Work Hours Calculator (Time Card)
Calculate total hours worked given clock-in and clock-out times, with optional unpaid break deduction.
What this calculates
Hourly workers and freelancers need to convert clock-in/clock-out times into billable hours. This calculator handles standard shifts including overnight ones (clock-out before clock-in means the next day), and subtracts unpaid break minutes to produce a final hours-worked figure suitable for time cards.
Formula & how it works
Total minutes = (out_hour × 60 + out_min) − (in_hour × 60 + in_min). If negative, add 1440 (24 hours) for overnight shifts. Subtract break minutes. Convert to hours = minutes ÷ 60. Decimal hours: 8.5 = 8 hours 30 minutes. Standard rounding policies vary — some employers round to nearest quarter-hour.
Worked example
Clock in 09:15, clock out 17:45, 30-minute unpaid lunch. Total = (17×60 + 45) − (9×60 + 15) − 30 = 1065 − 555 − 30 = 480 minutes = 8.00 hours. Overnight: 22:00 to 06:30 with 30-minute break = (6×60+30 + 1440) − (22×60) − 30 = 480 minutes = 8.00 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Do federal labor laws require unpaid breaks?
US: not federally, but many states do for shifts over 6 hours. Most US employers offer 30-minute unpaid lunch + paid 10-minute breaks. EU mandates rest breaks for most workers.
Should I round hours?
Standard practice: round to nearest quarter-hour (0.25 / 0.50 / 0.75 / 1.00). Some payroll systems use 6-minute increments (0.1 hour). Check your employer's policy.
What's overtime in the US?
Federal: over 40 hours/week is overtime at 1.5× pay. Some states (California) also require daily overtime over 8 hours. Salaried 'exempt' positions don't get overtime.
How do I track multi-week pay periods?
Calculate each day separately, then sum. Most payroll systems automate this. For freelance billing, an invoicing tool (Harvest, Toggl) is more efficient than a spreadsheet long-term.
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