How to use the hours left before overtime calculator
- Enter the hours worked so far this workweek. Use decimals, so 26.5 means 26 hours 30 minutes.
- Check the overtime threshold. It starts at 40 hours as an example, so change it to the number your employer or contract uses.
- Optionally enter the workdays left this week to see how many hours you can average each day.
- If you know the hours you plan on each remaining day, enter them to see where the week would end and how much overtime that would produce.
Formula
Hours left before overtime = overtime threshold - hours worked so far
Hours per remaining day = hours left / workdays left
Projected total = hours worked so far + workdays left x planned hours per day
Projected overtime = projected total - threshold, if positive
A negative number of hours left means you are already past the threshold, and the tool shows the overtime hours instead.
26 hours worked by Wednesday
After 26 hours worked from Monday through Wednesday, there are 14 hours left before 40. With 2 workdays left, you can average 7 hours a day without reaching overtime.
If you plan 8 hours on each of those 2 days and have worked 26.5 hours, you would finish at 42 hours 30 minutes, which is 2 hours 30 minutes of overtime. If you have already worked 44 hours, the tool reports 4 hours of overtime so far.
Using the threshold you are given
Many people are asked to stay under a weekly number to avoid overtime or because a manager has set a limit. This tool keeps the arithmetic simple: it subtracts what you have worked from the threshold. The 40 hours in the box is only an example, so type the number that applies to you.
The week it counts is the pay workweek your employer uses, which may not start on Monday. Enter hours for that week only, and include any paid time that counts toward the threshold under your employer's rules.
What overtime rules can vary
Overtime rules differ by employer, contract, state and job type, and some places also count overtime by the day. The tool does not decide what counts as overtime and does not apply any of those rules. For pay amounts, use the overtime calculator.
Use the time card calculator to total a full week of clock times and the hours calculator for a single shift. The gross pay calculator turns hours into pay.
Assumptions and limits
- Hours worked so far are in decimal hours and cover the pay workweek.
- The threshold is a number you enter, with 40 shown as an example.
- Planned hours are the same on each remaining day.
- Daily overtime, double time and special state rules are not modeled.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours do I have left before overtime?
Subtract the hours you have worked this week from your overtime threshold. With 26 hours worked and a 40 hour threshold, you have 14 hours left.
How do I enter hours and minutes?
Convert the minutes to a decimal. Thirty minutes is 0.5, so 26 hours 30 minutes is 26.5. The result is also shown in hours and minutes.
What if I have already passed the threshold?
The tool reports the overtime hours so far instead of hours left. It does not calculate pay for those hours.
Does the tool know my state's overtime rules?
No. Rules vary and some use a daily limit as well, so confirm yours with your employer or a trusted source.