Understand the result
How to use the work hours calculator
Use this calculator to check a normal or overnight shift, remove an unpaid lunch, and estimate a repeated weekly schedule. It returns standard hours and minutes rather than hiding the break deduction.
Formula
Paid shift minutes = end time − start time − unpaid break. Weekly hours = paid shift hours × workdays.
Worked examples
9:00 AM to 5:30 PM with lunch
The shift lasts 8 hours 30 minutes. Subtracting a 30-minute unpaid lunch leaves 8 paid hours.
Five identical workdays
Five 8-hour paid shifts equal 40 paid hours per week.
Overnight shift
A 10:00 PM start and 6:30 AM end is treated as crossing midnight. With a 30-minute break, paid time is 8 hours.
Paid hours for common shifts
| Shift | Unpaid break | Paid time | Decimal hours | 5 shifts a week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM | 30 min | 8 h 00 min | 8.00 | 40.00 h |
| 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM | 30 min | 8 h 00 min | 8.00 | 40.00 h |
| 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 60 min | 8 h 00 min | 8.00 | 40.00 h |
| 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 30 min | 7 h 30 min | 7.50 | 37.50 h |
| 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 60 min | 8 h 00 min | 8.00 | 40.00 h |
| 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM | 30 min | 11 h 30 min | 11.50 | 57.50 h |
| 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM | 30 min | 7 h 30 min | 7.50 | 37.50 h |
| 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM | 30 min | 7 h 30 min | 7.50 | 37.50 h |
Worked five days a week, the 12-hour shift goes well past 40 hours. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees earn overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek, so a 7 AM to 7 PM schedule five days a week includes 17.5 overtime hours.
What counts as working time
Under federal rules, short rest breaks of about 5 to 20 minutes count as paid working time. Meal breaks of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid if you are fully relieved of duties. Time spent on required tasks before or after a shift, such as security screening or putting on required gear at work, may also count. Check your state rules and employer policy for the details that apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
Are paid breaks deducted?
No. Enter only unpaid break minutes.
Can it calculate overnight work?
Yes. An end time earlier than the start is treated as the following day.
Does it calculate wages?
No. Use the overtime or pay calculators after finding paid hours.
Does it subtract holidays?
No. It calculates the shift pattern entered.
How many hours is 9 to 5 with a 30-minute lunch?
7 hours 30 minutes of paid time, or 37.5 hours over five days.
How many hours is 7 AM to 3:30 PM?
8 hours 30 minutes in total. With a 30-minute unpaid lunch, that is 8 paid hours.
Is a 12-hour shift with a 30-minute break 11.5 hours?
Yes. 12 hours minus 30 unpaid minutes is 11 hours 30 minutes, or 11.5 decimal hours.
Assumptions and limitations
Results depend on the values entered and are educational estimates. Pay figures exclude taxes, deductions and benefits. Workplace rules, rounding practices and legal requirements vary by location and employer.