How to Calculate a Biweekly Time Card Correctly
A biweekly time card covers 14 days, but the safest calculation keeps Week 1 and Week 2 separate before combining the pay-period total.
Open Biweekly Time Card Calculator →
Step 1: calculate each day's net hours
For an overnight shift, treat the clock-out time as occurring on the next day.
Step 2: total Week 1 and Week 2 separately
Add days 1–7 for Week 1 and days 8–14 for Week 2. Keeping the weeks visible prevents one heavy week from being hidden by a lighter second week.
Step 3: apply the overtime rule you are modeling
If your payroll rule uses a weekly threshold, apply that threshold independently to each week rather than averaging the full 14-day period. The calculator lets you enter the threshold and multiplier instead of assuming one universal rule.
| Week | Total hours | Threshold example | Regular | Overtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 44 | 40 | 40 | 4 |
| Week 2 | 36 | 40 | 36 | 0 |
| Biweekly total | 80 | — | 76 | 4 |
Common biweekly time-card mistakes
- Using one 80-hour overtime bucket when the applicable rule is weekly.
- Entering 30 break minutes as 0.30 hours.
- Forgetting that a night shift can end the next day.
- Rounding each punch too early instead of calculating the underlying duration first.
Frequently asked questions
How many days are on a biweekly time card?
14 calendar days, usually organized as two seven-day workweeks.
Should Week 1 and Week 2 be combined before overtime?
Not when you are modeling a weekly overtime threshold. Calculate each week separately first.
Can a biweekly time card include overnight shifts?
Yes. Treat the end time as occurring on the following day when the shift crosses midnight.