How Many Work Hours Are in a Week?

The number of work hours in a week depends on the schedule. A five-day schedule of 8 hours per day totals 40 hours, while a part-time or rotating schedule can be different. Calculate actual hours from each shift rather than relying on a label.

Practical timekeeping guide · ShiftHours

Calculate a five-day schedule

Multiply daily hours by days worked when every day is the same length. Five shifts of 8 hours each equal 40 hours. If each shift includes an unpaid 30-minute break that is not already excluded from the shift length, subtract 2.5 hours from a 42.5-hour total span.

Make sure you know whether the stated daily shift is paid working time or the full span from arrival to departure.

Add different-length shifts

For a variable schedule, calculate each day separately. For example, 7.5 + 8 + 8 + 6.5 + 9 = 39 hours. You can also convert each shift into minutes, add them, and divide the total by 60.

The weekly calculator on ShiftHours lets you add multiple daily shifts and see the net time and decimal-hour total.

Weekly hours versus full-time status

People use “full-time” differently depending on employer, contract, and local rules. A 40-hour example is common but not universal. Do not use a generic weekly total to determine benefits or overtime eligibility without checking the applicable definition.

Keep schedule planning, hours worked, and legal classifications as separate questions.

Track the correct workweek

A workweek or payroll week may not match Monday through Sunday. Use the start and end dates specified by your employer or relevant rules, and do not combine hours from separate workweeks unless the applicable method requires it.

For more help, read how to calculate weekly work hours.

Related resources

Open the work hours calculator · Browse all ShiftHours articles · Decimal hours chart