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Time Card Calculator
Easily track your work hours.
How to Calculate Hours Worked
Tracking your hours accurately matters whether you're a freelancer billing clients, an hourly employee verifying your paycheck, or a manager approving timesheets. The formula is simple:
Hours Worked = (End Time − Start Time) − Break Duration
For a standard 9-to-5 with a 30-minute lunch: (17:00 − 09:00) − 0.5h = 7.5 hours.
Understanding Overtime
Under the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt employees earn 1.5× their regular rate for any hours over 40 in a workweek. Some states (California, Nevada) also pay daily overtime for hours over 8 in a single day. Key thresholds:
- Federal overtime: >40 hours/week → 1.5× rate
- California daily OT: >8 hours/day → 1.5×; >12 hours/day → 2×
- Double time: 7th consecutive day in California → 2× for all hours
- Exempt employees: salaried workers earning >$684/week are generally OT-exempt
Standard Work Hours Reference
- Full-time week: 40 hours (5 × 8h days)
- Biweekly pay period: 80 hours
- Annual full-time: ~2,080 hours (52 weeks × 40h)
- Part-time: typically 20–32 hours/week
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How do I calculate hours between two times?
Convert both times to 24-hour format (e.g., 2:30 PM = 14:30), subtract the start from the end, then subtract any unpaid break time. For overnight shifts (e.g., 10 PM to 6 AM), add 24 to the end time before subtracting: (30 − 22) = 8 hours.
Do breaks count as paid time?
Under FLSA, short breaks of 5–20 minutes are generally paid. Meal breaks of 30 minutes or more are typically unpaid if the employee is completely relieved of duties. State laws may provide additional protections — always check your state's labor department guidelines.
How do I track hours as a freelancer?
Log start/end times for each client session daily. At month end, total the hours and multiply by your hourly rate. Keep records for at least 3 years in case of IRS inquiry. Many freelancers also add a 10–20% buffer on project quotes to account for unbilled admin time and revisions.