Timesheet calculator · Updated October 2026
Work hours calculator
Enter your start time, finish time and breaks for each day to count your work hours for the week, in hours and minutes and in decimal. Add your hourly rate to see your pay.
This calculator is a guide. Check your hours against your employer’s records. Source: GOV.UK working time rules.
How to use the work hours calculator
- 1Pick your working daysTap a day to switch it on or off.
- 2Enter your timesAdd your start and finish time for each day. Night shifts that end after midnight are counted correctly.
- 3Take off unpaid breaksEnter unpaid breaks in minutes. Leave paid breaks at 0.
- 4Check your total and paySee your weekly hours, add your rate and overtime, and copy your timesheet.
Calculating your work hours step by step
1. Find the length of your shift
Take your start time from your finish time. 8:30am to 5:15pm is 8 hours 45 minutes.
2. Take off unpaid breaks
Take off a 45-minute unpaid lunch to get 8 hours worked.
3. Convert to decimal if you need to
Divide the minutes by 60 and add them to the hours. 8 hours 0 minutes is 8.00. 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75.
4. Add up the week
Add each day’s hours together. Five 8-hour days is 40 hours.
Minutes to decimal hours
Use this table to convert minutes on a timesheet into decimal hours.
UK working time rules
Hours a week
The average maximum for most workers, usually over 17 weeks, unless you opt out.
Minute break
If you work more than 6 hours in a day. It does not have to be paid.
Hours’ rest
Between one working day and the next.
Hours off a week
Or 48 hours off every 2 weeks.
Assumptions behind the calculator
- If your finish time is the same as or earlier than your start time, the shift is treated as ending the next day.
- Unpaid breaks are taken off each day’s hours. Paid breaks should be entered as 0.
- Overtime is worked out on your weekly total, above the hours you set.
- Pay is shown before tax. Estimated earnings assume the same hours every week for 52.143 weeks a year, with take-home after income tax (code 1257L, rest-of-UK rates) and National Insurance only.
- Rest and break checks use the adult rules in the Working Time Regulations. The 48-hour check is for this week only, not your average.
Frequently asked questions about work hours
How do I calculate my work hours?
Take your finish time away from your start time, then take off any unpaid breaks. For example, 8:30am to 5:15pm is 8 hours 45 minutes. Take off a 45-minute unpaid lunch and you worked 8 hours. Add up each day to get your weekly total.
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. 15 minutes is 0.25, 30 minutes is 0.5 and 45 minutes is 0.75. So 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours. Many payslips and timesheets use decimal hours.
How do I calculate hours for a night shift?
If your shift ends after midnight, count the hours up to midnight and the hours after it. For example, 10pm to 6am is 2 hours before midnight and 6 hours after, so 8 hours. The calculator does this for you when your finish time is earlier than your start time.
Do breaks count as working hours?
Unpaid breaks do not count towards your paid hours. Paid breaks do, so enter 0 minutes for any break your employer pays for.
How many hours can I legally work in a week in the UK?
Most workers cannot be made to work more than 48 hours a week, averaged over 17 weeks. You can choose to opt out of this limit in writing. Workers under 18 cannot work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.
How do I calculate overtime?
Work out your hours above your contracted hours, then multiply by your overtime rate. For example, 5 hours of overtime at time and a half on £12.71 an hour is 5 × £19.07, or £95.33. Your contract sets whether and how overtime is paid.
What counts as working time?
Working time includes time spent working, job-related training, and travelling as part of your job, such as between home care visits. It does not usually include your normal commute or unpaid lunch breaks.
How many hours is full time in the UK?
There is no legal definition of full time, but it is usually 35 hours or more a week. Many jobs are 37.5 hours a week, for example 9am to 5:30pm, 5 days a week, with a 30-minute unpaid lunch.