Work Hours Calculator

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter start hour/minute and end hour/minute in 24-hour format.
2. Enter break duration in minutes.
3. Enter days worked per week.
4. Results show daily, weekly, and monthly net hours.

Formula

Example

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I calculate my weekly hours? ▼
  Enter your shift start time and end time in 24-hour format (for example, 08:00 start and 17:00 end), enter your break duration in minutes (such as 60 minutes for a one-hour lunch), and then enter the number of days you work per week (typically 5). The calculator computes daily net hours as (end − start) − break, then multiplies by days per week. For the example above: gross = 9 hours, minus 1 hour break = 8 net hours per day × 5 days = 40 hours per week. If your shift crosses midnight — for example a night shift from 22:00 to 06:00 — the calculator adds 24 hours to the end time automatically.
• How is the monthly total calculated? ▼
  Monthly hours use the formula: Monthly = Weekly × (365.25 ÷ 7 ÷ 12) = Weekly × 4.3482. The divisor 365.25 accounts for leap years (one extra day every four years). This gives the average number of weeks per month over a full year cycle. For example, 40 weekly hours × 4.3482 = 173.9 monthly hours. This is the standard used in US labor law for overtime calculations (40 hours/week × 52.18 weeks ÷ 12 months = 173.9 hours/month). If you prefer to calculate hours for a specific calendar month, count its actual weekdays using the Workday Calculator instead.
• Can I account for different shifts each day? ▼
  This calculator assumes a consistent daily schedule — the same start time, end time, and break every working day. For variable shifts, use the Hours Calculator or Time Duration Calculator for each shift individually and then sum the results. A useful workaround for a rotating schedule is to calculate the total hours for each distinct shift type, multiply by how many times per pay period that shift occurs, and add the totals together. For example, if you work 3 eight-hour shifts and 2 ten-hour shifts per week, the calculation is (3 × 8) + (2 × 10) = 44 hours per week.
• What is the difference between gross and net hours? ▼
  Gross hours is the total elapsed time from when your shift starts to when it ends. Net hours is gross hours minus any unpaid break time. For example, a shift from 08:00 to 17:00 is 9 gross hours. If you take an unpaid 30-minute lunch break, net hours = 8.5. Net hours represents the time you are actually working and should be used for wage calculations. In most jurisdictions, meal breaks longer than 30 minutes that allow you to leave the premises are unpaid and excluded from net hours, while short rest breaks of 10–15 minutes are typically paid and count toward gross hours.
• How do I convert decimal hours to hours and minutes? ▼
  Take the whole number part as hours, then multiply the decimal fraction by 60 to get minutes. For example: 7.75 hours = 7 hours + (0.75 × 60) = 7 hours 45 minutes. Another example: 8.333 hours = 8 hours + (0.333 × 60) = 8 hours 20 minutes. To go the other way (hours and minutes to decimal), divide minutes by 60 and add: 6 hours 15 minutes = 6 + 15/60 = 6.25 decimal hours. Decimal hours are convenient for payroll because you can multiply directly by a dollar-per-hour rate. For example, 6.25 hours × $20/hour = $125 — no need to convert minutes separately.

Related Calculators