Divide the minutes by 60 and add the result to the whole hours: 7 hours 30 minutes = 7 + 30 ÷ 60 = 7.5 decimal hours. Then multiply by the hourly rate.
Seven hours and thirty minutes is 7.5 hours
Convert the minutes into a fraction of an hour, then add that fraction to the whole hours. This is useful when a timesheet or pay calculation asks for decimal hours.
| Time worked | Decimal hours |
|---|---|
| 7 hours 15 minutes | 7.25 |
| 7 hours 30 minutes | 7.5 |
| 7 hours 45 minutes | 7.75 |
Why 7.30 gives a different answer
In decimal notation, 0.30 of an hour is 18 minutes: 0.30 × 60 = 18. At an agreed $25 an hour, 7.30 decimal hours gives $182.50. Seven hours and thirty minutes gives $187.50. Mixing those notations changes this example by $5.
Subtract unpaid breaks first
A shift from 08:00 to 16:30 spans eight hours and thirty minutes. After a 30-minute unpaid break, paid time is eight hours. At an entered $25 hourly rate, base earnings are $200. Whether a particular break should be unpaid depends on the arrangement and applicable rules; the calculator does not decide that.
Use the fields that match your records
The hours calculator has separate hours and minutes fields. If you know only the start and finish, choose that mode instead. For a shift crossing midnight, confirm that the finish is on the next day. Across a daylight-saving change, verify actual elapsed time separately. For a whole week of clock-in and clock-out times, use the time card calculator; for a quick conversion, the hours to decimal calculator has a minutes chart.
Quick answers
What is 7 hours 30 minutes as a decimal?
7.5 hours, because 30 ÷ 60 = 0.5.
Is 7.30 the same as 7:30?
No. 7:30 is seven hours and thirty minutes (7.5 hours). 7.30 as a decimal is seven hours and eighteen minutes.
Do I subtract breaks before or after converting?
Subtract unpaid breaks from the clock time first, then convert the remaining paid time to decimal hours.