Timesheet Calculator
Calculate weekly work hours and pay from your timesheet. Supports breaks, overtime rates, and daily breakdowns.
Enter your daily start/end times and breaks to calculate total weekly hours, overtime, and pay.
Use the 24-hour clock, enter breaks in minutes, and leave the hourly rate blank if you only want to track hours.
Methodology and sources
Formula or method
For each day: net hours = (end time minus start time, adjusted +24 h for overnight shifts) minus break minutes. Weekly total = sum of daily net hours. Regular hours = min(total, overtime threshold). Overtime hours = max(0, total minus threshold). Regular pay = regular hours x hourly rate. Overtime pay = overtime hours x hourly rate x multiplier. Total pay = regular pay + overtime pay.
Basis and assumptions
- Overnight shifts are detected by comparing end time to start time; if end is earlier, 24 hours are added to the end.
- Break minutes entered by the user are deducted from each day's gross hours before summing.
- The overtime threshold and multiplier are user-supplied; the defaults (40 h/week, 1.5x) reflect the US FLSA non-exempt standard and common UK practice.
- A single hourly rate is applied to all days; tools using different weekend or holiday rates should calculate each tier separately.
- Currency selection changes the display symbol only and does not convert between currencies.
- Pay figures are gross estimates before income tax, national insurance, pension, or other deductions.
Key handling decisions
- Default overtime threshold is 40 hours per week (US FLSA non-exempt / common UK contract basis). UK contracted hours are typically 37.5 or 40; users should enter their own contract threshold.
- Default overtime multiplier is 1.5x (US FLSA statutory minimum for non-exempt workers; common UK convention). UK law does not mandate a premium rate.
- Hourly rate input is optional; leaving it blank produces hours-only output.
What this tool does not decide
- Whether you are legally classified as exempt or non-exempt from overtime in your jurisdiction.
- Tax, national insurance, pension, or any other deductions from gross pay.
- Whether your contract includes overtime premiums or how they are structured.
- Hours that qualify under specific modern awards or enterprise agreements (Australia).
- Provincial overtime thresholds, which vary across Canada (e.g. 44 h/week in Ontario vs 40 h federally).
- Consult your employer, payroll provider, or a qualified employment adviser for definitive payroll figures.
Sources
- Working Time Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/1833): 48-hour average weekly limit (reg. 4), 20-minute rest break after 6 hours (reg. 12) (legislation.gov.uk) last accessed 2026-06-11
- Overtime Pay: FLSA requires 1.5x the regular rate for non-exempt employees working more than 40 hours in a workweek (U.S. Department of Labor) last accessed 2026-06-11
- Hours of work, Canada Labour Code (federal): standard hours 40/week, overtime at 1.5x for hours beyond 40; provincial thresholds vary (e.g. 44 h/week in Ontario) (canada.ca) last accessed 2026-06-11
- Maximum weekly hours, National Employment Standards (Fair Work Act 2009): 38 ordinary hours per week for full-time employees, plus reasonable additional hours; overtime rates set by modern award or agreement (Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au)) last accessed 2026-06-11
Last checked: 2026-06-11
Why Accurate Time Tracking Matters
Whether you're an hourly employee checking your payslip, a freelancer invoicing clients, or a manager approving timesheets, getting the numbers right isn't optional. Undercounting hours means you're working for free. Overcounting creates legal and trust problems.
The maths is simple in theory: end time minus start time minus breaks. But real life throws curveballs. Overnight shifts, variable break lengths, different overtime thresholds, and bank holidays all complicate things. This calculator handles the arithmetic so you can focus on the work itself.
Accurate records also make it easier to spot and claim any overtime you are owed, and to resolve disputes when your payslip does not match what you worked.
UK Working Hours: What's Normal?
| Sector | Average Hours/Week | Standard Contract | Overtime Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office / professional | 37.5 | 9:00-17:30 | 37.5 hours |
| Retail | 35-40 | Shift-based | 40 hours |
| Healthcare (NHS) | 37.5 | Shift-based | 37.5 hours |
| Construction | 42-45 | 7:30-16:30 | 39 hours |
| Hospitality | 38-48 | Shift-based | 40 hours |
| Warehouse / logistics | 40-48 | Shift-based | 40 hours |
What this means for you: The UK Working Time Regulations 1998 cap average working hours at 48 per week (unless you have opted out in writing). Your contract should specify your standard hours and when overtime kicks in.
Overtime Rules by Jurisdiction
Overtime law differs significantly between countries. The tool defaults to 40 hours and 1.5x, which matches US federal law, but you should adjust the threshold and multiplier to match your own contract and jurisdiction.
United Kingdom
There is no statutory requirement for employers to pay a premium overtime rate. Whether you receive 1.25x, 1.5x, or nothing extra depends entirely on your employment contract. The Working Time Regulations 1998 cap average hours at 48 per week; workers can opt out voluntarily. Source: Working Time Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/1833), legislation.gov.uk.
United States
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires that non-exempt employees receive at least 1.5x their regular rate for all hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Exempt employees (many salaried professionals) are not covered. Some states set additional or stricter rules. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, dol.gov/agencies/whd/overtime.
Canada
Under the Canada Labour Code, federally regulated employees earn 1.5x after 40 hours per week. However, most workers fall under provincial jurisdiction: Ontario sets the overtime threshold at 44 hours per week; other provinces vary. Always check your provincial employment standards for the correct threshold. Source: canada.ca/en/services/jobs/workplace/federal-labour-standards/work-hours.html.
Australia
The National Employment Standards (Fair Work Act 2009) set maximum ordinary hours at 38 per week for full-time employees, plus reasonable additional hours. Overtime rates (typically 1.5x for the first 2 hours, 2x after) are set by the relevant modern award or enterprise agreement, not by a single national overtime statute. Source: fairwork.gov.au, Maximum weekly hours fact sheet.
Overtime Rates: Common UK Conventions
| Overtime Type | Typical Multiplier | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Standard overtime | 1.25x to 1.5x | Hours beyond contracted weekly hours |
| Weekend work | 1.5x | Saturday shifts (some contracts) |
| Sunday premium | 1.5x to 2x | Sunday shifts |
| Bank holiday | 2x | Work on public holidays |
| Night shift | 1.25x to 1.33x | Typically 11pm to 6am |
Note (UK): There is no legal requirement for UK employers to pay overtime premiums. These multipliers are common conventions; your actual entitlement depends on your contract. Always check your employment contract for the exact terms.
Break Entitlements
Legal minimum (UK, Working Time Regulations 1998)
Workers over 18 get a 20-minute unpaid rest break when working more than 6 hours. That is the legal minimum; many employers offer 30 to 60 minutes.
Paid vs unpaid breaks
Employers are not legally required to pay for rest breaks in the UK. If your break is unpaid, it should not count toward your working hours. This calculator deducts break time from total hours automatically.
Young workers (UK, under 18)
Entitled to a 30-minute break after 4.5 hours of work under the Working Time Regulations 1998. Different rules apply; check gov.uk for the latest guidance.
Working from home
The same break rules apply whether you work in an office or at home. Track your actual start and end times to ensure your records are accurate.
Common Timesheet Mistakes That Cost You Money
Rounding down your start time
If you arrive at 8:50 and log 9:00, that's 10 minutes of unpaid work per day, over 43 hours a year. Log your actual arrival time.
Forgetting travel between sites
Travel between work locations during the day counts as working time under UK law. Only your commute to the first site and home from the last doesn't count.
Not logging training time
Mandatory training, inductions, and required online courses are working time, even if they happen outside your normal shift. Your employer must pay for this time.
Submitting timesheets late
Most payroll systems have cut-off dates. Submit after the cut-off and your hours may not be paid until the following month. Fill in your timesheet daily, it takes 30 seconds and saves disputes.
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How to use this tool
Enter the start time, end time, and break for each working day
Set your hourly rate, overtime threshold and multiplier, or leave the rate blank to track hours only
Click Calculate for the weekly hours, overtime, and pay breakdown
Common uses
- Calculating weekly work hours from daily start and end times
- Working out overtime pay at different multiplier rates
- Checking your payslip matches your actual hours worked
- Tracking freelance or contract hours for invoicing
- Comparing hours across different shift patterns
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is overtime calculated?
Can I add weekend or extra days?
What about overnight shifts?
Is the hourly rate optional?
Are breaks deducted automatically?
What overtime threshold should I use?
What is the standard overtime multiplier?
Can I use this for freelance invoicing?
How accurate is this for payroll?
What are my legal rights around working hours?
How do I track hours if I work from home?
Does this handle different rates for different days?
Results are for general informational purposes only and should be checked before use. They are not professional advice. See our Disclaimer and Terms of Service.