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How We Calculate Working Hours
Enter start and end times
Add working times for each day across the full 7-day week.
Deduct break time
We subtract break minutes from each day’s total to show net working time.
Calculate daily totals
Each row updates automatically to show the total hours worked that day.
Add up the weekly total
We combine all daily hours to show the total number of hours worked per week.
Calculate your total working hours instantly
Simply enter your employees’ start and finish times into our working hours calculator below to work out total hours worked and pay owed.
(per week)
We help 100,000+ people like you to manage their HR better.
Louise H.
Easy to manage my staff absences, toil, annual leave all under one roof...
Verified G2 User
Simple and intuitive. Just what you need from HR software.
Verified G2 User
Well laid out, Inutuitive, Liked by staff, Can be as complex as you need.
Annie S.
We have been using Activ People HR at our school for a number of years....
Verified G2 User
I like how easy it is to use and its very user friendly. It is easy to make any relevant changes.
How do you calculate working hours?
Activ People HR’s working hours calculator helps you total weekly hours by adding start and end times, deducting breaks, and showing daily and weekly totals automatically.
It is a simple way to calculate hours for full-time and part-time employees, track irregular shifts, and keep a clearer record of time worked across the week.
By entering each shift and break in minutes, you can quickly see how many hours have been worked and use that information for payroll, scheduling, and timesheet management.
How the calculator works
Enter a start time, end time, and break length for each day. The calculator then works out the net hours for that shift automatically.
Each day is added together to produce a full weekly total, making it easier to track working time across a seven-day period.
Why tracking hours matters
Working hours are important for payroll accuracy, timesheet records, and staying on top of work patterns for both full-time and part-time employees.
A clear record of hours worked also helps employers monitor workloads and support compliance with working time rules.
The basic calculation
The calculator follows a straightforward formula:
For example, a shift from 09:00 to 17:30 with a 1-hour break gives a total of 7 hours and 30 minutes worked.
What should employers keep in mind?
When calculating working hours, it helps to understand legal limits, break rules, and how different working patterns affect weekly totals.
48-hour average limit
Adult workers are generally capped at an average of 48 hours a week, unless they choose to opt out.
Rest breaks
Workers are entitled to one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break when they work more than 6 hours in a day.
Decimal hour conversions
Converting hh:mm into decimal hours can make payroll and timesheet calculations easier, such as 7:30 becoming 7.5 hours.
Working hours for part-time employees
There is no official set number of hours that makes someone part-time, although full-time work is often around 35 hours per week.
A working hours calculator helps you total shifts accurately regardless of whether an employee works standard hours, reduced hours, or a changing weekly pattern.
What is a timesheet?
A timesheet is a record of hours worked, including start times, end times, breaks, and total hours for payroll or project tracking.
Using a digital timesheet calculator in Activ People HR makes it easier to log hours accurately, reduce manual errors, and simplify payroll admin.
Calculate working hours with ease
Use Activ People HR’s working hours calculator to total shifts, deduct breaks, and keep weekly timesheets accurate.
Calculate working hours