Time to Decimal Calculator
Turn a work shift or clock duration into decimal hours for your timesheet. Free and instant.
Hours & Minutes → Decimal
Decimal → Hours & Minutes
Why convert time to decimal?
When you log a shift on a timesheet, payroll needs a single decimal number, not “7h 30m.” Converting makes the math straightforward: multiply decimal hours by your hourly rate to get gross pay. The converter above handles both directions.
From clock times to a duration
Time clocks record when you started and stopped, so the first job is finding the length of the shift. Subtract the start time from the end time: 9:00 to 17:45 is 8 hours 45 minutes. Then convert the duration:
decimal hours = hours + (minutes ÷ 60)
8 + (45 ÷ 60) = 8.75. Enter 8 and 45 in the converter above and it shows the same result the moment you type.
A full worked shift, including lunch
Take a typical day: clock in at 8:15, lunch from 12:00 to 12:30, clock out at 16:40. The morning block is 8:15 to 12:00, which is 3 hours 45 minutes. The afternoon block is 12:30 to 16:40, which is 4 hours 10 minutes. The unpaid lunch is already excluded by splitting the day this way.
Total duration: 3h 45m + 4h 10m = 7 hours 55 minutes. Convert each block or the total; either way you get 7 + (55 ÷ 60) = 7.9167 decimal hours, which rounds to 7.92 on a two-place timesheet. At $22 an hour that day pays 7.92 × 22 = $174.24.
Doing this arithmetic by hand every day is where errors creep in, which is why the converter keeps the conversion step mechanical. For a complete two-week walkthrough, see the biweekly timesheet guide.
Common shift lengths in decimal
| Shift duration | Decimal hours |
|---|---|
| 4 hours 15 minutes | 4.25 |
| 4 hours 25 minutes | 4.4167 |
| 5 hours 30 minutes | 5.50 |
| 6 hours 45 minutes | 6.75 |
| 7 hours 30 minutes | 7.50 |
| 8 hours 15 minutes | 8.25 |
| 8 hours 45 minutes | 8.75 |
| 9 hours 20 minutes | 9.3333 |
| 10 hours 30 minutes | 10.50 |
| 12 hours | 12.00 |
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a shift time to decimal hours?
Work out how long the shift lasted, then enter that duration as hours and minutes above. A shift from 9:00 to 17:45 is 8 hours 45 minutes, which the calculator shows as 8.75 decimal hours.
What is 7 hours 30 minutes in decimal?
7.5 decimal hours (30 ÷ 60 = 0.5). Enter 7 and 30 to confirm. On a two-week timesheet, ten shifts of 7.5 hours add up to exactly 75.00 hours.
How do I subtract a lunch break before converting?
Subtract the break from the shift length first, then convert. A 9:00-to-17:00 day is 8 hours; with a 30-minute unpaid lunch the payable time is 7 hours 30 minutes, which converts to 7.50 decimal hours.
My timesheet has clock times, not durations. What do I enter?
Convert to a duration first. From 8:15 to 12:40 is 4 hours 25 minutes (12:40 minus 8:15); enter 4 and 25 above to get 4.4167, usually rounded to 4.42. The calculator converts durations, not clock readings.
Can I convert decimal hours back to a shift length?
Yes. Use the right-hand converter: 7.5 decimal hours becomes 7 hours 30 minutes. This is handy when payroll sends back a decimal total and you want to check it against your own hours.
How do I handle a shift that crosses midnight?
Count forward through midnight. A 22:00-to-06:00 shift is 8 hours, not negative 16. One way to see it: 22:00 to 24:00 is 2 hours, plus 00:00 to 06:00 is 6 hours, so the duration is 8 hours, which enters as 8.00 decimal hours.
Should the break be paid or unpaid time on the timesheet?
That depends on your employer and local law, not on the math. Paid breaks stay inside the duration you convert; unpaid breaks get subtracted first. US federal law does not require paid breaks, but several states do, so check your state rules or ask payroll.
How many decimal places do timesheets use?
Two places is the manual standard (8.75); four places is what most time clocks record (8.7500). Both mean the same thing here.