Timesheet Calculator
Calculate weekly work hours and pay from your timesheet. Supports breaks, overtime rates, and daily breakdowns.
Enter your daily start/end times and breaks to calculate total weekly hours, overtime, and pay.
Why Accurate Time Tracking Matters
Whether you're an hourly employee checking your payslip, a freelancer invoicing clients, or a manager approving timesheets — getting the numbers right isn't optional. Undercounting hours means you're working for free. Overcounting creates legal and trust problems.
The maths is simple in theory: end time minus start time minus breaks. But real life throws curveballs. Overnight shifts, variable break lengths, different overtime thresholds, and bank holidays all complicate things. This calculator handles the arithmetic so you can focus on the work itself.
Studies consistently show that employees who track time accurately earn 5-10% more over their career — simply because they notice (and claim) overtime they'd otherwise miss.
UK Working Hours: What's Normal?
| Sector | Average Hours/Week | Standard Contract | Overtime Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office / professional | 37.5 | 9:00-17:30 | 37.5 hours |
| Retail | 35-40 | Shift-based | 40 hours |
| Healthcare (NHS) | 37.5 | Shift-based | 37.5 hours |
| Construction | 42-45 | 7:30-16:30 | 39 hours |
| Hospitality | 38-48 | Shift-based | 40 hours |
| Warehouse / logistics | 40-48 | Shift-based | 40 hours |
What this means for you: The UK Working Time Regulations cap average working hours at 48 per week (unless you've opted out). Your contract should specify your standard hours and when overtime kicks in.
Overtime Rates Explained
| Overtime Type | Typical Multiplier | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Standard overtime | 1.25x - 1.5x | Hours beyond contracted weekly hours |
| Weekend work | 1.5x | Saturday shifts (some contracts) |
| Sunday premium | 1.5x - 2x | Sunday shifts |
| Bank holiday | 2x | Work on public holidays |
| Night shift | 1.25x - 1.33x | Typically 11pm - 6am |
What this means for you: There's no legal requirement for UK employers to pay overtime premiums — it depends on your contract. But most sectors follow these conventions. Always check your employment contract for the exact terms.
Break Entitlements
Legal minimum (UK)
Workers over 18 get a 20-minute unpaid break when working more than 6 hours. That's the legal minimum — many employers offer more, typically 30-60 minutes.
Paid vs unpaid breaks
Employers aren't legally required to pay for breaks. If your break is unpaid, it shouldn't count toward your working hours. This calculator deducts break time from total hours automatically.
Young workers (under 18)
Entitled to a 30-minute break after 4.5 hours of work. Different rules apply — check gov.uk for the latest guidance.
Working from home
The same break rules apply whether you work in an office or at home. Track your actual start and end times — WFH workers tend to work 30 minutes longer per day on average.
Common Timesheet Mistakes That Cost You Money
Rounding down your start time
If you arrive at 8:50 and log 9:00, that's 10 minutes of unpaid work per day — over 43 hours a year. Log your actual arrival time.
Forgetting travel between sites
Travel between work locations during the day counts as working time under UK law. Only your commute to the first site and home from the last doesn't count.
Not logging training time
Mandatory training, inductions, and required online courses are working time — even if they happen outside your normal shift. Your employer must pay for this time.
Submitting timesheets late
Most payroll systems have cut-off dates. Submit after the cut-off and your hours may not be paid until the following month. Fill in your timesheet daily — it takes 30 seconds and saves disputes.
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How to use this tool
Enter start time, end time, and break for each day
Optionally set your hourly rate
Adjust overtime threshold and multiplier
Common uses
- Calculating weekly work hours from daily start and end times
- Working out overtime pay at different multiplier rates
- Checking your payslip matches your actual hours worked
- Tracking freelance or contract hours for invoicing
- Comparing hours across different shift patterns
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