Quick answer: To convert minutes to decimal hours, divide the minutes by 60. For example, 20 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.33 hours, and 45 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.75 hours. Add the result to any whole hours, so 8 hours 20 minutes is 8.33 hours.
Minutes to decimal chart, 1 to 60
Every minute value from 1 to 60, rounded to two decimal places. The row for the minutes you entered above is highlighted.
| Minutes | Hours | Minutes | Hours | Minutes | 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 |
How the conversion works
decimal hours = hours + minutes ÷ 60Keep the whole hours. Only the minutes are divided.An hour has 60 minutes, so each minute is one sixtieth of an hour. Dividing by 60 turns the minutes into a fraction of an hour that payroll software and spreadsheets can multiply by a pay rate.
Worked examples
A single shift: 7 hours 45 minutes at $22 per hour
- Divide the minutes by 60: 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75
- Add the whole hours: 7 + 0.75 = 7.75 hours
- Multiply by the rate: 7.75 × $22 = $170.50
Result: 7.75 hours, $170.50
The common mistake: entering 8:30 as 8.30
8 hours 30 minutes is 8 + 30 ÷ 60 = 8.50 hours. Typing 8.30 records 8 hours 18 minutes instead, so at $20 per hour the pay comes out $4 short on a single shift.
Rounding for payroll
Most payroll systems accept two decimal places, which is what the chart uses. Values like 20 minutes (0.3333…) never divide evenly, so tiny differences can build up over a long week. If your totals need to match exactly, convert with four decimal places and round only the final total.
Some employers round each entry to the nearest quarter hour. US federal rules allow this only when the rounding averages out so employees are paid for all the time they work. Confirm your own policy and state law before rounding.
Who uses this converter
- Payroll and HR teams turning clock times into hours they can multiply by a wage.
- Freelancers and consultants billing clients by the hour in invoicing tools.
- Managers and supervisors checking timesheets before they are approved.
- Students learning how time units convert in maths and science.
Frequently asked questions
What is 20 minutes in decimal?
20 minutes is 0.33 hours, because 20 ÷ 60 = 0.3333. Rounded to two decimal places for payroll, that is 0.33.
What is 45 minutes as a decimal?
45 minutes is 0.75 hours. 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75 exactly, so no rounding is needed.
Why is 8:30 not 8.30 in decimal hours?
The digits after the colon are minutes out of 60, not hundredths of an hour. 30 minutes is half an hour, so 8:30 is 8.50 decimal hours. Entering 8.30 would underpay 12 minutes.
How many decimal places should I use for payroll?
Two decimal places is the most common format in payroll software. Use four places if you add up many short entries and want to avoid small rounding differences in the total.
Can I round to the nearest quarter hour?
Some employers round time to the nearest 15 minutes. Under US federal rules this is only allowed when rounding averages out over time so employees are paid for all the time they actually work (29 CFR 785.48). Check your own policy and state law before using it.
How do I convert decimal hours back to minutes?
Multiply the decimal part by 60. For example, 0.75 × 60 = 45 minutes. The Decimal to Time converter does this for whole shifts.
Related tools
Accuracy note: This converter uses the standard formula above and is checked against the worked examples on this page. Payroll rules on rounding and overtime vary by employer and state, so confirm final figures with your payroll provider where needed.
Content Lead, Anchor AI Tools, California, USA. Spotted an error? Email hello@anchoraitools.com and it will be checked and corrected. See our editorial standards.