Weekly Hours Guide

How to Calculate Hours Worked in a Week

Calculate each shift after unpaid breaks, then add the paid shift totals for the week. Weekly hours matter because overtime, paycheck estimates, staffing reports, and schedule checks usually depend on the weekly total rather than one isolated shift. This guide is written for people who searched "totaling weekly work hours before payroll or overtime" and need the answer before opening a calculator.

Full explanation Step-by-step details Open only when the direct answer is not enough.

Direct answer

Calculate each shift after unpaid breaks, then add the paid shift totals for the week.

Use this working rule: Weekly hours = sum of each daily paid shift total.

Open Hours Worked Calculator

Example with numbers

Five 8.0-hour paid shifts equal 40.0 weekly hours. Four 8.5-hour shifts plus one 6.0-hour shift equal 40.0 weekly hours too.

Mon 8.0 + Tue 8.0 + Wed 8.5 + Thu 8.0 + Fri 7.5 = 40.0 weekly hours.

Comparison table
InputWhat to doResult
Known numberWeekly hours = sum of each daily paid shift total.Five 8.0-hour paid shifts equal 40.0 weekly hours. Four 8.5-hour shifts plus one 6.0-hour shift equal 40.0 weekly hours too.
Calculator checkEnter the same inputs in the related toolOpen Hours Worked Calculator
Copyable noteSave the result with assumptionsMon 8.0 + Tue 8.0 + Wed 8.5 + Thu 8.0 + Fri 7.5 = 40.0 weekly hours.
Open Hours Worked Calculator

Step-by-step check

Key checks
  • Calculate each shift separately.
  • Subtract unpaid lunch or unpaid gaps from each shift.
  • Add daily paid hours together.
  • Check whether the total crosses the overtime threshold used by your workplace.

When this gets tricky

Do not add scheduled hours when actual punches differ.

Do not count PTO or holiday hours as worked hours unless the overtime rule says they count.

Do not mix decimal hours and hours-minutes format in the same total.

Copy this result format

Mon 8.0 + Tue 8.0 + Wed 8.5 + Thu 8.0 + Fri 7.5 = 40.0 weekly hours.

Keep the inputs visible. That makes the answer easier to reuse in a timesheet note, payroll message, PTO request, or deadline explanation.

Related internal path

Related page: /tools/overtime-pay-calculator/

Related page: /guides/how-to-check-weekly-hours-before-payroll-closes/

Open Hours Worked Calculator
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Calculation

Weekly hours = sum of each daily paid shift total. Example: Five 8.0-hour paid shifts equal 40.0 weekly hours. Four 8.5-hour shifts plus one 6.0-hour shift equal 40.0 weekly hours too.

Next step

Open the related calculator after you know the inputs: Hours Worked Calculator.

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FAQ Weekly Hours Worked questions Open for common follow-up questions after the direct answer.

Weekly Hours Worked questions

How to Calculate Hours Worked in a Week

Calculate each shift after unpaid breaks, then add the paid shift totals for the week.

What is the formula?

Weekly hours = sum of each daily paid shift total.

Which calculator should I use?

Use Hours Worked Calculator when you want to test the exact numbers and copy the result.