Hours to Decimal Converter
Divide the minutes by 60 and add the result to the whole hours. Enter a time below to convert it instantly.
Hours and minutes to decimal calculator
Decimal hours
7.75
7 + (45 ÷ 60) = 7.75
8.30 decimal hours
= 8 hours 18 minutes, not 8:30 on a clock.
8:30 clock time
= 8.50 decimal hours, because 30 ÷ 60 = 0.5.
How to convert hours and minutes to decimal hours
- Divide the minutes by 60. For 20 minutes:
20 ÷ 60 = 0.333333…. - Add that decimal to the whole hours. For 8 hours 20 minutes:
8 + 0.333333… = 8.333333….
If a system displays two decimal places, that may appear as 8.33. Retain more precision internally when accuracy matters; do not assume every payroll workflow uses the same rounding rule.
Common conversions
| Time | Decimal hours |
|---|---|
| 15 min | 0.25 |
| 30 min | 0.50 |
| 45 min | 0.75 |
| 1 hr 6 min | 1.10 |
| 1 hr 12 min | 1.20 |
| 1 hr 15 min | 1.25 |
| 1 hr 30 min | 1.50 |
| 1 hr 45 min | 1.75 |
| 7 hr 45 min | 7.75 |
| 8 hr 20 min | 8.3333… |
| 8 hr 30 min | 8.50 |
Need every minute value from 1–59? See the complete minutes-to-decimal chart.
Why 8:30 is not 8.30 decimal hours
Clock notation is base 60: there are 60 minutes in an hour. Decimal notation is base 10.
8:30 = 8 + 30/60 = 8.5
8.30 decimal hours = 8 hours + 0.30 × 60 minutes = 8 hours 18 minutes
That 12-minute difference is why simply replacing the colon with a decimal point is wrong.
Converting decimal hours back to hours and minutes
Going the other direction uses the same formula in reverse — keep the whole hours, then multiply the decimal portion by 60 to get minutes. The decimal hours calculator handles this direction directly, with a toggle for both conversions in one tool.
Payroll and timesheet use
Decimal hours make multiplication easier. If an hourly rate is $24 and exact worked time is 7 hours 30 minutes:
7.5 × $24 = $180
But conversion and payroll rounding are different operations. Converting 30 minutes to 0.5 is exact. Rounding a punch or a repeating decimal is a policy/compliance decision.
Use calculate hours worked if you are starting with clock-in and clock-out times rather than a known duration.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert hours and minutes to decimal?
Divide minutes by 60 and add the result to the whole hours.
What is 30 minutes as a decimal?
0.5 hours.
What is 45 minutes as a decimal?
0.75 hours.
What is 20 minutes as a decimal?
20 ÷ 60 = 0.3333… hours.
Is 8 hours 30 minutes 8.3 or 8.5?
8.5 decimal hours. 8.3 decimal hours is 8 hours 18 minutes.
Should decimal hours be rounded to two places?
Only if the destination system or applicable policy requires it. Retaining greater precision until the final calculation avoids unnecessary rounding error.