Why use this instead of Excel?
Three reasons:
- FLSA-correct rounding by default. Excel doesn’t know what the DOL 7-minute rule is. This calculator does, and applies it row-by-row exactly the way auditors expect.
- No hidden minus signs. Spreadsheets quietly produce
####for negative time durations. Our calculator displays a clear error and won’t silently corrupt the total. - Privacy. Your shift times stay in your browser. Useful when you’re cross-checking against a paystub on shared equipment.
How rounding actually works on a timesheet
With the “Quarter hour” or “DOL 7-minute” setting selected, rounding is applied per row — not at the weekly total. That matches the Department of Labor’s guidance (29 CFR § 785.48(b)) and is the most common employer practice.
Example day: in 08:53, out 17:08, break 30 min. Raw work time = 7 h 45 m = 7.75 hours. With DOL 7-min rounding applied to the punches, the in-time rounds to 09:00, out to 17:15 → 7 h 45 m again, also 7.75. With Quarter rounding applied to the total, 7.75 stays 7.75. The methods agree here. They diverge most when shifts end at :08 or :22, which are right on the rounding boundary.
For deeper coverage of when methods differ, see Payroll Rounding Rules: 2026 Reference.
Adding overtime
The current version totals all hours straight (no overtime split). For overtime calculation, take the weekly total and apply your jurisdiction’s overtime rule:
- U.S. federal (FLSA): hours over 40 per workweek are paid at 1.5× regular rate.
- California: 1.5× over 8 per day, 2× over 12 per day, 1.5× on day 7.
- EU Working Time Directive: 48-hour weekly cap; specific overtime rates depend on contract.
Set the “Hourly rate” field to your regular rate — the calculator’s pay total is straight-time only. Compute OT separately and add.
Exporting to payroll
The CSV export columns are: Day, Clock In, Clock Out, Break (min), Decimal Hours. This format imports cleanly into:
- QuickBooks Online (manual paste into Time Sheets)
- ADP RUN (after column re-mapping)
- Gusto (via “upload time” for timesheet-based pay)
- Generic Excel/Google Sheets review
For a per-shift card with multi-shift days, use the time card calculator instead.
Worked example: a real freelance week
Suppose a contract designer works:
- Mon 09:07–17:53 (lunch 45 m) → 8.02 hrs raw → 8.00 with DOL 7-min
- Tue 08:58–17:14 (lunch 30 m) → 7.77 → 7.75
- Wed 09:12–18:09 (lunch 30 m) → 8.45 → 8.50
- Thu 08:51–17:23 (lunch 30 m) → 8.03 → 8.00
- Fri 09:00–15:00 (no break) → 6.00 → 6.00
Straight total: 38.27 hours. With DOL 7-min: 38.25 hours. At $45/hour that’s $1,721.25.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work for biweekly or semi-monthly pay periods?
The current view is one week. For biweekly, run the calculator for week 1, export, then run again for week 2. We’re working on a multi-week mode — drop us a line if it’s a priority for you.
How do I handle a shift that crosses midnight?
Enter the in-time and out-time as you would normally (e.g., 22:00 to 06:00). The calculator detects the rollover and adds 24 hours to the out-time before subtracting.
Why does my total differ from my paystub?
Three common reasons: (1) different rounding rule, (2) unpaid breaks not entered consistently, (3) the paystub already deducted 401(k) or PTO hours. Compare the “Decimal hrs” column row-by-row with the day-by-day breakdown on your stub.
Is this stored anywhere?
No server-side storage. Inputs are kept in your browser tab only. Closing the tab clears them.
