Time Clock Rounding Calculator
Round punch times to the nearest quarter hour (the 7-minute rule), tenth of an hour or 5 minutes, and see how rounding changes paid time.
What is the 7-minute rule?
The 7-minute rule is a way of rounding time punches to the nearest quarter hour. Minutes 1 to 7 past a quarter hour round down, and minutes 8 to 14 round up.
| Actual punch | Rounded (15 min) |
|---|---|
| 8:00 – 8:07 | 8:00 |
| 8:08 – 8:22 | 8:15 |
| 8:23 – 8:37 | 8:30 |
| 8:38 – 8:52 | 8:45 |
| 8:53 – 9:07 | 9:00 |
Is time clock rounding legal?
Under federal regulations (29 CFR 785.48), employers may round punch times to the nearest 5 minutes, tenth of an hour or quarter hour, as long as the practice is neutral and does not, over time, result in employees being paid for less time than they actually worked. Rounding that always favors the employer is not allowed. Some states, including California, apply stricter standards, so many employers now pay to the exact minute.
Tenth-of-an-hour rounding
Rounding to 6 minutes matches decimal payroll: each 6 minutes is 0.1 hour. Minutes 1 to 2 round down and 3 to 5 round up.
Example
Clock in 8:07 AM and clock out 4:53 PM. Actual time is 8 hours 46 minutes. With the 7-minute rule, the punches round to 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, so the rounded time is 9 hours, 14 minutes more than actual. To total a whole week of punches, use the time card calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How does the 7-minute rule work?
Punches 1 to 7 minutes past a quarter hour round down, and 8 to 14 minutes past round up to the next quarter hour.
Is rounding time punches legal?
Under federal rules it is allowed if it is neutral and does not underpay employees over time. Some states are stricter, so check your state rules.
What is 8:07 rounded to the nearest quarter hour?
8:00. Seven minutes rounds down under the 7-minute rule.