How to calculate hours worked minus breaks
Short answer: hours worked = end time − start time − unpaid breaks. 9:00 to 17:45 with a 45-minute lunch is 8:45 − 0:45 = 8:00. Do the subtraction in hours and minutes, not decimals, to avoid rounding mistakes.
1. Start with the span
Subtract the start time from the end time. 8:30 to 17:15 is 8 hours 45 minutes. When the minutes don't work out, borrow an hour: 17:15 − 8:30 = 16:75 − 8:30 = 8:45.
2. Subtract every unpaid break
Lunch 1:00 and a 15-minute unpaid break: 8:45 − 1:15 = 7:30. Paid short breaks normally stay in.
3. Overnight shifts
If the end time is earlier than the start, the shift crossed midnight. Add 24 hours to the end time: 22:00 to 6:30 is 30:30 − 22:00 = 8:30, then subtract breaks.
4. Converting to decimal hours
Payroll forms often want decimals. Divide minutes by 60: 7:30 = 7.5, 7:45 = 7.75, 8:20 = 8.33.
5. A week in one table
| Day | In | Out | Break | Worked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 9:00 | 18:20 | 1:00 | 8:20 |
| Tue | 9:00 | 18:40 | 1:00 | 8:40 |
| Wed | 8:30 | 17:00 | 1:00 | 7:30 |
Total 24:30 against a 24:00 goal: +0:30.
Let an app do the math
Hourwell records breaks as you take them (Start break / End break), and clocking out during a break ends it for you. The timesheet shows in, out, break, total and +/− for each day, and you can export the week as CSV.
FAQ
How do I write 7 hours 45 minutes as a decimal?
Divide the minutes by 60: 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75, so 7:45 is 7.75 hours.
How do I count a shift that goes past midnight?
If the end time is earlier than the start time, add 24 hours to the end. 22:00 to 06:00 is 30:00 − 22:00 = 8:00, then subtract breaks.
Is a paid break part of hours worked?
If your employer pays the break, it usually counts as working time. Unpaid breaks, like most lunch breaks, don't.