To convert time to decimal hours, divide the minutes by 60 and add them to the hours: 7:45 is 7 + 45 ÷ 60 = 7.75 hours, 8:20 is 8.33 and 30 minutes is 0.5. To go back, multiply the decimal part by 60: 7.8 hours is 7:48.
Payroll software, invoices and most timesheets want hours as a decimal, but clocks show hours and minutes. Enter a time like 7:45, a decimal like 7.75, or a whole week of shifts, and the calculator converts in both directions, totals the week, rounds to tenths or quarter hours and multiplies by your hourly rate.
How to use this calculator
- Type a time as h:mm (7:45), h:mm:ss, "7h 45m" or total minutes ("465m").
- To go the other way, enter decimal hours such as 7.75 to get h:mm.
- For a timesheet, fill in the hours worked each day; empty days count as zero.
- Choose a rounding rule if your employer rounds each day, and add your rate to see gross pay.
- Copy the link to save or share the week.
The formula
Decimal hours = hours + minutes ÷ 60 + seconds ÷ 3,600. Hours and minutes = whole hours, then decimal part × 60 for minutes. Because an hour has 60 minutes, each minute is 1/60 = 0.01667 hour. That is why minutes cannot simply be written after the decimal point.
Minutes to decimal hours chart (1–60 minutes)
| Min | Decimal | Min | Decimal | Min | Decimal | Min | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.02 | 16 | 0.27 | 31 | 0.52 | 46 | 0.77 |
| 2 | 0.03 | 17 | 0.28 | 32 | 0.53 | 47 | 0.78 |
| 3 | 0.05 | 18 | 0.30 | 33 | 0.55 | 48 | 0.80 |
| 4 | 0.07 | 19 | 0.32 | 34 | 0.57 | 49 | 0.82 |
| 5 | 0.08 | 20 | 0.33 | 35 | 0.58 | 50 | 0.83 |
| 6 | 0.10 | 21 | 0.35 | 36 | 0.60 | 51 | 0.85 |
| 7 | 0.12 | 22 | 0.37 | 37 | 0.62 | 52 | 0.87 |
| 8 | 0.13 | 23 | 0.38 | 38 | 0.63 | 53 | 0.88 |
| 9 | 0.15 | 24 | 0.40 | 39 | 0.65 | 54 | 0.90 |
| 10 | 0.17 | 25 | 0.42 | 40 | 0.67 | 55 | 0.92 |
| 11 | 0.18 | 26 | 0.43 | 41 | 0.68 | 56 | 0.93 |
| 12 | 0.20 | 27 | 0.45 | 42 | 0.70 | 57 | 0.95 |
| 13 | 0.22 | 28 | 0.47 | 43 | 0.72 | 58 | 0.97 |
| 14 | 0.23 | 29 | 0.48 | 44 | 0.73 | 59 | 0.98 |
| 15 | 0.25 | 30 | 0.50 | 45 | 0.75 | 60 | 1.00 |
Values are rounded to two decimals. A few are exact: 6 min = 0.10, 12 = 0.20, 15 = 0.25, 30 = 0.50, 45 = 0.75. Others repeat, such as 20 minutes = 0.333…
Common times converted to decimal
| Hours:minutes | Decimal hours | Total minutes |
|---|---|---|
| 1:15 | 1.25 | 75 |
| 2:30 | 2.50 | 150 |
| 3:45 | 3.75 | 225 |
| 4:20 | 4.33 | 260 |
| 5:10 | 5.17 | 310 |
| 6:40 | 6.67 | 400 |
| 7:15 | 7.25 | 435 |
| 7:30 | 7.50 | 450 |
| 7:45 | 7.75 | 465 |
| 8:20 | 8.33 | 500 |
| 8:45 | 8.75 | 525 |
| 9:50 | 9.83 | 590 |
| 10:30 | 10.50 | 630 |
| 12:15 | 12.25 | 735 |
Decimal hours to hours and minutes
| Decimal hours | Hours:minutes |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0:06 |
| 0.2 | 0:12 |
| 0.25 | 0:15 |
| 0.3 | 0:18 |
| 0.4 | 0:24 |
| 0.5 | 0:30 |
| 0.6 | 0:36 |
| 0.7 | 0:42 |
| 0.75 | 0:45 |
| 0.8 | 0:48 |
| 0.9 | 0:54 |
| 1.33 | 1:20 |
| 2.6 | 2:36 |
| 7.8 | 7:48 |
| 8.15 | 8:09 |
Worked example: a five-day timesheet
| Day | Clock time | Decimal | Nearest tenth | Nearest quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 8:10 | 8.17 | 8.20 | 8.25 |
| Tue | 7:55 | 7.92 | 7.90 | 8.00 |
| Wed | 8:20 | 8.33 | 8.30 | 8.25 |
| Thu | 7:40 | 7.67 | 7.70 | 7.75 |
| Fri | 8:05 | 8.08 | 8.10 | 8.00 |
The exact total is 40.17 hours (40:10). Rounding each day to the nearest tenth gives 40.20 hours and to the nearest quarter 40.25. Over many weeks, fair rounding should come out roughly even, which is the test the Department of Labor applies.
Rounding rules for payroll
Federal law doesn't require time clocks, but under the Fair Labor Standards Act employers must keep accurate records of hours worked (DOL Fact Sheet #21). The interpretive rule 29 CFR 785.48(b) accepts the long-standing practice of recording start and stop times to the nearest 5 minutes, or the nearest tenth or quarter of an hour, provided it averages out so that employees are fully paid for all the time they actually work. Rounding that always favours the employer, such as always rounding clock-in up and clock-out down, does not meet that test. State law can be stricter, so check your state labor department before setting a policy.
Tenth-hour and quarter-hour payroll codes
Systems that record time in tenths count each 6 minutes as 0.1 hour, so a full hour is ten steps of 0.1. Rounding to the nearest tenth, which the calculator uses, sends the first 2 minutes of each 6-minute block down and minutes 3–5 up. Quarter-hour systems count in steps of 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00. Rounding to the nearest quarter moves up to 7 minutes down and 8 or more minutes up. Whichever system your employer uses, convert the exact time first, then compare the rounded figure on your pay stub with the exact one; over time the two totals should be close.
Common mistakes
- Writing minutes after the decimal point. 8:30 is 8.5 hours, not 8.30.
- Adding clock times as decimals. 7:45 + 7:45 is 15:30 (15.5 hours), not 14.90.
- Rounding too early. Convert each day exactly, add them, then round the total, unless your policy rounds each punch.
- Forgetting unpaid breaks. Subtract a 30-minute lunch (0.5 hours) before converting if it isn't paid.
- Mixing up 0.1 and 10 minutes. 0.1 hour is 6 minutes; 10 minutes is 0.17 hour.
Need start and end times first? The work hours calculator turns clock-in and clock-out times into hours worked. Then the overtime calculator applies time-and-a-half, and hourly to salary projects yearly pay. This page is general information, not legal or payroll advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert time to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60 and add the result to the whole hours. 7 hours 45 minutes is 7 + 45 ÷ 60 = 7.75 hours. With seconds, also add seconds ÷ 3,600.
What is 7 hours and 30 minutes in decimal?
7.50 hours. 30 minutes is half an hour, so the decimal part is .5, not .30.
What is 8 hours 20 minutes as a decimal?
8.33 hours (20 ÷ 60 = 0.333…, usually rounded to 0.33).
How do I convert decimal hours back to hours and minutes?
Multiply the decimal part by 60. 7.8 hours is 7 hours and 0.8 × 60 = 48 minutes, so 7:48. 2.6 hours is 2:36.
What is 15 minutes in decimal?
0.25 hours. The quarter hours are 0.25 (15 min), 0.50 (30 min) and 0.75 (45 min).
Why can't I just use 7.45 for 7:45?
Because a decimal hour counts hundredths of an hour, not minutes. 7.45 hours is only 7:27; 7:45 is 7.75 hours. Typing minutes after the decimal point underpays 7:45 by 18 minutes.
Can my employer round my time?
Under the federal rule in 29 CFR 785.48(b), employers may round start and stop times to the nearest 5 minutes, tenth of an hour or quarter hour, as long as over time it averages out and does not leave employees unpaid for time actually worked. Some states set stricter rules.
How many decimal places should I use on a timesheet?
Two decimals (hundredths of an hour, 36 seconds) is the usual payroll format. Many systems instead round to tenths (6 minutes) or quarters (15 minutes); the calculator's rounding option shows both.
How do I add up hours and minutes for a week?
Convert each day to decimal and add the decimals. For 8:10, 7:55, 8:20, 7:40, 8:05 the total is 40.17 hours, or 40:10. Adding the clock times directly and treating 60 minutes as 100 is the most common mistake.
How do I calculate pay from decimal hours?
Multiply decimal hours by the hourly rate. 37.5 hours at $20 is $750. Using 37:30 as 37.30 would give $746, short by $4.
Sources & method
- 29 CFR 785.48 — Use of time clocks; rounding to the nearest 5 minutes, tenth or quarter of an hour (Cornell LII)
- U.S. Department of Labor — Fact Sheet #21: Recordkeeping requirements under the FLSA
Results are estimates for general information. Found an error? It helps everyone — see our methodology.