Anyone who has totalled a week of clock-in times on paper knows how easily 17:30 minus 09:00 turns into the wrong answer. The calculator removes the arithmetic, but it follows specific rules, and you should know them before you rely on the totals for pay.
How to enter shifts
Put one shift per line in the Timesheet Calculator, with the clock-in and clock-out times separated by a comma, in 24-hour form: 09:00, 17:30. Choose the daily overtime threshold (8, 10 or 12 hours).
If the clock-out time is earlier than the clock-in time, the tool treats it as an overnight shift and adds 24 hours. So 22:00, 06:00 is 8 hours.
A worked week
Take three lines: 09:00 to 17:30 (8.5 hours), 08:00 to 18:00 (10 hours) and 22:00 to 06:00 (8 hours). With an 8-hour threshold:
- Total hours: 26.5
- Overtime: 0.5 + 2 + 0 = 2.5 hours
- Regular hours: 24
What it counts as overtime
Overtime here means time beyond the daily threshold on each line. That matches some workplaces and not others. In the United States, for example, the federal rule covers hours over 40 in a workweek at one and a half times the regular rate for non-exempt employees (U.S. Department of Labor), and some states add daily overtime on top. This tool does not apply a weekly total, so for a weekly rule add up the total hours yourself and compare them with the limit.
What it does not do
- Breaks. Unpaid breaks are not deducted. Subtract them from the clock-out time or shorten the shift before entering it.
- Several shifts in one day. Each line is judged on its own, so a split shift is not combined for the daily threshold. Enter one line with the combined hours if your rule applies per day.
- Pay. It returns hours only, with no rates, rounding rules or deductions.
Check your contract or local labour rules for how overtime and rounding apply to you. This tool is an hours calculator, not payroll, legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I read a result like 8.5 hours?
The decimal is a fraction of an hour: 8.5 is 8 hours 30 minutes, 8.25 is 8 hours 15 minutes and 8.75 is 8 hours 45 minutes. The calculator shows two decimals.
Does it round to the nearest quarter hour?
No. It uses the exact times you enter. If your employer rounds clock times to a set increment, apply that rule to the times first.
How do I deduct an unpaid lunch?
Subtract it from the shift. For 09:00 to 17:30 with a 30-minute unpaid break, enter 09:00 to 17:00, or split it into two lines if you need to see the pieces.