How this works
A timesheet calculator that adds up your weekly work hours from daily start and end times, with breaks subtracted and overtime calculated above a configurable threshold (default 40 hours/week). Each row represents one day; leave the start/end empty for days you didn't work. Times are entered in 24-hour format (or your locale's default time picker). The math is straightforward — for each day, end time minus start time gives the total interval, and break minutes are deducted. Overnight shifts are handled automatically: if the end time is earlier than the start time on the same row, the calculator assumes the shift crosses midnight and adds 24 hours. The weekly total is the sum of all daily hours; if the total exceeds the overtime threshold, the excess is reported separately. This tool is intentionally generic so it works for any pay structure. US Fair Labor Standards Act overtime kicks in at 40 hours/week for most non-exempt employees, which is the default; in California overtime can apply at 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week, whichever is higher (the calculator doesn't enforce that — adjust the threshold or sum daily totals manually). EU Working Time Directive limits average weekly hours to 48 over a reference period; many member states set lower national caps. For payroll-grade calculation including tax withholding and net pay, you'll want a dedicated paycheck calculator on top of the hours total this tool produces.
The formula
Times are entered in 24-hour format (HH:MM). Break is in minutes — typical lunch 30 or 60. The default overtime threshold is 40 hours/week (US FLSA standard); change it to 35 (France) or 48 (EU max) to match local law. Overnight shifts auto-detect when the end time is numerically smaller than the start time and add 24 hours — accurate as long as the shift is shorter than 24 hours.
Example calculation
- Mon: 09:00–17:30, 30-min lunch → 8.0 h
- Tue: 09:00–18:00, 30-min lunch → 8.5 h
- Wed–Fri: 09:00–17:30, 30-min lunch → 8.0 h × 3 = 24 h
- Weekly total: 40.5 h. Overtime above 40 h: 0.5 h.
Frequently asked questions
How do I handle a shift that crosses midnight?
Just enter the start and end on the same row — the calculator detects when end time is earlier than start time (e.g. 22:00 to 06:00) and automatically adds 24 hours, giving you 8 h. The same logic works for any shift shorter than 24 hours that crosses midnight. If your shift is longer than 24 hours (rare), split it across two rows.
How does overtime work in my country?
Big variation. US: federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires 1.5× pay above 40 hours/week for non-exempt employees; some states (e.g. California) also require 1.5× above 8 hours/day. UK: no statutory overtime premium — what you're paid for extra hours is set by your contract. Germany: typically 25% above the daily/weekly limit set in your contract or collective agreement. France: 25% premium for the first 8 overtime hours/week, 50% beyond that, atop the 35-hour standard week. Spain: capped at 80 overtime hours/year with mandatory equivalent rest or pay above the standard rate. Set the threshold in this calculator to whatever applies to you; for the actual premium, use a payroll tool downstream.
Should I subtract unpaid breaks from the total?
Yes — that's exactly what the break-minutes column is for. Most employers don't pay for unpaid meal breaks (typically 30 minutes for lunch); short paid breaks (10-15 minutes) usually aren't subtracted. Enter only unpaid break time in the break-minutes column. The math is then: paid hours = (end − start) − unpaid_break_minutes/60.
How accurate is this for actual payroll?
Accurate for the hours total — that's pure arithmetic. Not enough on its own for actual payroll, which also needs hourly rate, regional and federal tax withholding, social security/national insurance, retirement contributions, health-insurance deductions, and shift premiums. Use this tool to lock down the hours figure (which is often the disputed part) and feed the result into a dedicated paycheck or payroll calculator for the take-home number. For audit-grade tracking against legal time-and-attendance requirements, use a workforce-management system rather than a spreadsheet-style tool.