Time Card Calculator
Track work hours, breaks and total pay per period.
About the Time Card Calculator
The Time Card Calculator computes weekly work hours and gross pay from daily clock-in and clock-out times, with support for unpaid breaks, overtime thresholds, and overtime multipliers. Enter each day's start and end times, the unpaid break duration, your hourly rate, the overtime threshold (typically 40 hours), and the overtime multiplier (typically 1.5x per U.S. federal law), and the calculator returns regular hours, overtime hours, regular pay, overtime pay, total gross pay, and effective hourly rate.
This calculator is designed for hourly workers, freelancers, and small-business owners who need to verify paychecks or generate payroll. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires U.S. employers to pay 1.5x the regular rate for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek, with some exceptions for salaried exempt employees. California and a few other states also require daily overtime (1.5x after 8 hours in a day, 2x after 12 hours) — this tool handles weekly overtime only; for daily overtime use a state-specific calculator.
The tool handles overnight shifts (when end time is earlier than start time, e.g., 10 PM to 6 AM) by adding 24 hours to the end time. It does not handle split shifts or multi-segment days — for those, compute each segment separately and sum the hours.
How It Works
Each time input is parsed from HH:MM format to a decimal hour value: hours + minutes/60. So 09:30 becomes 9.5 hours, 17:15 becomes 17.25, and the difference is 7.75 hours.
For each day, hours worked = end - start. If end is earlier than start (overnight shift), 24 hours are added to end. The unpaid break is subtracted from the daily hours: hours = (end - start) - breakHours. If the result is negative (e.g., break longer than shift), the day's hours are clamped to zero.
Weekly hours are summed across all five days. If the total exceeds the overtime threshold (default 40 hours), the excess is moved to overtime: regularHours = min(weeklyTotal, threshold), overtimeHours = max(0, weeklyTotal - threshold). This is the FLSA-compliant weekly overtime calculation.
Pay is computed as regularPay = regularHours × rate and overtimePay = overtimeHours × rate × multiplier (default 1.5x). Total pay = regularPay + overtimePay. The effective hourly rate (total pay / total hours) tells you what you actually earned per hour including overtime premium — useful for comparing hourly jobs.
The calculation does not handle double-time (2x rate), California daily overtime (1.5x after 8 hrs/day, 2x after 12), shift differentials (premium pay for nights/weekends), or paid time off. For complex payroll scenarios, use dedicated payroll software or consult a payroll specialist.
Worked Examples
Default: 9 AM to 5 PM Monday-Friday, 30-minute unpaid break, $22/hr, overtime after 40 hrs at 1.5x. Daily hours = 8 - 0.5 = 7.5. Weekly hours = 5 × 7.5 = 37.5 (under 40, no overtime). Regular pay = 37.5 × $22 = $825. Effective rate = $22.00/hr.
Now bump to 6 PM out time. Daily hours = 9 - 0.5 = 8.5. Weekly hours = 5 × 8.5 = 42.5. Overtime = 2.5 hrs. Regular pay = 40 × $22 = $880. Overtime pay = 2.5 × $22 × 1.5 = $82.50. Total = $962.50. Effective rate = $962.50 / 42.5 = $22.65/hr.
For an overnight shift: 10 PM to 6 AM, no break, $25/hr. Start = 22, end = 6 + 24 = 30. Hours = 30 - 22 = 8 hrs/day. Weekly (5 shifts) = 40 hrs, no overtime. Pay = 40 × $25 = $1,000.
For a part-time worker: 4 hours/day, 5 days = 20 hrs. At $18/hr = $360/week, $18,720/year (52 weeks). Below the overtime threshold by 20 hrs — a clean part-time schedule.
Heavy overtime scenario: 10 hrs/day, 5 days = 50 hrs. Overtime = 10 hrs at 1.5x. Regular pay = 40 × $20 = $800. Overtime pay = 10 × $20 × 1.5 = $300. Total = $1,100. Effective rate = $1,100 / 50 = $22.00/hr (a 10% bump from the $20 base rate).
When to Use This Tool
- Verifying your weekly paycheck against your own time tracking.
- Estimating gross pay for variable-hour or gig work weeks.
- Comparing hourly jobs by computing effective rate including overtime.
- Budgeting monthly income for an hourly worker with fluctuating hours.
- Calculating overtime impact for a side hustle or second job.
- Small-business owners running simple payroll for 1-5 hourly employees.
- Freelancers tracking billable hours by day to total weekly invoices.
Limitations & Disclaimer
This calculator handles weekly overtime per the federal FLSA (1.5x over 40 hrs/week). It does not compute California daily overtime (1.5x after 8 hrs/day, 2x after 12 hrs/day), double-time, shift differentials (premium pay for nights/weekends), or paid time off. The default work week is Monday-Friday; weekend work is not supported in this version. Tax calculations (federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax) are not included — gross pay is pre-tax. Salaried exempt employees typically do not earn overtime regardless of hours worked. Always verify final pay with your employer's payroll system or a licensed payroll specialist. See our disclaimer for full terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this handle California daily overtime?
No. California requires 1.5x after 8 hours/day and 2x after 12 hours/day, plus 7th consecutive day rules. This calculator handles weekly overtime only (40 hrs/week threshold). For California compliance, use a state-specific payroll calculator or consult a labor law attorney.
How are overnight shifts handled?
If the end time is earlier than the start time, 24 hours are added. So 10 PM to 6 AM = 22:00 to 30:00 = 8 hours. Multiple overnight segments in a week are summed normally. For shifts longer than 24 hours, split them across days manually.
What about paid breaks or meal periods?
The break field is subtracted from total hours (unpaid). If your employer pays for breaks, set break to 0. Federal law doesn't require paid breaks — some states (California, Oregon, Washington) require paid 10-minute rest breaks for every 4 hours worked.
Does this calculate taxes or net pay?
No. Gross pay is pre-tax. To estimate net pay, subtract federal income tax (~10-22% for typical wages), Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), state income tax (varies), and any benefits deductions. Effective tax rates vary widely based on filing status and deductions.
What if I work weekends or a non-Monday-Friday schedule?
The calculator only handles Monday-Friday. For weekend work, sum your actual work hours across the week and use the totals fields if needed — the regular/overtime split still applies once weekly hours exceed the threshold (default 40). A future version may add Saturday/Sunday rows.
Does this work for salaried non-exempt employees?
Yes — non-exempt salaried workers still earn overtime for hours over 40. Compute their regular rate as salary/52/40, then apply 1.5x for overtime. Truly exempt employees (typically earning over $35,568/year in a qualifying role) don't earn overtime regardless of hours.
Last updated: July 21, 2026 · Author: HT99 Tools Editorial Team · Reviewed by: HT99 Tools Editorial Team