$
Leave blank to calculate hours only
Federal: 40 hrs/week • CA: 8 hrs/day
| Day | Start Time | End Time | Break (min) | Hours |
|---|
Total Hours Worked
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Sources & Methodology
Overtime rules follow the US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Gross pay calculation uses the standard time-and-a-half (1.5x) formula for overtime hours.
U.S. Dept. of Labor — Overtime Pay Rules (FLSA)
Federal overtime rules requiring time-and-a-half pay for non-exempt employees working over 40 hours per workweek, used as the basis for the overtime calculation logic.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) — Full Text Reference
Complete FLSA reference including workweek definition (any 7 consecutive days), overtime threshold (40 hours), and minimum overtime rate (1.5x regular rate) applied in this calculator.
California DIR — Daily Overtime Rules
Reference for California’s daily overtime threshold (over 8 hours per day triggers 1.5x; over 12 hours triggers 2x), available as an option in this calculator.
Methodology: Each day: Net Hours = (End Time − Start Time in minutes − Break minutes) ÷ 60. Daily hours floored at 0 (negative values treated as 0). Weekly total = sum of all daily net hours.
Weekly OT (Federal): Regular hours = min(total, 40). Overtime = max(0, total − 40). Gross pay = (regular × rate) + (overtime × rate × 1.5).
Daily OT (California): Each day >8 hrs contributes OT for the excess. Gross pay = (regular hrs × rate) + (OT hrs × rate × 1.5).
Weekly OT (Federal): Regular hours = min(total, 40). Overtime = max(0, total − 40). Gross pay = (regular × rate) + (overtime × rate × 1.5).
Daily OT (California): Each day >8 hrs contributes OT for the excess. Gross pay = (regular hrs × rate) + (OT hrs × rate × 1.5).
⏱ Last reviewed: April 2026
How to Calculate Work Hours & Overtime Pay
Accurately tracking work hours is critical for hourly employees, freelancers billing by the hour, and any worker verifying their paycheck. The calculation involves three steps: computing daily net hours (time minus breaks), summing to a weekly total, and applying overtime rules where applicable.
The Time Card Formula
Daily Net Hours = (End Time − Start Time) in minutes − Break Minutes ÷ 60
Weekly Total = Sum of all Daily Net Hours
Regular Hours = min(Weekly Total, 40)
Overtime Hours = max(0, Weekly Total − 40)
Gross Pay = (Regular Hrs × Rate) + (OT Hrs × Rate × 1.5)
Example: Mon 9:00–5:30 (30 min break) = 8.0 hrs • Tue 8:00–6:00 (60 min break) = 9.0 hrs • Wed 9:00–5:00 (30 min) = 7.5 hrs • Thu 8:30–6:30 (30 min) = 9.5 hrs • Fri 9:00–5:00 (30 min) = 7.5 hrs
Total = 41.5 hrs • Regular = 40 hrs • Overtime = 1.5 hrs
At $20/hr: Gross = (40 × $20) + (1.5 × $30) = $800 + $45 = $845
Total = 41.5 hrs • Regular = 40 hrs • Overtime = 1.5 hrs
At $20/hr: Gross = (40 × $20) + (1.5 × $30) = $800 + $45 = $845
Converting Minutes to Decimal Hours
| Minutes | Decimal Hours | Common Example |
|---|---|---|
| 15 min | 0.25 hrs | Quarter-hour break |
| 20 min | 0.33 hrs | Short lunch |
| 30 min | 0.50 hrs | Standard lunch break |
| 45 min | 0.75 hrs | Extended lunch |
| 60 min | 1.00 hr | One-hour lunch |
| 90 min | 1.50 hrs | Long break period |
Federal vs State Overtime Rules
The FLSA sets the federal minimum: overtime after 40 hours in a workweek. Several states impose stricter rules:
- California: Daily overtime after 8 hours; double time after 12 hours; weekly overtime still applies at 40 hours
- Alaska: Daily overtime after 8 hours per day
- Nevada: Daily overtime after 8 hours if earning less than 1.5x minimum wage
- All other states: Federal 40-hour weekly threshold applies
Payroll Period Types and Overtime
Overtime is always calculated per workweek regardless of pay period. A biweekly paycheck covers two workweeks — but you cannot average hours across those two weeks. If you work 50 hours in week 1 and 30 hours in week 2, you have 10 overtime hours (from week 1) even though the biweekly total is 80 hours. Run this calculator for each week separately to find the correct overtime.
💡 Payroll Tip: Always double-check your pay stub against your timesheet. Employers must keep payroll records for at least 3 years per FLSA. If you believe your employer miscalculated overtime, you can file a wage complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor at dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/local-offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
For each day, subtract your start time from your end time in minutes, then subtract break time in minutes, and divide by 60 to get decimal hours. Sum all days. Example: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM minus 30-minute lunch = 480 minutes − 30 = 450 minutes ÷ 60 = 7.5 hours. This calculator does all of that automatically when you enter your times.
Under the federal FLSA, overtime applies to hours over 40 in a workweek and must be paid at 1.5 times the regular rate. Example: 44 hours worked at $18/hr. Regular: 40 × $18 = $720. Overtime: 4 × $27 = $108. Total gross: $828. California and some other states also require overtime after 8 hours in a single day.
Divide the minutes by 60. Key conversions: 15 min = 0.25 hrs, 30 min = 0.50 hrs, 45 min = 0.75 hrs. Important: 8 hours 30 minutes = 8.50 hours (not 8.30). Many payroll errors come from treating clock time as decimal time. This calculator handles the conversion automatically.
The FLSA requires overtime pay for non-exempt employees who work more than 40 hours in a single workweek (any 7 consecutive days). The minimum overtime rate is 1.5x the regular rate. Federal law does not require daily overtime — that is a state rule. Salaried exempt employees, independent contractors, and some other categories are not covered by FLSA overtime requirements.
A standard full-time workweek under the FLSA is 40 hours. Most employers define full-time as 35–40 hours per week. The ACA (Affordable Care Act) defines full-time as 30 or more hours per week for health insurance eligibility purposes. Part-time is generally under 30–35 hours, though exact definitions vary by employer.
Yes. Run the calculator for each week separately and add the weekly totals. Remember: FLSA overtime is per workweek, not per pay period. You cannot average hours across two weeks. If week 1 = 45 hours and week 2 = 35 hours, you have 5 overtime hours from week 1, even though the biweekly average is 40 hours.
Subtract the break duration from the total clock time. Clock in 8:00 AM, clock out 5:00 PM = 540 minutes total. Minus 60-minute lunch = 480 minutes = 8.0 hours worked. Enter the break in the Break (min) column for each day and this calculator deducts it automatically from your daily total.
Gross pay is total earnings before any deductions. Net pay (take-home pay) is after federal and state income taxes, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), health insurance, and other deductions are subtracted. For most earners, net pay is roughly 65–80% of gross pay. This calculator shows gross pay only.
Record exact clock-in time, clock-out time, and total break time for each day. Calculate net hours per day (total minus breaks). Sum all days for the weekly total. Apply overtime if applicable. Have a supervisor sign and keep a copy. The FLSA requires employers to retain payroll records for at least 3 years — and employees have a right to request their own time records.
Federal: overtime after 40 hours per workweek. California: overtime after 8 hours per day (and double time after 12 hours per day). Alaska and some other states: daily overtime after 8 hours. Exempt salaried employees are not entitled to overtime regardless of hours worked. Use the overtime threshold selector in the calculator to match your state.
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