Work Hours Calculator
Adding up a week of shifts by hand — nine to five-thirty minus a half-hour lunch, a late finish on Wednesday, an overnight shift — is slow and easy to get wrong. This work hours calculator does it from a simple timesheet: one line per day with a start time, an end time and an unpaid break in minutes. It handles shifts that cross midnight, shows hours both as hours-and-minutes and as decimals (the form payroll uses), splits regular and overtime hours against a weekly threshold, and, if you enter an hourly rate, estimates gross pay. It is a calculator, not payroll advice: overtime rules vary by country, state and contract.
How to use the work hours calculator
- Type one line per day: the day name, the start time, the end time (24-hour) and the unpaid break in minutes, separated by “|”.
- Set a weekly overtime threshold (40 is common in the US; use 0 for none).
- Optionally enter an hourly rate and the overtime multiplier.
- Read the total hours, the overtime and the pay, and check the day-by-day table.
Formula
Hours worked = (end − start) − break, adding 24 hours when the end time is earlier than the start (an overnight shift). Decimal hours = minutes ÷ 60 (7 h 45 min = 7.75). Overtime = total hours above the weekly threshold. Gross pay = regular hours × rate + overtime hours × rate × multiplier.
Worked examples
A normal week
Mon, Tue and Thu 9:00–17:30 with a 30-minute break, Wed 8:30–18:00 with 45 minutes, Fri 9:00–16:00 with 30: 38:45 (38.75 hours).
An overnight shift
22:00 to 06:00 with no break counts as 8:00 (8 hours) — the calculator adds 24 hours when the end time is earlier than the start.
Overtime pay
Five 10-hour days at $20 an hour with overtime after 40 hours at 1.5× gives $1,100.00 gross: 40 regular hours ($800) plus 10 overtime hours ($300).
Practice problems
Try these yourself first, then check your answer. The answers come from the calculator above.
- Mon–Fri 08:30 to 17:00 with a 45-minute break each day. How many hours, and what is the gross pay at $18/hour (no overtime)?
Show answer
Total hours worked: 38:45 (38.75 hours) · Gross pay: $697.50
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to subtract unpaid breaks. A 30-minute lunch over a week is 2.5 hours.
- Entering times in 12-hour format. Use 24-hour times such as 17:30.
- Reading 7:45 as 7.45 hours. 7 h 45 min is 7.75 hours in decimal.
- Assuming one overtime rule fits everywhere. Some places pay daily overtime, weekend premiums or use different thresholds.
- Treating the pay result as a payslip. Tax, deductions and rounding rules are not included.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours worked between two times?
Subtract the start time from the end time and take off any unpaid break. For overnight shifts add 24 hours to the end time first.
How do I convert hours and minutes to decimals?
Divide the minutes by 60 and add the hours: 7 h 30 min = 7.5 hours; 7 h 45 min = 7.75.
How is overtime calculated?
Hours above the weekly threshold are paid at a higher multiplier (often 1.5×). The calculator uses a weekly threshold; local law and contracts vary.
Does it handle night shifts?
Yes. If the end time is earlier than the start time, it counts the shift as running past midnight.
Is my timesheet stored?
No. Everything runs in your browser.
Is this payroll or legal advice?
No. Check your contract and local employment law for overtime and pay rules.
Reviewed September 26, 2026 by the SolveCalcPro editorial team. Found a mistake? Tell us; see our editorial policy.