How to use this time card calculator
- Enter employee details and the pay period if you want them on the report.
- Add daily clock-in and clock-out times. Deduct unpaid breaks in minutes.
- Open Summary for regular hours, overtime, and gross pay when a rate is set.
- Use Reports when you need a printable weekly time card.
Times can be entered in common formats such as 8:00, 8.30, or 15:30. Overnight shifts are treated as ending the next day when the out time is earlier than the in time on the clock.
Hours, minutes, and decimal hours
Payroll systems usually store paid time as decimal hours. Eight hours and fifteen minutes is 8.25 hours because 15 ÷ 60 = 0.25. The Time Card Calculator shows both hh:mm and decimal totals so you can match timesheets without converting by hand.
Tip: convert the weekly hh:mm total to decimal once, rather than summing rounded daily decimals. Rounding each day first can leave a few hundredths of an hour of drift.
Wages and overtime (FLSA overview)
Under the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), covered non-exempt employees generally must receive at least the applicable minimum wage and overtime of 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek (any fixed, recurring 168-hour period). Where a state minimum wage is higher than the federal rate, the higher rate applies.
Settings on this page let you model common overtime rules (weekly threshold and multiplier). Confirm the rule that matches your workplace policy and location before using results for payroll.
Exempt vs. non-exempt employees
Non-exempt employees are entitled to minimum wage and overtime under the FLSA. Most hourly workers fall in this group. Exempt employees are not entitled to FLSA overtime; many salaried roles in executive, administrative, or professional categories can qualify when salary level and duties tests are met.
Salary thresholds and exemption duties change over time. Treat this page as a calculator for hours and pay math, not legal advice. Check current U.S. Department of Labor guidance for classification.
Brief history of time cards
Clock cards became common in late 19th-century factories so companies could record in and out times accurately. Early machines such as the Bundy Key Recorder (1888) and Cooper’s Rochester Time Recorder (1894) printed punch times employees later totaled by hand. Digital timesheets and biometric clocks replaced many paper cards, but the weekly in/out layout on this calculator still mirrors that classic format.
FAQ
How do I calculate time card hours?
For each day, subtract clock-in from clock-out, then subtract unpaid break minutes. Sum the days for the week. Convert the total to decimal hours for payroll (minutes ÷ 60).
When does overtime usually start?
Federal FLSA overtime for many non-exempt workers begins after 40 hours in a workweek at time-and-a-half. Some states also require daily overtime (for example after 8 hours). Use the overtime options above to match the rule you need.
Should unpaid lunch be deducted?
Yes, if lunch or other breaks are unpaid. Enter the break length so paid hours exclude that time. Paid short breaks are usually left in the total.
What about a single shift instead of a full week?
For one start and end time (with an optional break), use the hours calculator.