About the Hours Calculator
This calculator turns a start time, an end time, and an unpaid break into the numbers a timesheet needs: total hours worked, that same duration written as hours and minutes, and — using your hourly rate — a split between regular and overtime pay.
The formula
Total hours worked follows one straightforward rule:
- Hours worked = (End time − Start time − Unpaid break) ÷ 60, expressed in decimal hours.
- Overnight shifts: if the end time is earlier than the start time (for example, 22:00 to 06:00), the calculator adds 24 hours to the end time before subtracting, so overnight shifts come out correctly.
- Regular vs. overtime hours: hours up to your overtime threshold (commonly 8 per day) count as regular hours; anything beyond that threshold counts as overtime.
- Estimated pay = (regular hours × hourly rate) + (overtime hours × hourly rate × overtime multiplier). A multiplier of 1.5 represents standard "time-and-a-half" overtime.
How to get accurate results
- Enter start and end time using the time picker — it displays in your browser's local format but stores a 24-hour value.
- Only include unpaid break minutes; paid breaks should stay on the clock and not be subtracted.
- Set the overtime threshold and multiplier to match your employer's policy or local labor law — 8 hours/day at 1.5× is a common default, but rules vary by state, country, and contract.
Practical context
This tool performs the same arithmetic a payroll system uses, but it does not know your specific overtime law, union contract, or tax withholding. Use it to estimate a paycheck or double-check a timesheet quickly, then confirm exact figures against your employer's payroll records or applicable wage-and-hour rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate total hours worked?
Subtract the start time from the end time to get the total span on the clock, subtract any unpaid break minutes, then divide by 60 to get decimal hours: Hours worked = (End time − Start time − Break minutes) ÷ 60.
How does the calculator handle overnight shifts?
If the end time is earlier than the start time, such as a shift starting at 22:00 and ending at 06:00, the calculator adds 24 hours to the end time before subtracting, so overnight shifts still produce the correct total.
How is overtime pay calculated?
Hours up to your overtime threshold, commonly 8 per day, are paid at your regular hourly rate. Hours beyond that threshold are paid at the overtime rate — hourly rate times the overtime multiplier, typically 1.5 for time-and-a-half. Overtime pay = overtime hours × hourly rate × overtime multiplier.