How to calculate hours worked (with lunch)

To total a shift, subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract any unpaid break. The Hours Calculator does this for you and shows the answer two ways: hours and minutes (8:00) and decimal hours (8.00), which is what most payroll systems ask for.

Converting minutes to decimal hours

Divide the minutes by 60. 15 minutes is 0.25, 30 minutes is 0.50, and 45 minutes is 0.75. So 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours, not 7.45.

Overnight shifts

If you start at 10:00 PM and finish at 6:15 AM, the end time is earlier on the clock. Count it as the next day: 8 hours 15 minutes, minus a 45 minute break, is 7:30 worked.

Worked example

9:00 AM to 5:30 PM is 8 hours 30 minutes. Take off a 30 minute lunch and you worked 8:00, or 8.00 decimal hours. At $20 an hour that is $160.00 before tax.

For a full week with overtime, use the Time Card Calculator.