How to use the work hours calculator
Enter one or more shifts, then set the break, rounding, and overtime values that belong in the calculation. The work hours calculator shows gross hours, payable hours, regular hours, and overtime hours for the entries you provide. An hourly pay rate adds an informational gross-pay estimate.
Enter shifts and set the rules
- Enter a Shift label, Start time, End time, and Unpaid break (min) for the first row.
- Select Add shift row when the calculation needs another shift.
- Choose No rounding - use times exactly as entered, Nearest interval, Up to next interval, or Down to previous interval under Round each start/end time. Set Rounding interval (minutes) when rounding is enabled.
- Set Overtime threshold (total hours, 0 = off) and Overtime pay multiplier. Add a value to Hourly pay rate (optional, for pay estimate) when you want the pay estimate.
- Select Calculate payable hours, then use Copy result or Download result (.txt) for a plain-text version.
After rounding, an end time at or before the adjusted start time moves into the next day. Equal times therefore produce a 24-hour gross shift before the unpaid break is deducted.
How payable hours are calculated
The calculator gets gross hours from the rounded start and end times, then subtracts the row's break minutes divided by 60. If the break is longer than the gross shift, payable hours stay at zero.
Start time: 09:00
End time: 17:00
Unpaid break (min): 30
Gross hours: 8.00
Payable hours: 7.50Total payable hours is the sum of every shift row. Regular hours are the total minus overtime hours. When the threshold is above zero, overtime hours are the amount above Overtime threshold (total hours, 0 = off), using one running total across all rows.
What punch-time rounding changes
Rounding changes each Start time and End time before the hours are calculated. Nearest interval uses the closest multiple, Up to next interval uses the next multiple, and Down to previous interval uses the previous multiple.
Round each start/end time: Nearest interval
Rounding interval (minutes): 15
09:07 becomes 09:00
17:08 becomes 17:15When a rounding mode is selected, Rounding interval (minutes) must be between 1 and 60. With No rounding - use times exactly as entered, the script skips that interval check.
Overtime threshold and gross-pay estimate
Set Overtime threshold (total hours, 0 = off) to zero to turn overtime off. Overtime pay multiplier must be at least 1. When you enter Hourly pay rate (optional, for pay estimate), the result multiplies regular hours by the rate and overtime hours by the rate and multiplier.
The estimate does not apply taxes, deductions, bonuses, shift differentials, minimum-wage rules, payroll-tax rules, or other jurisdiction-specific pay rules. Each shift needs valid Start time and End time values, and Unpaid break (min) must be zero or greater. The calculation runs in the browser, and the page makes no request with the shift values.
What to check in the result
- Each shift row shows the entered times, rounded times when rounding is enabled, the next-day adjustment when used, gross hours, break minutes, and payable hours.
- The totals table includes the rounding rule, overtime settings, number of shift rows, gross hours, unpaid break time, payable hours, regular hours, and overtime hours.
- Copy result copies the summary to the clipboard. Download result (.txt) saves the same result as a plain-text file.
Related date and time calculators
Use Date and Time Calculators when the task is date or time math. Choose the Timesheet Calculator when you need daily entries combined into weekly work hours and overtime. Use the Date and Work Time Calculator when the same job also needs business days, date changes, countdowns, ISO week numbers, or split shifts. Choose the Time Duration Calculator for elapsed date-time duration or adding and subtracting a duration without break or overtime rules.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate work hours with an unpaid break?
Enter Start time, End time, and Unpaid break (min), then select Calculate payable hours. The calculator divides the break minutes by 60 and subtracts that amount from the shift's gross hours.
Can the work hours calculator handle an overnight shift?
Yes. After rounding, if End time is at or before Start time, the calculator adds a day before calculating gross hours.
Does this calculator apply my state's or country's overtime rules?
No. Overtime uses the single threshold and multiplier you enter. The calculator does not apply jurisdiction-specific labor or payroll rules.
Can I calculate gross pay from work hours?
Yes. Enter Hourly pay rate (optional, for pay estimate) to see an informational estimate based on regular hours, overtime hours, and Overtime pay multiplier.