The downloaded file includes date, clock-in, clock-out, break minutes, net hours, and decimal hours for each day — ready to paste into Excel, Google Sheets, or payroll software.

How do I calculate hours worked with breaks?

Total hours = (clock-out − clock-in) − unpaid break time. Example: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM = 8.5 gross hours. Subtract 30 minutes unpaid lunch: 8.5 − 0.5 = 8.0 net hours. Enter the break in minutes and the calculator handles the subtraction automatically.

What is a time card calculator?

A time card (or timecard) calculator does the same thing as this work hours calculator — it tallies clock-in/clock-out entries and break deductions to produce net worked hours. 'Time card' is the traditional paper-punch terminology; the math is identical.

How do I calculate hours between two times in different days?

Use overnight shift mode: enter the start time on day 1 and the end time on day 2. The tool automatically detects when end < start and adds 24 hours before computing the difference. Example: 10 PM to 6 AM = 8 hours.

How many hours is a part-time job per week?

The IRS and ACA define part-time as under 30 hours per week. Most employers consider 35 hours or fewer to be part-time, though this varies. The weekly work hours calculator can track part-time schedules just as easily as full-time ones.

Does this work for shift workers with rotating schedules?

Yes. In weekly mode, each day is entered independently — you can mix day shifts, evening shifts, and overnight shifts in the same week. The tool handles overnight detection per row and sums all days correctly.

Privacy, accuracy, and trust

Privacy

Work Hours Calculator — Net Hours, Breaks & Decimal Time (/work-hours-calculator) runs in your browser when supported—inputs are not uploaded to EverydayTools servers.

Accuracy

Net hours follow the times you enter; overnight detection adds 24 hours when end precedes start on the clock.

Hour totals are estimates from the times you enter. Employer rounding and break policies may differ—keep your original shift records.

Part of Date & Time Tools

More free tools for the same workflow.

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Reviewed by EverydayTools Editorial Team on 2026-05-20.