Timesheet and work hours calculator
This timesheet calculator adds up a week of shifts for you. Enter your start and finish times and unpaid breaks for each day, and it totals your work hours, splits them into ordinary hours and overtime, and estimates your gross pay. It handles night shifts that finish after midnight, so it suits warehouse, hospitality and driving rosters.
Updated 12 November 2026 · Uses 2026-27 figures
Add up your hours for the week
Enter start and finish times and unpaid break minutes for each day you worked.
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.
Looking for steady shifts or a permanent role? TQN Personnel places casual, contract and permanent staff across Australia.
Find workHow to use the timesheet calculator
- For each day you worked, enter your start and finish times. Leave days off blank.
- Enter your unpaid break for each shift in minutes. Paid rest breaks stay in your hours.
- Enter your hourly rate and the point where overtime starts, usually 38 hours a week.
- Read your total hours, each day's hours, ordinary hours, overtime hours and estimated gross pay.
How the work hours calculator adds up your shifts
For each day, the calculator takes the finish time minus the start time and subtracts your unpaid break. If the finish time is earlier than the start time, it assumes the shift went past midnight and adds 24 hours, so a 10pm to 6am night shift counts as 8 hours before breaks.
It then adds up the week. Hours up to your overtime threshold are ordinary hours at your base rate. Hours above it are overtime, paid at 150% for the first 2 hours and 200% after that, which is the most common award pattern.
Converting minutes to decimal hours
Payroll systems record hours as decimals. 15 minutes is 0.25 hours, 30 minutes is 0.5, and 45 minutes is 0.75. A shift of 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours. The calculator shows every day in decimal hours so you can match it against your payslip.
Worked example: a 5-day week with one long day
A worker does 7am to 3:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 7am to 5:30pm on Wednesday, with a 30-minute unpaid lunch every day. They're paid $30 an hour with overtime after 38 hours.
Four days of 8 hours plus one day of 10 hours is 42 hours for the week.
That's 38 ordinary hours ($1,140), then 2 hours at time and a half ($90) and 2 hours at double time ($120), for estimated gross pay of $1,350.00.
If your award counts overtime daily, the 2 extra hours on Wednesday might be overtime even in a shorter week. Check your award's overtime clause.
Breaks: paid and unpaid
Most awards give a paid 10-minute rest break for a shift of around 4 hours or more, and an unpaid meal break of 30 to 60 minutes once a shift passes about 5 hours. Only unpaid breaks should be taken off your hours. The exact rules depend on your award, so check it if your timesheet and payslip don't agree.
What is a timesheet?
A timesheet is a record of the hours you worked each day, usually with start, finish and break times. Employers must keep time and wage records for 7 years, and casual and labour hire workers are often paid from their approved timesheets, so an accurate record matters.
Tips for accurate timesheets
- Write times down on the day. Rebuilding a week from memory is where most mistakes happen.
- Record the actual start time, including any required pre-start meeting or safety briefing.
- Note any shift that runs over, and who approved it, so overtime isn't disputed.
- Keep a copy of every timesheet you submit and check it against your payslip.
Labour hire workers with TQN Personnel submit hours through the host site's timesheet process. If you're looking for more shifts, register for work here. To work out overtime separately, use the overtime calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours worked?
For each shift, subtract the start time from the finish time and take off any unpaid breaks. Add the daily totals for the week. A 7am to 3:30pm shift with a 30-minute unpaid break is 8 hours.
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours for a timesheet?
Divide the minutes by 60. 15 minutes is 0.25 hours, 30 minutes is 0.5, 45 minutes is 0.75 and 20 minutes is about 0.33. So 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours.
How do I calculate a night shift that goes past midnight?
Count the time to midnight, then add the time after midnight. A 10pm to 6am shift is 2 hours plus 6 hours, which is 8 hours before breaks. The calculator does this automatically when the finish time is earlier than the start time.
What is a timesheet?
A timesheet is a record of the hours an employee worked, usually showing the date, start time, finish time and breaks for each shift. Employers use it to calculate pay, and it's the main record for casual and labour hire workers.
How many hours is full-time in Australia?
Under the National Employment Standards, full-time is 38 ordinary hours a week. Hours beyond that can be overtime, depending on your award or agreement.
Are lunch breaks paid in Australia?
Meal breaks are usually unpaid, while short rest breaks of around 10 minutes are usually paid. Your award or agreement sets the exact entitlements.
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How to calculate overtimeSources and assumptions
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.