How to track hours worked
The simplest way to track the hours you work is to write down three things the same day: when you started, when you finished, and any unpaid break. Total each day, then the week. The calculator above does the totals; this page is about recording the right things in the first place.
How to track hours worked
Pay rules
Defaults follow the federal weekly rule (over 40 hours at 1.5×). Your state or contract may differ: set your own.
| Day | Start | End | Break | Hours | Actions |
|---|
Times are in .
| Regular | ||
| Overtime | ||
| Double time | ||
| Estimated gross pay |
Estimate of gross pay before tax and deductions.
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Do it on the day. Hours remembered at the end of the week are the ones that go wrong: the evening you stayed late, the lunch you cut short. A note on your phone, a paper card or the calculator here all work, as long as it happens daily.
Pocket Timesheet, an iPhone app on the way, turns this into a clock-in and clock-out button. Until then, this method and the free calculator give you the same record.
Worked example: Split shift: two shifts on one day
$20.00/h · overtime over 40 h a week at 1.5×
| Day | Start | End | Breaks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Nov 2 | 07:00 | 11:00 | none |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 13:00 | 17:30 | none |
8.50 hours (8:30): regular 8.50, overtime 0.00. Estimated gross $170.00: regular $170.00 + overtime $0.00.
What to record each day
The start and end of each stretch of work. On a split shift, that’s two entries for one day: the worked example has 7:00 to 11:00 and 13:00 to 17:30, which is 8.5 hours.
Breaks, and whether they were paid. The Department of Labor’s guidance says short rest breaks, usually 20 minutes or less, are counted as hours worked, while a meal period of usually 30 minutes or more generally isn’t, provided you’re completely relieved from duty. If you answer the phone at your desk while eating, that time is work.
Anything extra you were allowed to do: staying to finish a task, or travelling from one job site to another during the day. The same guidance counts work that’s permitted, even if it wasn’t requested, and travel between job sites, as hours worked.
Questions
How do I track how many hours I worked?
Write down your start time, end time and any unpaid break every day you work, then add the days up for the week. Type them into the calculator on this page to get the totals and overtime.
What is the best way to track my working hours?
Whatever you’ll actually do every day. A daily habit with a phone note or a printed time card beats an app you forget to open.
Do short breaks count as hours worked?
Under federal guidance, short rest breaks of usually 20 minutes or less count as work time. Bona fide meal breaks of usually 30 minutes or more generally don’t, if you’re fully relieved from duty.
Is there a free app to track hours worked?
Pocket Timesheet will have a free version with no entry limits; it isn’t released yet. The calculator and printable timesheets on this site are free now.
Does travel during the day count?
Federal guidance counts travel from one job site to another during the workday as hours worked. Ordinary travel from home to work and back doesn’t.