Exact Decimal Hours
The precise decimal equivalent of HH:MM. decimalHours = hours + minutes / 60
Finance
About Time to Decimal Calculator
Use this browser converter for payroll, timecards, and Excel.
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About this calculator
What this does
Converts hours and minutes (HH:MM) into decimal hours in three formats: exact decimal hours, hundredths (rounded to two decimals), and quarter-hour rounding. It works entirely in the browser with no server calls.
Who it is for
Payroll processors, freelancers tracking billable hours, managers approving timecards, and anyone who needs to convert time values for spreadsheet calculations or payroll systems.
How it works
Enter the hours and minutes separately or type a time string like 7:25 into the hours field. The calculator immediately shows the exact decimal value (hours + minutes/60), the hundredths value rounded to two decimal places for payroll, and the quarter-hour rounded value for timecards that round to the nearest 15 minutes.
Limitations
Performs time-to-decimal conversion only and does not calculate wages, overtime, or payroll taxes. It does not handle seconds or fractional minutes beyond whole-minute inputs.
Formula
Hundredths Rounding
The decimal value rounded to two decimal places, suitable for most payroll systems. hundredths = ROUND(decimalHours, 2)
Quarter-Hour Rounding
The decimal value rounded to the nearest 0.25 (15 minutes), used for timecards that round to the quarter-hour. quarterHour = ROUND(decimalHours / 0.25) × 0.25
Reverse Conversion
Convert decimal hours back to HH:MM. hours = floor(decimal), minutes = ROUND((decimal - hours) × 60)
How it works
Step 1
Enter time
Type hours and minutes separately, or paste a time like 7:25 directly into the Hours field. The fields update in real time.
Step 2
Read the exact value
The exact decimal hours value shows the precise HH:MM conversion. For example, 7 hours 30 minutes = 7.5000 hours.
Step 3
Use payroll rounding
Use the hundredths value (rounded to 2 decimals) for payroll systems that expect time in decimal format with two digits after the decimal.
Step 4
Use quarter-hour for timecards
Use the quarter-hour value when your timecard system rounds to the nearest 15-minute increment. For example, 7:28 rounds to 7.50 (7:30).
Step 5
Apply in Excel
Use the decimal value in Excel formulas. To convert a time cell A1 to decimal, multiply by 24: =A1*24. Round with =ROUND(A1*24, 2).
Step 6
Convert back if needed
If your spreadsheet shows decimal hours and you need HH:MM, the reverse: hours = INT(decimal), minutes = ROUND((decimal - INT(decimal)) × 60, 0).
Reference ranges
Common Time Conversions
15 min = 0.25 hr. 30 min = 0.50 hr. 45 min = 0.75 hr. 1 hour 15 min = 1.25 hr. 7 hours 36 min = 7.60 hr.
Payroll Rounding Rules
Most payroll systems use either hundredths (two decimal places) or quarter-hour (0.25 increments). Some systems round to the nearest 6 minutes (0.10 hr).
Standard Workday
8 hours = 8.00 decimal. 8.5 hours = 8.50 decimal. A 40-hour workweek is 40.00 decimal hours.
Excel Time Conversion
Excel stores time as a fraction of a day. Multiply by 24 to convert to decimal hours: =A1*24. For rounding: =MROUND(A1*24, 0.25) for quarter-hours.