Time calculator
Time Card Calculator
Total paid hours across multiple shifts, subtract unpaid breaks, and separate regular hours from overtime.
Total paid hours
8 hr
How the time card calculator processes shifts
The calculator accepts one or more shifts entered as clock-in time, clock-out time, and unpaid break minutes. Each shift occupies a row with three input fields. A clock-in time and clock-out time use the time-of-day format, such as 09:00 or 17:30. The unpaid break field accepts a non-negative number of minutes. Add or remove shift rows using buttons below the input section. If any shift has missing, non-numeric, or invalid data, the calculator displays a dash instead of potentially misleading totals.
For each valid shift, the calculator computes the span from clock-in to clock-out, subtracts the unpaid break minutes, and accumulates the paid time. A weekly overtime threshold (default 40 hours) then splits the total into regular hours and overtime hours. The regular portion is the minimum of the total paid hours and the threshold; any excess becomes overtime. The calculator displays total paid hours as the main result and regular and overtime hours as detail rows.
A standard 9-to-5:30 shift with a 30-minute lunch
The default shift runs from 09:00 (9 AM) to 17:30 (5:30 PM), a span of 8 hours and 30 minutes or 510 minutes. Subtracting a 30-minute unpaid break leaves 480 minutes, which is exactly 8 hours. With the overtime threshold at its default of 40 hours per week and only one shift entered, the entire 8 hours is regular time because it is well under the threshold.
If the same shift is repeated five times in the calculator, the total becomes 40 hours. Five shifts of 8 hours each equals 40 paid hours with no overtime. Adding a sixth identical shift brings the total to 48 hours. The calculator then shows 40 regular hours and 8 overtime hours, since the excess beyond the threshold is classified as overtime.
Overnight shifts and multi-day pay periods
When an employee works a night shift from 22:00 (10 PM) to 06:00 (6 AM the next morning), the clock-out time is earlier than the clock-in time in terms of raw hour values. The calculator detects this condition and adds 24 hours to the clock-out time to compute the span correctly. A shift from 22:00 to 06:00 is treated as a span of 8 hours, not a negative 16 hours or an error.
Multi-shift weeks often combine daytime and overnight work. Enter each shift as a separate row. The calculator sums the paid time from all shifts, then applies the overtime threshold once to the total. This approach works for weekly timesheets, biweekly periods, or any aggregation. If an employee works Monday through Friday from 09:00 to 17:30 with a 30-minute break (8 hours per day, 40 hours total) and then works Friday night from 22:00 to 06:00 with no break (8 hours), the sixth row totals 48 paid hours. With a 40-hour threshold, the system shows 40 regular and 8 overtime.
Unpaid breaks, thresholds, and limitations
- Unpaid break minutes are subtracted from the shift span after the clock-in and clock-out times are processed. A shift cannot have more unpaid break time than its duration; an invalid entry (break exceeding shift length) causes the entire result to show a dash.
- The weekly overtime threshold is a configurable input with a default of 40 hours. Change this value to match your employment contract, industry standards, or jurisdiction. Some positions use 35-hour or 37.5-hour thresholds; part-time roles may use lower values.
- The calculator computes one total-hours threshold and does not model daily overtime rules, which vary by location and contract. Some jurisdictions require overtime pay after 8 hours in a single day regardless of weekly totals. Verify that your region's rules match this simple weekly-only model before using payroll results.
- Paid breaks, shift premiums, and wage rates are not included. The calculator only totals hours and applies the threshold. Payroll systems must multiply the hours by the appropriate wage rates and any applicable multipliers.
- Time is recorded in 24-hour format (09:00 to 23:59, or 00:00 to 08:59). The inputs do not parse AM/PM notation. An overnight shift must be expressed with a clock-out time earlier in the 24-hour cycle than the clock-in.
Frequently asked questions
How does the calculator handle a night shift that crosses midnight?
If clock-out is earlier than clock-in (in 24-hour values), the calculator adds 24 hours to clock-out. A shift from 22:00 to 06:00 is treated as a span of 8 hours.
Does this calculate overtime pay or only overtime hours?
It splits total hours into regular and overtime categories. Actual overtime pay depends on your hourly wage and multiplier, which must be applied separately.
Can I change the 40-hour overtime threshold?
Yes. The 'Weekly overtime threshold' field accepts any non-negative number. Use 35, 37.5, or any other value your employment contract specifies.
What if my break time is longer than my shift?
An invalid entry like this suppresses the result. All shifts must have paid time (shift span minus break) that is non-negative for the calculator to show a result.
Does this account for daily overtime rules?
No. It applies only a weekly total-hours threshold. Some jurisdictions require overtime after 8 hours in a single day. Check your local labor law before using this for payroll decisions.
Can I add as many shifts as I need?
Yes. Click the 'Add shift' button to add rows. Remove the last shift with the 'Remove last shift' button. There is no built-in limit, though very long lists may become hard to manage.