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Biweekly Time Card Calculator with Overtime
Enter clock-in and clock-out times and lunch breaks for a two-week pay period. The calculator counts overtime separately in each workweek, the way federal law requires, and shows regular hours, overtime, decimal hours and gross pay.
Updated November 5, 2026 · Federal FLSA rules, 8 and 80, and state daily overtime
| Week | Hours (h:mm) | Decimal | Regular | Overtime | Double |
|---|
Entries are saved in this browser only. Results are estimates for non-exempt hourly employees, before taxes.
How to use the biweekly time card calculator
- Set your rules: hourly rate, overtime rules for your state, and any rounding your employer uses.
- Pick your workweek start day. Your workweek is set by your employer and does not have to start on Sunday or Monday.
- Enter each day: time in, time out and unpaid break minutes. Shifts that end after midnight are handled automatically.
- Read the totals: each week shows its own regular and overtime hours, then the pay period total and gross pay.
- Print or save: print a clean timesheet with signature lines, or come back later; your entries stay in this browser.
Is overtime calculated weekly or biweekly?
For most US employees, overtime is calculated per workweek, not per pay period. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a workweek is a fixed period of seven consecutive 24-hour days, and each workweek stands alone. The Department of Labor states that averaging hours over two or more weeks is not allowed.
That means a biweekly paycheck can include overtime even when the total is 80 hours or less. What matters is whether either week went over 40.
When an 80-hour pay period still includes overtime
| Example | Week 1 | Week 2 | Total | Overtime hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Even weeks | 40 | 40 | 80 | 0 |
| Uneven weeks | 48 | 32 | 80 | 8 |
| Under 80 hours | 45 | 32 | 77 | 5 |
| Over 80 hours | 42 | 42 | 84 | 4 |
At $20 an hour, the uneven-weeks example pays 72 regular hours ($1,440) plus 8 overtime hours at $30 ($240), for $1,680, not the $1,600 you would get by treating 80 hours as straight time.
The 8 and 80 system for hospitals and nursing homes
Hospitals and residential care facilities may use a different system under section 7(j) of the FLSA, called 8 and 80. With a prior agreement from employees, the employer can use a fixed 14-day work period and pay time and a half for hours over 8 in any workday and over 80 in the 14-day period. Daily overtime already paid can be credited toward the 80-hour overtime, so the employee receives whichever total is larger. Choose "8 and 80" above to use this method.
States with daily overtime
A few states add daily overtime on top of the federal weekly rule. The calculator supports the main ones:
- California: 1.5× over 8 hours in a day, 2× over 12 hours in a day, and special rules for the 7th consecutive day in a workweek.
- Alaska: 1.5× over 8 hours in a day (employers with 4 or more employees).
- Nevada: 1.5× over 8 hours in a 24-hour period for employees paid under 1.5× the state minimum wage ($18/hour).
- Colorado: 1.5× over 12 hours in a day.
For more detail and a weekly calculator, see the overtime pay calculator.
How rounding works on a time card
Many employers round each punch to the nearest 5, 6 or 15 minutes. Under the 15-minute (7-minute) rule, 1–7 minutes round down and 8–14 round up. This calculator rounds each clock-in and clock-out before subtracting. Read the full 7-minute rule guide for charts and examples.
Hours and minutes vs decimal hours
Time cards are kept in hours and minutes, but payroll uses decimal hours. 38 hours 45 minutes is 38.75 hours, not 38.45. The calculator shows both. To convert a single time, use the time to decimal calculator or the minutes to decimal chart.
Biweekly vs semimonthly pay
| Biweekly | Semimonthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Paychecks per year | 26 (sometimes 27) | 24 |
| Pay dates | Every other week, same weekday | Two fixed dates, e.g. 15th and last day |
| Full-time hours per paycheck | 80 | About 86.67 on average |
| Overtime | Still calculated per workweek | Still calculated per workweek |
Frequently asked questions
Is overtime calculated weekly or biweekly?
Under federal law, overtime is calculated per workweek. Hours cannot be averaged across the two weeks of a biweekly pay period, except under the 8 and 80 system for hospitals and residential care facilities.
Can I get overtime if I worked 80 hours or less in two weeks?
Yes. If one week was over 40 hours, those extra hours are overtime even if the other week was short. For example, 48 + 32 hours is 80 total but includes 8 overtime hours.
How many hours is a biweekly pay period?
A full-time biweekly pay period is 80 hours: two workweeks of 40 hours each.
How do I calculate a biweekly time card with lunch breaks?
For each day subtract the clock-in time from the clock-out time, subtract unpaid breaks, then add the days for each week separately. Overtime is anything over 40 in each week.
What is the 8 and 80 rule?
An overtime system under FLSA section 7(j) that hospitals and residential care facilities may use by agreement. Overtime is paid for hours over 8 in a workday and over 80 in a fixed 14-day period.
Does my workweek have to start on Sunday?
No. The employer sets a fixed, recurring workweek that can start on any day and at any hour. It does not have to match the calendar week.
Does paid time off count toward overtime?
Generally no. Under federal law only hours actually worked count toward 40 hours in a workweek. Some employers count PTO anyway as a policy.
Related tools and guides
This calculator and guide are general information, not legal or payroll advice. Check your employer's policy and your state labor department for your situation.