Calculate one repeated shift
Use Quick shift when the same start, finish and unpaid break apply on each working day. Choose one to seven days for an instant weekly total.
New Zealand timesheet and pay calculator
Work hours calculator NZ
Enter start and finish times, subtract unpaid breaks and calculate paid hours in hours and minutes or decimal format. Build a full weekly timesheet and add an optional gross-pay estimate.
Total paid hours
40h 00m
40.00 decimal hours across 5 days
Total shift time
42h 30m
Unpaid breaks
2h 30m
Paid per shift
8h 00m
Decimal per shift
8.00
Estimated weekly gross pay
$1,200.00
- Ordinary hours
- 40h 00m
- Fortnightly equivalent
- $2,400.00
- Average month
- $5,200.00
- Annual equivalent
- $62,400.00
A finish time earlier than the start is counted as an overnight shift ending the next day.
Estimate only: The calculator uses the times and unpaid breaks you enter. It does not decide break entitlements, approve a timesheet or replace your employment agreement and payroll records.
Build a weekly timesheet
Use Weekly timesheet when hours vary. Enable the days worked, enter each shift separately and copy Monday across the weekdays when useful.
Handle overnight work
If the finish is earlier than the start, the calculator treats it as the next day. A 10:00pm start and 6:30am finish is an 8-hour 30-minute shift before breaks.
Estimate gross pay
Add an hourly rate to see weekly, fortnightly, average monthly and annual gross equivalents. Optional overtime applies only after the threshold and at the multiplier you enter.
How to calculate work hours
First find the elapsed time from the start of the shift to the finish. Then subtract only the unpaid break minutes. The result is paid working time. For an overnight shift, the finish is on the following calendar day.
Paid work time = finish time − start time − unpaid breaks
Worked example: 9:00am to 5:30pm is 8 hours 30 minutes elapsed. Subtract a 30-minute unpaid meal break to get 8 paid hours. Across five days that is 40 hours. At $30 per hour, estimated weekly gross pay is $1,200.
Hours and minutes compared with decimal hours
Timesheets and payroll systems often use decimal hours. Divide minutes by 60 before adding them to the whole hours: 30 minutes is 0.5 of an hour, so 7 hours 30 minutes is 7.5 hours—not 7.3.
| Time | Decimal hours |
|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 0.25 hours |
| 30 minutes | 0.50 hours |
| 45 minutes | 0.75 hours |
| 1 hour 30 minutes | 1.50 hours |
What to include in your NZ timesheet calculation
Use actual start and finish times
Enter the times worked for each day rather than relying on a scheduled shift when the actual hours differed.
Subtract unpaid breaks only
Employment New Zealand distinguishes paid rest breaks from unpaid meal breaks. Do not deduct a paid rest break from paid time.
Check the employment agreement
Hours, availability, additional shifts and overtime payment can depend on the agreed terms and the employee’s work pattern.
Compare workplace records
Use the copied summary or CSV to check a roster, timesheet or payslip. The export is a personal calculation, not an approved employer record.
Gross pay and overtime in New Zealand
Gross pay is paid hours multiplied by the entered hourly rate before PAYE, ACC, KiwiSaver, student-loan repayments and other deductions. Ordinary overtime does not automatically have one universal premium rate in New Zealand. Employment New Zealand says overtime arrangements and payment should be agreed and included in the employment agreement.
Turn on the overtime option only when you know the weekly threshold and multiplier that apply. The tool allocates paid time above that threshold to the overtime rate; it does not determine whether overtime is legally payable.
Official New Zealand hours and break guidance
Use current Employment New Zealand guidance and your own agreement for workplace decisions. These sources explain hours, rest and meal breaks, overtime arrangements and employer record-keeping.
Work hours and timesheet guides
Paid and unpaid breaks NZKnow which break minutes belong in paid time.Read guide How to calculate work hoursFollow daytime, overnight and weekly examples.Read guide Decimal hours NZConvert hours and minutes without the 7.30 mistake.Read guide Calculate pay from hoursTurn checked hours into an estimated gross amount.Read guide Full-time hours NZUnderstand why 30, 37.5 and 40 hours appear.Read guide
Work hours calculator FAQs
How do I calculate hours worked between two times?
Subtract the start time from the finish time, then subtract only unpaid break time. A 9:00am to 5:30pm shift with a 30-minute unpaid meal break equals 8 paid hours.
How do I calculate work hours for an overnight shift?
When the finish time is earlier than the start time, this calculator treats the finish as occurring the next day. A 10:00pm to 6:30am shift spans 8 hours 30 minutes before unpaid breaks.
What is 7 hours 30 minutes in decimal hours?
Seven hours and 30 minutes is 7.5 decimal hours because 30 minutes is half of 60 minutes. It is not 7.3 hours.
Should paid rest breaks be deducted from work hours?
No. Enter only unpaid break minutes. Minimum rest breaks are paid in New Zealand, while minimum meal breaks are unpaid unless a more favourable agreement applies.
Does New Zealand require time-and-a-half for ordinary overtime?
Not automatically. Overtime payment must be agreed between the employer and employee and included in the employment agreement. Use the optional overtime settings only when they match your agreement.
Does the gross-pay estimate include PAYE and KiwiSaver?
No. The result is gross pay before PAYE, ACC, KiwiSaver, student-loan deductions and other payroll adjustments. Use the take-home pay calculator for a separate deduction estimate.
Can I use this as an official timesheet?
The calculator can help check and export entered hours, but it does not submit or approve a timesheet. Compare the result with workplace records and your employment agreement.