Learn the exact mathematical formulas to calculate daily work hours, deduct unpaid breaks, and tally weekly shift timesheets accurately.
Weekly Timesheet & Wage Calculation Record
Generated: Oct 8, 2026
Currency: US ($)
Time Card Calculator
Calculate work hours, lunch breaks, decimal hours, and overtime across your weekly time card.
Rate & Overtime SettingsCustomizable Calculation Parameters
Weekly Work Schedule
Overnight shifts crossing midnight are handled automatically (+24h math).| Day | Work Shift | Start Time | End Time | Unpaid Break | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday 7h 00m7.00 decimal hours | Start Time : | End Time : | Unpaid Meal Break | 7h 00m 7.00 decimal hours | |
Tuesday 7h 00m7.00 decimal hours | Start Time : | End Time : | Unpaid Meal Break | 7h 00m 7.00 decimal hours | |
Wednesday 7h 00m7.00 decimal hours | Start Time : | End Time : | Unpaid Meal Break | 7h 00m 7.00 decimal hours | |
Thursday 7h 00m7.00 decimal hours | Start Time : | End Time : | Unpaid Meal Break | 7h 00m 7.00 decimal hours | |
Friday 7h 00m7.00 decimal hours | Start Time : | End Time : | Unpaid Meal Break | 7h 00m 7.00 decimal hours | |
Saturday Day Off | Start Time : | End Time : | Unpaid Meal Break | Rest day | |
Sunday Day Off | Start Time : | End Time : | Unpaid Meal Break | Rest day |
Weekly Summary
Complete reconciliation of weekly shift hours and estimated gross wages.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1Enter your start time and end time for each scheduled workday (e.g. 08:30 to 17:00).
- 2Select or type your unpaid break duration (e.g. 30, 45, or 60 minutes).
- 3For overnight shifts crossing midnight (e.g. 22:00 to 06:00), the calculator automatically applies modular +24h math.
- 4Optionally set your hourly wage rate and overtime threshold to estimate weekly gross earnings.
- 5Export your finalized card to CSV or print a signed physical timesheet.
How Daily Time Card Math Works
Daily worked minutes are computed by subtracting clock-in time from clock-out time, then deducting unpaid meal breaks. Net hours are converted to decimal by dividing total minutes by 60. Overtime is calculated against your weekly threshold (commonly 40 hours).
Net Worked Hours = (Clock Out - Clock In - Unpaid Break Minutes) ÷ 60Why Accurate Time Card Math Matters
Preventing Payroll Discrepancies and Underpayment
A reliable time card calculator ensures that employees and employers share a transparent, mathematically verified record of hours worked. Because standard clocks use 60 minutes while payroll software requires base-10 decimals, manual calculations frequently create compounding errors.
TimeCardWorks evaluates each shift in exact integer minutes before rounding or converting to decimals, guaranteeing that employees are compensated for every minute worked.
Handling Unpaid Lunch vs Paid Rest Breaks
U.S. Federal Guidance and Meal Period Deductions
Under U.S. federal guidance, short rest breaks are generally treated differently from bona fide meal periods. State and local rules may impose additional requirements.
Bona fide meal breaks lasting 30 minutes or longer—where the worker is completely relieved of all duties—are typically unpaid and deducted from elapsed shift time under federal principles, whereas short rest breaks (5 to 20 minutes) are generally compensable working time.
Working Monday through Friday from 08:30 to 17:00 with a daily 30-minute unpaid lunch break.
- •Gross elapsed time per day: 08:30 to 17:00 = 8 hours 30 minutes (510 minutes).
- •Deduct 30-minute unpaid lunch: 510m - 30m = 480 working minutes (8.00 hours net per day).
- •Weekly tally: 5 days × 8.00 hours = 40.00 total regular hours.
- •At an hourly rate of $25.00/hr: 40.00 × $25.00 = $1,000.00 gross earnings.
Frequent Calculation Mistakes
- ✕Entering 15 minutes as 0.15 instead of 0.25 decimal hours.
- ✕Subtracting paid 10-to-15 minute rest breaks that should remain compensable.
- ✕Failing to account for shifts crossing midnight, resulting in negative time subtraction.
Questions & Answers
Are lunch breaks required to be deducted from time cards?
Under U.S. federal guidance, bona fide meal periods (typically 30 minutes or longer where the worker is completely relieved of duty) are usually unpaid, while short rest breaks (5 to 20 minutes) are generally compensable. State laws, collective agreements, and employment policies may differ.
How do decimal hours differ from clock hours and minutes?
Clock time uses base 60 (60 minutes per hour), whereas payroll multiplication requires decimal base 10. For instance, 7 hours and 30 minutes equals 7.50 decimal hours, not 7.30.
Is my timesheet data stored on any external server?
No. All calculations run entirely inside your browser via client-side JavaScript. Your hours and wage figures are not transmitted or stored remotely.
Learn the Math Behind the Tool
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Work Hours, Overtime & Shift Math Knowledge Base
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Learn how to accurately subtract unpaid breaks from daily shifts. Formulas and best practices for 15, 30, 45, and 60-minute break schedules.
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Learn the difference between weekly and biweekly timesheets. Understand how federal FLSA rules evaluate overtime by individual workweek rather than averaging across 14-day pay periods.
Complete minute-by-minute decimal hours conversion table from 1 to 60 minutes. Bookmark this essential payroll and billing reference.
A complete practical handbook for adding and subtracting hours and minutes across multi-day work schedules and contractor timesheets.