Time card calculator
Enter the start and end times and any unpaid break in minutes. The calculator works out the hours worked in decimal and in h:mm, handling shifts that run past midnight.
Use it to total the worked hours of a shift after subtracting the break.
Hours worked
8 hours
- Worked (h:mm)
- 8:00
- Before break
- 8.5 hours
The result updates as you type. The headline is the hours worked in decimal; the others give the h:mm format and the span before the break.
How does it work?
If the end time is earlier than the start, the shift is treated as overnight and the next day is added. The break is subtracted from the span.
Time card formula
- start
- Clock-in time.
- end
- Clock-out time.
- break
- Unpaid break in minutes.
09:00 to 17:30 is 8.5 hours; a 30-minute break leaves 8 hours worked.
Method & sources
The shift span is end time minus start time. An end before the start is treated as an overnight shift. The unpaid break in minutes is subtracted from the span.
How we calculate
- The shift span is end time minus start time.
- An end before the start is treated as an overnight shift.
- The unpaid break in minutes is subtracted from the span.
- Worked time is floored at zero.
Rounding
Decimal hours show two decimals; the h:mm format is exact. The calculation uses whole minutes.
What this calculator does
A time card turns clock-in and clock-out times into hours worked. This calculator finds the span between the two times — adding a day if the shift runs overnight — then subtracts the unpaid break to give the paid hours in both decimal and hours-and-minutes form.
How to use it
- Enter the start hour and minute.
- Enter the end hour and minute.
- Enter the unpaid break in minutes.
- Read the hours worked.
A worked example
A shift from 09:00 to 17:30 is 8.5 hours. A 30-minute unpaid break leaves 8 hours worked, shown as 8:00.
Overnight shifts
If the end time is earlier than the start, the calculator assumes the shift crossed midnight and adds a day. A 22:00 to 06:00 shift is treated as 8 hours, not a negative span.
Common mistakes
- Entering the break in hours instead of minutes.
- Using 12-hour times without adjusting for AM/PM.
- Forgetting to subtract an unpaid break.
When it's useful
Totalling a shift for a timesheet, checking paid hours, or adding up worked time across an overnight shift.
FAQ
- How are the hours calculated?
- End time minus start time gives the span; the unpaid break is subtracted, and the result is shown in decimal hours and h:mm.
- Does it handle overnight shifts?
- Yes. If the end is earlier than the start, a day is added, so a shift across midnight totals correctly.
- How do I convert decimal hours to minutes?
- Multiply the fraction by 60. 8.5 hours is 8 hours and 0.5 × 60 = 30 minutes, or 8:30.
- Is the break paid or unpaid?
- Unpaid. The break is subtracted from the span to give paid hours. Leave it at zero for a paid break.
- Can I total a week of shifts?
- This calculates one shift. Add the daily results together for a weekly total.
- Can I share a calculation?
- Yes. Use Share to copy a link that reopens the calculator with the same times and break.
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<p>Calculator from <a href="https://wisecalcs.com/en/time-date/time-card-calculator">WiseCalcs</a></p>