This works out total hours worked from a clock-in and clock-out time, minus any unpaid break, and splits the result into regular and overtime hours.
How it works
The shift duration is measured directly from the two times, with the unpaid break subtracted. Anything worked beyond the overtime threshold — 8 hours a day by default — counts as overtime, paid at the entered multiplier — 1.5×, “time and a half,” by default.
Overtime rules are set by law and employer, not by arithmetic
8 hours a day and 1.5× pay are common US defaults, not a universal rule. Other jurisdictions use a weekly threshold instead of a daily one, different multipliers, or no statutory overtime rule at all — and even within the US, employer policy can differ from the statutory minimum. Both the threshold and the multiplier are editable here specifically so this calculator works correctly for whatever rule actually applies to you, rather than assuming one jurisdiction’s convention is universal.
Shifts that cross midnight
Clocking in at 22:00 and out at 06:00 is an 8-hour night shift, not a negative span — this calculator detects a clock-out time earlier than clock-in and treats it as having crossed into the next day, rather than returning a nonsensical negative duration.
How to use this calculator
- Enter clock-in and clock-out times.
- Enter any unpaid break in minutes.
- Adjust the overtime threshold and multiplier if yours differ from the defaults.
Frequently asked questions
What if my overtime rule is weekly, not daily?
This calculator works out a single shift’s hours. For a weekly overtime threshold, sum a week’s worth of regular hours from multiple shifts and compare that total against your weekly threshold separately.
Why does a shift crossing midnight still come out correct?
Because the calculator checks whether clock-out is earlier than clock-in, and if so, treats the shift as spanning into the next calendar day — adding 24 hours to the span rather than returning a negative duration.
What does “pay-equivalent hours” mean?
It’s regular hours plus overtime hours multiplied by the overtime rate — a single number representing what you’d be paid for if regular hours were the unit, useful for a quick payroll estimate at a known hourly rate.
Can the break be longer than the shift?
No — that would mean negative hours actually worked, which isn’t a valid shift, so this calculator declines that input rather than returning a nonsensical negative total.
Does this account for paid breaks?
No — enter only unpaid break time. A paid break should still count as hours worked and should not be subtracted here.
