Minutes to Decimal Calculator
Convert minutes to decimal hours, or time (hours:minutes) to decimal format. Essential for timesheets, payroll, billing and project tracking.
Minutes to Decimal Conversion Reference Table
Use this quick-reference table to convert common minute values to decimals without calculation. The decimal represents the fraction of one hour.
| Minutes | Decimal Hours | Fraction | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 min | 0.083 | 1/12 | Short tasks, rounding |
| 10 min | 0.167 | 1/6 | Brief meetings |
| 15 min | 0.25 | 1/4 | Quarter hour billing |
| 20 min | 0.333 | 1/3 | Third-hour intervals |
| 25 min | 0.417 | 5/12 | Pomodoro session |
| 30 min | 0.5 | 1/2 | Half hour — very common |
| 35 min | 0.583 | 7/12 | Timesheets |
| 40 min | 0.667 | 2/3 | Two-thirds of an hour |
| 45 min | 0.75 | 3/4 | Three-quarter hour billing |
| 50 min | 0.833 | 5/6 | Timesheets |
| 55 min | 0.917 | 11/12 | Near full hour |
| 60 min | 1.000 | 1 | Full hour |
How to Convert Minutes to Decimal Hours
The conversion formula is simple:
For combined hours and minutes:
Worked Examples
- 45 minutes: 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75 hours
- 1 hour 30 minutes: 1 + (30 ÷ 60) = 1 + 0.5 = 1.5 hours
- 2 hours 15 minutes: 2 + (15 ÷ 60) = 2 + 0.25 = 2.25 hours
- 7 hours 45 minutes: 7 + (45 ÷ 60) = 7 + 0.75 = 7.75 hours
- 37 minutes: 37 ÷ 60 = 0.617 hours (rounded to 3 d.p.)
Converting Decimal Hours Back to Minutes
To reverse the conversion:
For example: 2.75 hours = 2 hours + (0.75 × 60) = 2 hours 45 minutes.
Why Use Decimal Hours?
Timesheets and Payroll
The most common use case for decimal time conversion is timesheet completion. Most UK employers and payroll software (Sage Payroll, Xero, QuickBooks, BrightHR) record working hours in decimal format. This is because multiplying decimal hours by an hourly wage rate gives pay directly — no further conversion needed.
Example: An employee worked 7 hours 36 minutes. Their hourly rate is £13.50.
- Convert: 7 hours 36 minutes = 7 + (36 ÷ 60) = 7.6 decimal hours
- Calculate pay: 7.6 × £13.50 = £102.60
Without decimal conversion, you would need to calculate 7 hours' pay (£94.50) plus 36/60 of an hour (£8.10) = £102.60 — more steps and more risk of error.
Billing and Freelancing
Freelancers and consultants billing by the hour use decimal time for invoices. If you spent 2 hours 20 minutes on a task at £75/hour, that is 2.333... hours × £75 = £175 (rounded). Professional invoicing software typically rounds to the nearest 6 minutes (0.1 of an hour) or quarter-hour (0.25).
Project Management
Project management tools like Microsoft Project, Jira and Asana often record time estimates in decimal hours. Knowing how to convert between clock time and decimal hours prevents scheduling errors and ensures accurate project budgeting.
UK Employment Law Context
Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, UK workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks' paid holiday per year (28 days for full-time workers). Calculating holiday entitlement for part-time or flexible workers often involves decimal hours — for example, a worker doing 22.5 hours per week accrues holiday at 22.5 × 5.6 ÷ 52 = 2.42 hours per week.
Common Time to Decimal Conversions
| Time | Decimal Hours | Pay at £10/hr | Pay at £13.50/hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0h 30m | 0.5 | £5.00 | £6.75 |
| 1h 00m | 1.0 | £10.00 | £13.50 |
| 1h 15m | 1.25 | £12.50 | £16.88 |
| 1h 30m | 1.5 | £15.00 | £20.25 |
| 2h 00m | 2.0 | £20.00 | £27.00 |
| 4h 30m | 4.5 | £45.00 | £60.75 |
| 7h 30m | 7.5 | £75.00 | £101.25 |
| 7h 45m | 7.75 | £77.50 | £104.63 |
| 8h 00m | 8.0 | £80.00 | £108.00 |
| 37h 30m | 37.5 | £375.00 | £506.25 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert minutes to decimal?
Divide the minutes by 60. For example: 45 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.75 decimal hours. For hours and minutes combined: add the hours to the converted minutes. 2 hours 30 minutes = 2 + (30 ÷ 60) = 2.5 decimal hours.
What is 45 minutes as a decimal?
45 minutes = 0.75 decimal hours (45 ÷ 60 = 0.75). On a timesheet, 7 hours and 45 minutes would be entered as 7.75 hours.
How do I convert decimal hours back to hours and minutes?
Take the whole number as hours. Multiply the decimal part by 60 to get minutes. Example: 3.75 hours = 3 hours + (0.75 × 60) = 3 hours 45 minutes.
Why do timesheets use decimal hours?
Decimal hours make pay calculations straightforward: decimal hours × hourly rate = gross pay. Most payroll software (Sage, Xero, QuickBooks) stores time in decimal format for this reason.
What is 1 hour 30 minutes in decimal?
1 hour 30 minutes = 1.5 decimal hours. Calculation: 30 ÷ 60 = 0.5, then 1 + 0.5 = 1.5.
How do I calculate pay from decimal hours?
Multiply decimal hours by the hourly rate. Example: 37.5 hours × £13.00/hour = £487.50 gross pay. Our calculator includes an optional hourly rate field to calculate pay automatically.