What this calculator does
A work hours calculator for a full week needs to handle days that are not all the same, a shorter Wednesday, a Saturday shift, a day off. This one takes a separate hours figure for each day of the week and adds them to a total, then splits that total into ordinary and overtime hours against a threshold you set.
It is a totalling tool, not a timesheet with clock times or pay rates built in. If a single day needs working out from a start time, an end time and a break, use a plain hours calculator first and carry that day's total across into this one.
The formula
The seven daily figures are added together for the weekly total. Overtime is whatever sits above the threshold entered; everything at or below the threshold counts as ordinary hours. With the default 38-hour threshold and a 40-hour week entered, that is 38 ordinary hours and 2 overtime hours.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Weekly total | The sum of the hours entered for all seven days. |
| Overtime threshold | The weekly hours figure above which additional hours are counted as overtime rather than ordinary time. |
| Ordinary hours | The portion of the weekly total at or below the threshold. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Monday (hours) | Hours worked on Monday. Leave at zero for a day off. |
| Tuesday (hours) | Hours worked on Tuesday. |
| Wednesday (hours) | Hours worked on Wednesday. |
| Thursday (hours) | Hours worked on Thursday. |
| Friday (hours) | Hours worked on Friday. |
| Saturday (hours) | Hours worked on Saturday, if any. |
| Sunday (hours) | Hours worked on Sunday, if any. |
| Overtime threshold (hours/week) | The weekly hours figure above which extra time counts as overtime. Set by an award, contract or agreement; there is no single correct default. |
When to use it
Adding up an irregular week
Shift workers and casual staff rarely work identical hours every day. Entering each day separately handles a mix of full days, short days and days off without averaging over them.
Checking whether a week crosses into overtime
Setting the threshold to match a contract or award shows the ordinary and overtime split directly, rather than requiring a manual comparison against the weekly total.
Estimating a fortnight or a month
Running this calculator once per week and adding the weekly totals together extends it to any longer period without needing a bigger form.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
Ordinary and overtime hours for a range of weekly totals, at a 38-hour threshold
A Monday-to-Friday week at different daily lengths, with Saturday and Sunday left at zero.
| Hours per weekday (Mon-Fri equal) | Total hours this week | Ordinary hours | Hours over the threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 h | 38.00 | 0.00 | sum of the seven daily figures, compared against the weekly threshold |
| 7 h | 39.00 | 1.00 | sum of the seven daily figures, compared against the weekly threshold |
| 7.6 h | 39.60 | 1.60 | sum of the seven daily figures, compared against the weekly threshold |
| 8 h | 40.00 | 2.00 | sum of the seven daily figures, compared against the weekly threshold |
| 9 h | 41.00 | 3.00 | sum of the seven daily figures, compared against the weekly threshold |
| 10 h | 42.00 | 4.00 | sum of the seven daily figures, compared against the weekly threshold |
Questions
What is the difference between this and a plain hours calculator?
A plain hours calculator works out the gap between one start time and one end time. This calculator adds up seven already-known daily totals into a weekly figure and splits it against an overtime threshold.
What is the difference between this and a timesheet and pay calculator?
A timesheet calculator applies an hourly rate to a single repeated shift across a number of days to work out pay. This calculator takes a different figure for each day of the week and reports hours only, with no pay attached.
What overtime threshold should I use?
Whatever figure applies under the relevant contract, award or agreement. There is no universal number; 38 and 40 hours a week are both common defaults, but the correct one depends on the arrangement in question.
Can I use this for a part-time week?
Yes. Leave the days not worked at zero and enter hours only for the days that apply; the total and any figures shown below it adjust accordingly.
For the hours between a single start and end time, see the hours calculator. For a shift worked out with pay, overtime and days worked in one go, use the timesheet and pay calculator.