How to use the hours calculator
- Enter a start time and an end time. If the end time is earlier than the start time, it's treated as the next day – perfect for night shifts.
- Enter your unpaid break in minutes.
- Optionally add your pay per hour to see what you earned.
- Use the weekly timesheet to fill in each day and get your total hours (and pay) for the week. Your timesheet is saved in your browser.
Hours and minutes vs decimal hours
Time is counted in base 60, but payroll and invoices usually need decimal hours. To convert, divide the minutes by 60:
| Hours : minutes | Decimal hours |
|---|---|
| 7:15 | 7.25 |
| 7:30 | 7.50 |
| 7:45 | 7.75 |
| 8:20 | 8.33 |
| 8:40 | 8.67 |
A common mistake is writing 7 hours 45 minutes as "7.45" – it's actually 7.75 hours. On a ₹200-per-hour rate, that mistake costs ₹60.
Worked examples
- Day shift: 9:00 to 17:30 with a 30-minute break = 8 hours 30 minutes − 30 minutes = 8:00 hours (8.00 decimal).
- Night shift: 22:00 to 06:00 with no break = 8:00 hours, because the shift crosses midnight.
- Week: Monday to Friday, 9:30 to 18:00 with a 1-hour lunch break = 7.5 hours a day, or 37.5 hours a week. At ₹200 an hour, that's ₹7,500.
Tips for tracking your hours
- Note your start and end times the same day – memory gets fuzzy by the end of the week.
- Check whether your employer counts breaks as paid or unpaid.
- Check your employment contract or local labour rules for overtime limits and rates – they vary by job and state.
- For freelancers, round time the same way every time (for example, to the nearest 15 minutes) and tell clients how you bill.
Need a timer while you work? Try the stopwatch or the Pomodoro timer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours between two times?
Subtract the start time from the end time. If the end time is earlier, add 24 hours because the period crosses midnight. Then subtract any break time.
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. For example, 45 minutes is 0.75 hours, so 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours.
Does the calculator handle night shifts?
Yes. If the end time is earlier than the start time, it is counted as the next day, so 22:00 to 06:00 is 8 hours.
Is my timesheet saved?
Yes, the timesheet is saved only in your own browser so it's there when you come back. Nothing is uploaded.