Payroll multiplies hours by a pay rate, and multiplication needs decimals. A time clock that says 38:42 has to become 38.70 before it can be paid. Here is the conversion, the traps and a chart.
The method
Decimal hours = hours + (minutes / 60)
Divide the minutes by 60 and add the result to the hours. 42 minutes is 42 / 60 = 0.70, so 38 hours 42 minutes is 38.70 hours.
Chart for common minute values
| Minutes | Decimal hours | Minutes | Decimal hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0.08 | 35 | 0.58 |
| 10 | 0.17 | 40 | 0.67 |
| 15 | 0.25 | 45 | 0.75 |
| 20 | 0.33 | 50 | 0.83 |
| 25 | 0.42 | 55 | 0.92 |
| 30 | 0.50 | 60 | 1.00 |
The decimal hours converter has all 60 rows you can print.
Going the other way
To turn decimal hours back into minutes, multiply the decimal part by 60. 0.75 hours is 0.75 x 60 = 45 minutes. 7.4 hours is 7 hours and 0.4 x 60 = 24 minutes.
A payroll example
Time clock total: 38 hours 42 minutes. Hourly rate: $19.25.
- Convert: 38 + 42/60 = 38.70 hours.
- Multiply: 38.70 x $19.25 = $744.975.
- Round half up to the cent: $744.98.
Rounding drift and how to avoid it
Because minutes like 20 do not divide evenly, rounding each day separately can leave the weekly total a hundredth or two off. Three 20-minute tasks convert to 0.33 + 0.33 + 0.33 = 0.99 hours, but together they are 60 minutes, exactly 1.00. Add all minutes first, convert once at the end and round only the final money amount.
The classic mistake
7.45 and 7:45 are not the same. The first is 7 hours 27 minutes in decimal. The second is 7 hours 45 minutes, which is 7.75 as a decimal. Whenever you see a number with a period or colon, check whether it is hours and minutes or decimal hours before using it.