Decimal Hours Converter — Minutes to Decimal
Convert between HH:MM time (the format people naturally think in, like 7 hours 30 minutes) and decimal hours (the format most payroll and invoicing systems expect, like 7.5) — both directions, live. Paste a whole list of shift lengths into the batch box to convert and total them all at once.
About the decimal hours converter
This tool converts between HH:MM time (like 7 hours 30 minutes) and decimal hours (like 7.5) — the format most payroll and invoicing systems expect — in both directions, plus batch conversion for a whole list of times at once.
People think in hours and minutes, but payroll, invoicing and spreadsheets want decimal hours ("7.5") so they can be summed and multiplied by a rate. Convert either way, or paste a list of shift lengths (one per line) to convert them all with a running total.
Minutes to decimal hours
| Minutes | Decimal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 15 min | .25 | 1:15 = 1.25 |
| 30 min | .5 | 1:30 = 1.5 |
| 45 min | .75 | 1:45 = 1.75 |
| 10 min | .17 (approx) | 1:10 ≈ 1.17 |
Minutes to decimal hours chart
Divide minutes by 60. Common payroll values: 5 min = 0.08, 6 min = 0.10, 10 min = 0.17, 12 min = 0.20, 15 min = 0.25, 18 min = 0.30, 20 min = 0.33, 24 min = 0.40, 25 min = 0.42, 30 min = 0.50, 35 min = 0.58, 36 min = 0.60, 40 min = 0.67, 42 min = 0.70, 45 min = 0.75, 48 min = 0.80, 50 min = 0.83, 54 min = 0.90, 55 min = 0.92.
Every 6 minutes is exactly 0.1 hours, which is why many timesheet systems work in tenths.
Worked examples for timesheets
8:45 to 17:15 with a 30-minute unpaid lunch is 8h 30m minus 30m = 8.00 decimal hours.
A week of 7h 40m, 8h 05m, 7h 55m, 8h 20m and 6h 50m adds up to 38 hours 50 minutes. Converted exactly that is 38.833 hours, so at 20.00 an hour the pay is 776.67. Adding the rounded daily figures (7.67 + 8.08 + 7.92 + 8.33 + 6.83) gives 38.83 hours and 776.60, seven cents less. Convert the weekly total, not each day, when you can.
To go back, multiply the decimal part by 60: 7.6 hours is 7 hours 36 minutes. Do not read 7.30 as 7:30; it is 7 hours 18 minutes.
Rounding rules employers use
In the United States, the Department of Labor allows rounding to the nearest 5 minutes, tenth or quarter hour only if it does not underpay employees over time. Under the common "7-minute rule" for quarter hours, 1-7 minutes round down and 8-14 round up. Rules vary by country and contract, so check yours.
For a week of shifts with breaks, the hours calculator adds and converts the total, and our guide on how to convert time to decimal hours walks through more examples.
When to use it
- Converting a single shift length for an invoice line item.
- Batch-converting a week or month of shift lengths at once.
- Cross-checking a payroll calculation that uses decimal hours.
How to use it
- Enter a time in HH:MM format, or a decimal number of hours — the other field updates live.
- For multiple values, paste one time per line into the batch box and read the converted list plus the running total.
- Copy the results with one click.
Tips
- Results round to two decimals; for exact payroll, use the batch total rather than re-adding rounded values.
- The reference table covers the most common quarter-hour conversions used in most timesheets.
FAQ
What are decimal hours?
Minutes expressed as a fraction of an hour — 30 minutes becomes 0.5, 45 minutes becomes 0.75 — which is the format most payroll and invoicing systems expect instead of "HH:MM".
Can I convert a whole list of times at once?
Yes — paste one time per line into the batch box and every line is converted to decimal hours, with a running total shown below.
Why is 10 minutes not an exact decimal?
10 minutes is 1/6 of an hour, which is 0.1666... repeating — shown rounded to 0.17. Quarter-hour values (15/30/45 min) convert to exact decimals.
What is 45 minutes in decimal hours?
0.75. Divide minutes by 60, not 100: 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75. Writing 0.45 is the most common timesheet mistake.
What are the common decimal conversions?
15 minutes is 0.25, 30 minutes is 0.50, and 45 minutes is 0.75. Those three cover most timesheets. For anything else, divide the minutes by 60.
Why does payroll software want decimal hours?
Because decimal hours multiply cleanly by an hourly rate. 7.75 hours times a rate is simple arithmetic, whereas 7 hours 45 minutes has to be converted first anyway.
How do I convert hours to decimal?
Divide the minutes by 60 and add them to the hours: 7 hours 45 minutes is 7 + 45/60 = 7.75 hours. That is the hours to decimal format most payroll and timesheet systems ask for.
What is 7.30 decimal hours in hours and minutes?
7.30 decimal hours is 7 hours 18 minutes, not 7 hours 30 minutes. Multiply the decimal part by 60: 0.30 × 60 = 18.
Why do payroll systems use tenths of an hour?
Because 6 minutes is exactly 0.1 hours, tenths are easy to add and multiply by an hourly rate without long decimals.