How to use this calculator
- Enter each start and end in 24-hour notation, with or without a colon.
- Add separate segments for split shifts and deduct remaining unpaid minutes.
- Check the daily H:MM result before selecting an overtime rule or adding a pay rate.
Formula
Convert each clock value to minutes after midnight: hour × sixty + minute. Subtract the in value from the out value, rolling the end forward one day when needed. Sum segments and subtract unpaid breaks to obtain worked minutes.
Worked examples
Two evening shifts of eight hours
Schedule: 8:00 + 8:00 of net worked time. The engine calculates 16:00 (16.00 hours).
Regular: 16:00 (16.00 h); overtime: 0:00 (0.00 h); double time: 0:00 (0.00 h). At $24.00 per hour, estimated gross pay is $384.00.
A 24-hour clock is still clock time
The value 17:30 identifies a time of day, while 7:30 worked describes a duration. Enter clock values in the punch fields and read elapsed values in the worked column. A 24-hour input avoids an accidental AM/PM selection on evening shifts. It does not change the length of an hour or convert minutes into hundredths. Use the decimal output when a payroll system asks for numeric hours rather than military-style clock values.
Military-time punches around midnight
A 22:15 start and 06:45 finish represent an overnight shift because the finish clock value is earlier. The card assigns the entire segment to the start row. An out time equal to the in time represents zero duration, so a full twenty-four-hour interval cannot be expressed by identical endpoints here. Review the workday assignment separately when overnight shifts interact with daily overtime. The military-time converter can help check unfamiliar clock values before entering a full week.
Read the hour column first
When checking a roster written in compact military notation, separate the last two digits as minutes before entering the value. A finish of 1730 means 17:30, while 1703 means 17:03; reversing those digits changes the shift by twenty-seven minutes. Compare the first row’s worked duration with a manual check before copying an entire week. You can use AM/PM values too, but a consistent notation across the record is easier to review.
Overnight shifts and workday attribution
Each punch segment belongs entirely to the day it starts. An out time earlier than the in time crosses midnight. Daily totals, daily overtime, California seventh-day overtime, and weekly overtime all use that start-day attribution, including across a biweekly boundary. California daily overtime counts all hours attributed to that 24-hour workday. Employers may define a different fixed 24-hour workday, such as one starting at 6:00 a.m., so payroll results can differ.
Frequently asked questions
Can I type 1700 instead of 17:00?
Yes. The parser accepts compact military-style times as well as colon-separated times. Values must still describe a valid clock hour and minute; impossible times cannot produce a valid segment.
Does the 24-hour preset change overtime?
No. Display and input notation are independent from the overtime rule. The card initially uses federal weekly allocation, and another supported rule can be selected if appropriate.
Where do I convert military time to AM/PM?
Use the linked military time converter for individual clock conversions and its complete twenty-four-hour reference table. This page focuses on calculating worked time from a series of punches.
How are overnight shifts counted?
A 10pm–6am segment counts as eight hours on its start day. A 6pm–8am segment counts as fourteen hours there, giving eight regular, four overtime, and two double-time hours under standard California rules. It stays in the starting workweek. An employer’s different fixed 24-hour workday, such as 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., can change the result.