How hours worked are calculated
A 9:00–17:30 day with a 30-minute unpaid lunch is 8.5 hours minus 0.5 = 8 hours. For night shifts the end time is "earlier" than the start, so the tool adds 24 hours: 22:00 to 6:00 with a 45-minute break is 8 h − 45 m = 7 h 15 m.
Decimal hours for payroll
Payroll systems multiply decimal hours by the hourly rate. 7 h 15 m is 7.25 h (15 ÷ 60 = 0.25); at $20/hour that's $145.00. Writing "7.15" instead would short you 6 minutes of pay every shift — the single most common timesheet mistake.
Reference: shift lengths in decimal
| Shift | h:mm | Decimal | × 5 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9–5, 30 m break | 7:30 | 7.50 | 37.5 h |
| 9–5:30, 30 m break | 8:00 | 8.00 | 40 h |
| 8–4:30, 60 m break | 7:30 | 7.50 | 37.5 h |
| 7–7 (12 h), 60 m break | 11:00 | 11.00 | 55 h |
| 22–6 night, 45 m break | 7:15 | 7.25 | 36.25 h |
Paid vs unpaid breaks
Only deduct unpaid breaks. Rules vary: in the US, short breaks (5–20 min) are generally paid while bona-fide meal periods (30+ min) can be unpaid; the UK mandates a 20-minute rest for 6+ hour shifts, unpaid unless your contract says otherwise. When in doubt, check your contract before deducting.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours is 9 to 5?
Nine to five is 8 clock hours. With the typical 30-minute unpaid lunch it's 7.5 paid hours, and with a full hour lunch it's 7 — which is why '9 to 5' jobs quietly differ by 2.5 paid hours a week.
How do I calculate overnight shift hours?
Enter the times normally — the calculator detects that the end time is before the start time and adds 24 hours. 23:00 to 7:30 with a 30-minute break is 8 hours exactly.
How do I convert hours and minutes to a decimal for my timesheet?
Divide the minutes by 60 and append: 7 h 45 m → 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75 → 7.75. Never write minutes after the decimal point — 7.45 h is 7 h 27 m, not 7 h 45 m.
Are breaks included in hours worked?
Unpaid meal breaks are excluded — that's the number this tool outputs. Short paid rest breaks stay included. Which breaks are unpaid depends on your jurisdiction and contract.
How many working hours are in a week, month, and year?
A 40-hour week is about 173 hours a month (40 × 52 ÷ 12) and 2,080 a year. At 37.5 h/week it's ~163/month and 1,950/year — numbers worth knowing when converting salary to an hourly rate.