Time card calculator for hourly workers
A time card calculator adds up the hours on a paper or digital time card so you can check them before payday. This page shows how to do the math by hand, gives you a free calculator for each shift, and explains when an app is the better tool.
Calculate your hours now
Use the free work hours calculator to calculate the hours worked for a single shift. Enter your start time, end time, and break length to get the total in decimal hours. Repeat for each day on the card and add the results.
How to total a time card by hand
- For each day, subtract the clock-in time from the clock-out time. 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM is 8 hours 30 minutes.
- Subtract unpaid breaks. With a 30-minute lunch, that day is 8 hours.
- Convert minutes to decimals: 15 min = 0.25, 30 min = 0.5, 45 min = 0.75. 7 hours 45 minutes becomes 7.75.
- Add the daily totals for the pay period. Anything over your regular hours may be overtime, depending on your employer and local law.
- Compare the total with your pay stub. If they differ, check rounding and breaks first; those are the usual culprits.
Time card calculator vs. shift tracking app
A time card calculator is a one-time tool. You enter your hours, get a total, and start over next period. A shift tracking app like Shiftly saves every shift so weekly totals, monthly summaries, and estimated pay are always there.
| Feature | Time card calculator | Shiftly app |
|---|---|---|
| Calculate hours for one shift | Yes | Yes |
| Save shifts over time | No | Yes |
| Weekly and monthly totals | No | Yes |
| Breaks, tips, and overtime per shift | No | Yes |
| Earnings estimate | No | Yes |
| Export to PDF, CSV, or Excel | No | Yes (Pro) |
| Works without an iPhone | Yes | No |
Who needs a time card calculator?
Anyone who fills out a paper time card or timesheet and wants to double-check their hours before submitting, or anyone comparing a pay stub against what they remember working. If you do this every pay period, an hours tracker app like Shiftly saves the recalculation. You can also estimate your paycheck from the total.
Frequently asked questions
What is a time card calculator?
A time card calculator is a tool that adds up your work hours from clock-in and clock-out times, usually for a single pay period. It helps you verify that your hours match what your employer recorded.
Is a timesheet calculator the same thing?
Essentially, yes. A timesheet calculator and a time card calculator both help you total up work hours. The terms are used interchangeably.
Why does my time card round my hours?
Many employers round clock times to the nearest 5, 6, or 15 minutes. Rounding is common, but over a pay period it should not consistently work against you. Keeping your own record makes it easy to spot a pattern.
Can Shiftly replace my time card?
Shiftly is a personal shift tracker, not an employer time clock, so it does not replace the time card your employer uses. It gives you your own record of hours to compare against your pay stub, and Shiftly Pro can export shifts as PDF, CSV, or Excel if you need to submit or keep them.
Related pages
- Work Hours CalculatorFree calculator: hours worked from start time, end time, and break.
- Paycheck CalculatorFree calculator: gross pay from hourly rate, hours, and optional overtime.
- Hours Tracker AppWhat an hours tracker app does and how Shiftly logs shifts and totals hours.
- Free Hours Tracker AppExactly what is free in Shiftly, what Shiftly Pro adds, and current pricing.