How to Use the Hours Calculator

This free hours calculator helps you track work hours, calculate overtime, and determine your weekly pay. Here’s how:

1. Enter your work schedule — For each day, select the day name, enter your start time, end time, and break duration in minutes.
2. Set your hourly rate — Enter your hourly pay rate and the overtime threshold (default is 40 hours/week in the US).
3. Click “Calculate Hours” — The calculator shows total hours worked, regular hours, overtime hours, and total pay (with overtime at 1.5x rate).

The calculator supports overnight shifts (e.g., 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM) and automatically deducts break time from hours worked.

How Hours Worked Are Calculated

The formula for calculating hours worked is:

Hours Worked = End Time − Start Time − Break Duration

For overnight shifts, the calculator adds 24 hours to the end time. Time is converted to minutes for precision, then converted back to hours and minutes for display.

To convert hours and minutes to decimal: divide the minutes by 60 and add to the hours. For example, 7 hours 45 minutes = 7 + (45/60) = 7.75 decimal hours.

Overtime Pay Calculation

In the US under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt employees must receive overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Some states (like California) also require daily overtime for hours over 8 in a single day.

Total Pay = (Regular Hours × Rate) + (Overtime Hours × Rate × 1.5)

Practical Examples

Example 1: Standard Work Week

Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM with a 30-minute lunch break each day. Hours per day: 8.5 − 0.5 = 8.0 hours. Weekly total: 5 × 8.0 = 40.0 hours. At $25/hr: $1,000.00 gross pay.

Example 2: With Overtime

Same schedule but you worked an extra shift Saturday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM (no break): 6 additional hours. Total: 46 hours. Regular: 40 hrs × $25 = $1,000. Overtime: 6 hrs × $37.50 = $225. Total: $1,225.00.

Example 3: Overnight Shift

Night shift from 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM with a 30-minute break. The calculator detects the overnight crossover: 8.5 hours − 0.5 break = 8.0 hours worked.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert time to decimal hours?

Divide the minutes by 60 and add to hours. Examples: 7:15 = 7.25 hours, 7:30 = 7.50 hours, 7:45 = 7.75 hours. This is important for payroll calculations that use decimal time.

What is the overtime rate in the US?

Federal law (FLSA) requires overtime at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Some states have stricter rules — California requires daily overtime after 8 hours and double-time after 12 hours.

Does the calculator handle overnight shifts?

Yes! If the end time is earlier than the start time (e.g., start at 10 PM, end at 6 AM), the calculator automatically adds 24 hours to correctly compute the duration. No special settings needed.

How do I track hours for multiple weeks?

This calculator is designed for one week at a time. For multi-week tracking, calculate each week separately and combine the results. The overtime threshold applies per week (not per pay period) under federal law.