How do you convert minutes to decimal hours for payroll?

Divide the number of minutes by 60. For example: 15 minutes = 0.25 hours; 30 minutes = 0.50 hours; 45 minutes = 0.75 hours. An 8 hour 45 minute shift is 8.75 decimal hours.

Are employers required to pay for lunch breaks under federal law?

Under the US FLSA, bona fide meal periods (typically 30 minutes or more where the employee is completely relieved from duty) are not work time and are unpaid. Rest breaks of short duration (5 to 20 minutes) must be counted as paid work hours.

How is overtime calculated across overnight shifts?

An overnight shift spanning two calendar days is attributed to the workday or workweek established by the employer’s regular 7-day payroll schedule.

What is the 7-minute rounding rule in payroll timesheets?

Under FLSA regulations (29 CFR 785.48(b)), employers may round employee time to the nearest 15 minutes (quarter-hour), rounding down for 1 to 7 minutes and rounding up for 8 to 14 minutes, provided it averages out fairly over time.

Does this calculator support 24-hour military time?

Yes, you can toggle between standard 12-hour AM/PM time and 24-hour military time format.

Can I export my completed timesheet?

Yes, timesheet summaries can be printed or copied directly for payroll submission.

Interactive Verified Calculator

Work Hours, Timesheet & Overtime Calculator

This calculator computes total weekly work hours, daily shift durations, unpaid lunch deductions, gross wages, and 1.5× FLSA overtime pay with clean exportable timesheets.

Gross Weekly Payroll

$1,046.88

Total weekly compensation for 41.25 decimal hours.

Total Work Time:41h 15m (41.25 hrs)

Regular Pay (40 hrs @ $25/hr):$1000.00

Overtime Pay (1.25 hrs @ $37.5/hr):+$46.88

Computed under US FLSA 40-hour overtime rules.

Interactive Live Breakdown

Regular Hours40.00 hrsBase rate hours

Overtime Hours1.25 hrs1.5× wage multiplier

Average Shift Length8.25 hrsAcross active shifts

Mathematical Proof & Formula

Formula & Governing Equations

Computes elapsed working time in sexagesimal minutes, converts to decimal payroll hours, and applies US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) 40-hour weekly overtime compensation rules.

Governing Equation

Net Shift = (ClockOut - ClockIn) - Unpaid Breaks ; Gross Pay = (Regular Hrs × Base Rate) + (OT Hrs × 1.5 × Base Rate)

Variables & Measurement Units

Symbol	Variable Name	Units	Description
ClockIn / ClockOut	Shift Start & End	HH:MM (12h/24h)	Daily clock-in and clock-out times.
Break	Unpaid Meal Period	Minutes	Bona fide duty-free meal deduction (typically 30–60 min).
Regular Hrs	Standard Hours	Decimal Hours	Hours up to 40 in a single 7-day workweek.
OT Hrs	Overtime Hours	Decimal Hours	Hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek paid at 1.5× base rate.

Calculation Assumptions:

A standard non-exempt workweek threshold of 40 hours applies under federal FLSA regulations.
Short rest breaks (5 to 20 minutes) are compensable paid time; meal periods (30+ minutes) are unpaid.

Step-by-Step Proof

Worked Example: Weekly 5-Day Shift with Lunch Breaks & Overtime

Working Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM with a 45-minute unpaid lunch break each day at a $24.00/hour base wage.

Example Numerical Inputs

Daily Shift8:00 AM to 5:30 PM (9.5 gross hours/day)

Unpaid Lunch Break45 minutes (0.75 hours/day)

Net Daily Hours8.75 hours/day

Days Worked5 Days (Monday – Friday)

Base Hourly Wage$24.00/hour

Step-by-Step Calculation Steps:

Calculate total net weekly hours: 5 days × 8.75 hours = 43.75 total hours.
Regular hours (up to 40): 40.00 hours.
Overtime hours (above 40): 43.75 - 40.00 = 3.75 hours.
Regular pay: 40.00 hrs × $24.00 = $960.00.
Overtime rate: $24.00 × 1.5 = $36.00/hour.
Overtime pay: 3.75 hrs × $36.00 = $135.00.
Total gross weekly compensation: $960.00 + $135.00 = $1,095.00.

Final Output: 43.75 Total Hours (40.00 Regular + 3.75 Overtime) | $1,095.00 Gross Pay

The 3.75 overtime hours generated $135.00 in premium wages under FLSA rules.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter Clock In and Clock Out times for each day worked (Monday through Sunday).
Enter unpaid break duration in minutes (e.g. 30 or 60 min) for each shift.
Optionally enter your base hourly wage rate.
View total hours in both standard HH:MM format and decimal payroll hours.
Review your gross pay and overtime earnings breakdown.

How It Is Calculated (Algorithm)

•Daily shift minutes are calculated from time difference, subtracting unpaid lunch minutes.
•Minutes are divided by 60 to produce decimal payroll hours (e.g., 8 hours 15 minutes = 8.25 decimal hours).
•Total weekly hours are summed: hours up to 40 are multiplied by the base rate, and hours beyond 40 are multiplied by 1.5× the base rate.

When to Use & Practical Applications

✓Hourly workers validating payroll paystubs and timesheet entries.
✓Freelancers and contractors billing clients for hourly projects.
✓Managers approving weekly employee shift cards and overtime budgets.
✓Tracking split shifts, overnight shifts, and irregular schedules.

Limitations & Real-World Caveats

!State-specific daily overtime rules (such as California’s requirement for overtime over 8 hours in a single workday) require regional setting adjustments.
!Does not compute payroll tax withholdings (FICA, federal, state income taxes).

Authoritative Source & Standard