This tool converts time recorded as hours and minutes into decimal hours (and back). Decimal hours express partial hours as a fraction of 1 hour for example, 30 minutes becomes 0.50 hours because 30 ÷ 60 = 0.5.

Decimal notation is widely used in payroll systems, timecards, invoicing and labor reporting because it simplifies arithmetic (addition, averaging, multiplying by pay rates) compared with hours:minutes.

How the conversion works (simple formula)

To convert minutes into decimal hours: divide the number of minutes by 60 and add the result to the whole hours.
Formula: decimal hours = hours + (minutes ÷ 60)
Example: 8 hours 41 minutes → 8 + (41 ÷ 60) = 8 + 0.6833… → 8.683 hours.
To convert decimal hours back into hours: the integer part is hours; multiply the fractional part by 60 to get minutes.
Example: 7.25 hours → 7 hours and (0.25 × 60) = 15 minutes.

How to use this calculator

1. Select the mode: “Time to Decimal” for hours+minutes → decimal, or “Decimal to Time” for the reverse.
2. Enter the whole hours and minutes (or the decimal hours).
3. Pick how many decimal places you want displayed (if converting to decimal).
4. Read the result.

Why you might prefer decimal hours

• Faster calculations for payroll and billing you can sum decimal numbers and multiply by an hourly rate without converting between hours and minutes.
• Common in timekeeping software and accounting systems; many timesheets require or accept decimal entries.
• Easier to compute overtime, averages and project totals.

Rounding and precision practical rules you can adopt

• Choose the number of decimal places that match your payroll or billing policy (two decimal places is common for payroll because it corresponds to hundredths of an hour ≈ 36 seconds).
• When rounding, apply a consistent rule across your organization (round-half-up or round-to-nearest) and document it. Some employers round to the nearest hundredth, others to quarter-hours (0.25) for simpler payroll math.
• For legal or compliance-sensitive payroll, follow your jurisdiction’s rounding rules and your company policy; check local guidance if in doubt.

Common examples (quick conversions you’ll use often)

• 15 minutes = 0.25 hours (15 ÷ 60)
• 30 minutes = 0.50 hours
• 45 minutes = 0.75 hours
• 10 minutes = 0.1667 hours → often shown as 0.17 when rounded to two decimals
• 1 minute = 0.0167 hours → often shown as 0.02 when rounded to two decimals.

Minutes → Decimal Conversion chart (rounded to two decimals)

Minutes	Decimal Hours	Minutes	Decimal Hours	Minutes	Decimal Hours
1	0.02	21	0.35	41	0.68
2	0.03	22	0.37	42	0.70
3	0.05	23	0.38	43	0.72
4	0.07	24	0.40	44	0.73
5	0.08	25	0.42	45	0.75
6	0.10	26	0.43	46	0.77
7	0.12	27	0.45	47	0.78
8	0.13	28	0.47	48	0.80
9	0.15	29	0.48	49	0.82
10	0.17	30	0.50	50	0.83
11	0.18	31	0.52	51	0.85
12	0.20	32	0.53	52	0.87
13	0.22	33	0.55	53	0.88
14	0.23	34	0.57	54	0.90
15	0.25	35	0.58	55	0.92
16	0.27	36	0.60	56	0.93
17	0.28	37	0.62	57	0.95
18	0.30	38	0.63	58	0.97
19	0.32	39	0.65	59	0.98
20	0.33	40	0.67	60	1.00

Best practices for employers and managers

• Standardize rounding and conversion methods in a written timekeeping policy so all staff and payroll processors use the same rule.
• When accuracy matters (overtime thresholds, billing clients by the minute), store raw hours and minutes in your backend and only convert when displaying or exporting totals. That preserves precision and avoids cumulative rounding drift.
• For legal compliance, keep original clock-in/clock-out records for audits rather than only storing rounded totals.

Troubleshooting & tips

• If minutes exceed 59, carry the excess into hours (e.g., 90 minutes = 1 hour 30 minutes → 1.50 hours).
• When your payroll system requires a specific rounding rule (for example, always round up to the nearest tenth), apply that rule consistently before calculating pay.
• If your team uses a blended approach (some staff bill by 6-minute increments, others by 15-minute increments), consider storing raw minutes and applying each client’s rounding rule at invoice time to avoid disputes.

FAQs

Q: Is decimal time the same as military time?

A: No. Decimal hours are fractions of an hour (e.g., 0.5 = half an hour). Military (24-hour) time is a clock representation (e.g., 13:30). They’re different concepts.

Q: What’s the safest number of decimal places to use?

A: Two decimal places is standard for payroll and billing in many organizations; it balances readability and precision. Use more if you need to avoid rounding errors across many records.

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, North Carolina Department of Labor, Colorado State University HR Division, and the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, CalculatorSoup, OnTheClock.