Time Card Calculator
| Day | Start Time | End Time | Break (min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | |||
| Tue | |||
| Wed | |||
| Thu | |||
| Fri | |||
| Sat | |||
| Sun |
What Is a Time Card Calculator?
A time card calculator — also called a timesheet calculator — adds up hours worked across each day of the week, subtracts break time, identifies overtime, and calculates gross pay. It's the tool hourly workers, freelancers, and payroll administrators use to verify hours before payday.
Manual timesheet math is error-prone. A 15-minute mistake across five days costs $1.25/hour employees $6.25 per week — $325 per year. This calculator handles all conversions between minutes and decimal hours automatically.
Federal law (FLSA) requires overtime at 1.5× regular pay for hours over 40 per workweek for non-exempt employees. Some states (California, Alaska) have daily overtime rules — over 8 hours/day triggers overtime regardless of weekly total.
How to Use This Time Card Calculator
- Enter start and end times for each day you worked. Use AM/PM format (e.g., 9:00 am, 5:30 pm) or 24-hour format (e.g., 9:00, 17:30).
- Enter break duration in minutes (30 for a 30-minute lunch break).
- Optionally enter your hourly rate and overtime multiplier (default 1.5×).
- Click Calculate Hours to see daily hours, weekly total, overtime, and gross pay.
- Leave a day blank if you did not work that day — it contributes zero hours.
Worked Example: Full Week at $18/hour
| Day | In / Out | Break | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | 30 min | 8h 30m |
| Tuesday | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | 30 min | 8h 30m |
| Wednesday | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm | 30 min | 9h 30m |
| Thursday | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | 30 min | 8h 30m |
| Friday | 8:00 am – 5:30 pm | 30 min | 9h 00m |
| Total | 44h 00m |
Regular: 40h × $18 = $720. Overtime: 4h × $18 × 1.5 = $108. Total gross pay: $828.
Time-to-Decimal Conversion Reference
| Minutes | Decimal Hours | Minutes | Decimal Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 min | 0.25 hr | 45 min | 0.75 hr |
| 20 min | 0.33 hr | 50 min | 0.83 hr |
| 30 min | 0.50 hr | 55 min | 0.92 hr |
Overtime Rules: Federal vs. State
- Federal FLSA: Overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek at 1.5× regular rate.
- California: Daily overtime over 8 hours and double-time over 12 hours per day, plus weekly overtime over 40 hours.
- Alaska & Nevada: Daily overtime over 8 hours per day.
- Exempt employees: Salaried workers classified as exempt are not entitled to overtime pay under FLSA.
- Blended rate: If paid different rates for different tasks, overtime applies to the weighted average rate.
Tips and Common Timesheet Mistakes
- Don't round too aggressively: The FLSA allows rounding to the nearest 5 or 15 minutes, but it must balance out over time and not favor the employer.
- Track break time separately: Unpaid break time must be clearly deducted; paid rest breaks (under 20 min) count as work time.
- Keep records for 3 years: FLSA requires employers to retain payroll records for at least 3 years.
- Midnight shifts: For overnight shifts, end time the next day is still valid — 10:00 pm to 6:00 am = 8 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions About Time Cards
How do I calculate hours worked from a time card?
Subtract start time from end time, subtract unpaid break, and convert to decimal hours. 8:00 am to 4:45 pm minus 30 min = 8h 15m = 8.25 hours.
What counts as overtime on a time card?
Under federal law, any hours over 40 per workweek for non-exempt employees. Some states add daily overtime thresholds.
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide minutes by 60. 45 minutes = 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75 hours. Then multiply by your hourly rate.
Can I use this for biweekly pay periods?
This calculator covers one workweek (7 days). For biweekly, calculate each week separately and add the totals. Overtime is calculated per workweek, not per pay period.
Does lunch break count as work time?
Unpaid meal breaks (typically 30+ minutes where the employee is relieved of duties) do not count as hours worked. Short rest breaks under 20 minutes do count.
How many work hours are in a year?
A standard full-time employee works 2,080 hours per year (40 hours × 52 weeks). Actual hours vary with holidays, PTO, and overtime.
What is the overtime rate for $15/hour?
At the federal 1.5× multiplier: $15 × 1.5 = $22.50/hour for overtime. Some states or contracts require double time (2.0×) for extreme hours.
How do I track time for multiple jobs?
Calculate each job's hours separately. Overtime is calculated per employer, not across all employers — each employer only owes overtime for their portion of hours over 40.