Work Hours Calculator

Calculate weekly work hours, overtime, and pay. Enter start/end times and breaks for each day.

Free to use. Runs in your browser.

Enter your start time, end time, and break for each working day to calculate total hours and pay.

Monday

Start

End

Break (min)

Tuesday

Start

End

Break (min)

Wednesday

Start

End

Break (min)

Thursday

Start

End

Break (min)

Friday

Start

End

Break (min)

Hourly Rate (£)

Standard Weekly Hours

Overtime Multiplier

How Work Hours Are Calculated

The maths behind work hours sounds simple, subtract start time from end time, then subtract breaks. But when you factor in overnight shifts, varying break lengths, and overtime thresholds across a full week, it gets complicated quickly.

This calculator handles all of that. For each day, it computes gross hours (total time between clock-in and clock-out), then subtracts your break duration to get net working hours. Overnight shifts are supported, if your end time is earlier than your start time, it assumes you're working past midnight.

Once all days are totalled, any hours above your standard weekly threshold (default 40) are counted as overtime. If you've set an hourly rate, both regular and overtime pay are calculated automatically, with overtime at your specified multiplier (default 1.5×).

Standard Working Hours by Country

Country	Weekly Hours	Overtime Rate	Notes
United Kingdom	48 max (opt-out)	No legal minimum	Working Time Regulations 1998
United States	40	1.5× after 40h	Fair Labor Standards Act
European Union	48 max	Varies by country	EU Working Time Directive
Germany	48 max (avg 38)	25-50% premium	Common in collective agreements
France	35	25% first 8h, 50% after	Loi Aubry / Code du travail
Australia	38	1.5× first 2h, 2× after	Fair Work Act 2009
Japan	40	1.25 to 1.5×	Higher rate for late night/holiday
UAE	48 (8h/day, 6 days)	1.25 to 1.5×	Reduced during Ramadan

What this means for you: Set the "Standard Weekly Hours" field to match your country's norm. Any hours beyond this are calculated as overtime at your chosen multiplier.

Common Work Schedule Patterns

9-to-5 (Standard)

8 hours gross, 7.5 net with a 30-min break. Five days = 37.5 hours/week. The most common office schedule worldwide.

4×10 (Compressed)

10-hour days, 4 days a week, 3-day weekend. Same 40 hours but with one fewer commute and an extra recovery day.

Shift Work (Rotating)

12-hour shifts, rotating between days and nights. Common in healthcare, manufacturing, and emergency services. Add extra days as needed.

Freelance (Variable)

Hours vary daily. Track actual work time to calculate billable hours and ensure you're meeting your income targets.

UK Break Entitlements

Shift Length	Minimum Break	Notes
Under 6 hours	No legal entitlement	Employer may still offer breaks
6+ hours	20 minutes (uninterrupted)	Must be during the shift, not at start/end
Young workers (under 18)	30 minutes after 4.5 hours	Enhanced protection for under-18s

These are legal minimums under the Working Time Regulations 1998. Many employers offer longer breaks. Breaks are usually unpaid unless your contract states otherwise, that's why this calculator separates gross and net hours.

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How to use this tool

Enter start time, end time, and break for each working day

Set your hourly rate and standard weekly hours for overtime calculation

Click Calculate Hours & Pay to see the full breakdown

Common uses

Tracking weekly hours for freelance and hourly workers
Calculating overtime pay against standard work week thresholds
Verifying timesheets before payroll submission
Planning shift schedules and estimating weekly earnings

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Frequently Asked Questions

How are work hours calculated?

For each day, we subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract the break duration. The result is your net working hours for that day.

Does it account for overtime?

Yes. Any hours above your specified standard weekly hours (default 40) are counted as overtime and calculated at your chosen multiplier (default 1.5×).

Can I add weekends?

Yes. Click 'Add Day' to add Saturday, Sunday, or any extra shift. Each row is independently configurable.

How is pay calculated?

Regular hours × hourly rate, plus overtime hours × hourly rate × overtime multiplier. Enter your rate to see the full breakdown.

Does it handle overnight shifts?

Yes. If your end time is earlier than your start time (e.g. 22:00 to 06:00), it assumes you're working past midnight and calculates correctly.

Can I remove a day I don't work?

Yes. Click the delete icon next to any day to remove it from the calculation. You can also set hours to zero by matching start and end times.

What overtime multiplier should I use?

1.5× (time and a half) is the most common. Some countries or contracts use 2× for weekends and holidays. Check your employment agreement.

Can I calculate for part-time schedules?

Yes. Remove the days you don't work and adjust the standard weekly hours to match your contract. Overtime is calculated relative to your stated standard.

Are breaks mandatory?

Legally, most countries require breaks for shifts over a certain length (e.g. 20 minutes for 6+ hours in the UK). The calculator lets you enter any break duration per day.

Can I save my schedule?

Not currently, the calculator resets when you leave the page. For persistent tracking, copy your results or use our Timesheet Calculator.

Does it account for public holidays?

Not automatically. If a public holiday falls on a workday, either remove that day or set its hours to zero manually.

Is my data sent anywhere?

No. All calculations happen locally in your browser. Your schedule and pay information are never stored or transmitted.

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.