Decimal Hours Converter
Convert hours and minutes to decimal hours for timesheets and payroll, or decimal hours back to hours and minutes, without rounding errors.
Used when converting hours and minutes to decimal.
Used when converting hours and minutes to decimal.
Used when converting decimal hours to hours and minutes.
Your results
Calculation breakdown
- To decimal
- hours + minutes ÷ 60
- To hours/minutes
- decimal hours × 60, rounded to whole minutes, then split into hours and minutes
Worked example
1 hour 30 minutes converts to 1.5 decimal hours for timesheet entry, and 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours, not 7.45. Going the other way, 8.2 decimal hours is 8h 12m.
Assumptions
- Decimal results are shown to two decimal places, with a four-decimal value for checking.
- Rounds to the nearest whole minute when converting from decimal hours.
- Your employer or payroll system may round timesheet entries differently, such as to the nearest 6 or 15 minutes.
How this calculator works
This calculator converts a time given in hours and minutes into decimal hours (for example 1 hour 30 minutes becomes 1.5 hours), or converts decimal hours back into hours and minutes. It's commonly needed when entering timesheets that require decimal hour values for payroll.
Convert minutes to decimal hours for timesheets
Payroll systems usually multiply hours by an hourly rate, so they need time as a decimal. Divide the minutes by 60 and add them to the whole hours: 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours, not 7.45, and 20 minutes is about 0.33 of an hour.
To convert back, the calculator multiplies decimal hours by 60, rounds to the nearest whole minute and then splits the result into hours and minutes, so 8.2 hours becomes 8h 12m and 1.999 hours becomes 2h 0m.
- 6 minutes = 0.1 hours
- 15 minutes = 0.25 hours
- 30 minutes = 0.5 hours
- 45 minutes = 0.75 hours
- 20 minutes ≈ 0.33 hours
Rounding and pay checks
A two-decimal result is convenient for timesheets, but rounding can add up across a pay period. The four-decimal value lets you see the unrounded figure before choosing how to record it.
If your payslip uses a different rounding rule, compare it with the minute totals here and raise any difference with your employer or payroll team. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides guidance on pay and record-keeping obligations.
Frequently asked questions
Why do payroll systems use decimal hours?
Decimal hours make it easier to multiply time worked by an hourly pay rate without separately handling minutes.
How do I convert 45 minutes to decimal?
45 minutes equals 0.75 of an hour, since 45 divided by 60 is 0.75.
Can I convert decimal hours back to minutes?
Yes, switch the conversion direction to see the equivalent hours and minutes for a decimal value.
Content responsibility
Maintained by CalcAussie and last updated 15 October 2026. Checks applied: calculation method, worked examples, Australian terminology, material assumptions, official references where an external rule applies, and user-facing limitations.
Calculator results remain estimates based on the figures entered. Check material decisions against current official information and report a suspected error so it can be reproduced and corrected.