Quarter-Hour Rounding Calculator (FLSA 7/8-Minute Rule)
Under the FLSA 7/8-minute rounding rule, employee time punches round to the nearest 15-minute increment (0.25 hours). Minutes 1 through 7 round down to the nearest quarter hour, while minutes 8 through 14 round up to ensure compliant, neutral payroll accounting.
Before rounding
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After rounding (FLSA)
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Formula: 1–7 min → 0.00h | 8–22 min → 0.25h | 23–37 min → 0.50h | 38–52 min → 0.75h (29 CFR § 785.48)
Minutes 0–7 past a quarter-hour round down. Minutes 8–14 round up.
| Minutes past quarter | Rounds to | Decimal | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| :00 – :07 | :00 | 0.00 | round down |
| :08 – :14 | :15 | 0.25 | round up |
| :15 – :22 | :15 | 0.25 | round down |
| :23 – :29 | :30 | 0.50 | round up |
| :30 – :37 | :30 | 0.50 | round down |
| :38 – :44 | :45 | 0.75 | round up |
| :45 – :52 | :45 | 0.75 | round down |
| :53 – :59 | :00+ | 0.00+ | round up to next hour |
The Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to round employee starting and stopping times to the nearest quarter of an hour (15 minutes or 0.25 decimal hours), provided the practice averages out so that employees are fully compensated for all time actually worked (29 CFR § 785.48(b) regulation text). Under the established 7/8-minute rule, clock punches within 1 to 7 minutes past the quarter hour round down, whereas punches from 8 to 14 minutes round up. Violations frequently occur when companies practice asymmetrical rounding—such as always rounding clock-ins up and clock-outs down—which constitutes an unlawful withholding of wages. To calculate shift totals with lunch breaks, use our clock-in/out calculator, convert unrounded hours with our unrounded hours to decimal calculator, or read our decimal time reference guide.
⚠ Asymmetric rounding is a federal wage violation
A company rounds all clock-ins up (8:03 AM → 8:15 AM) and all clock-outs down (5:12 PM → 5:00 PM). Each occurrence removes 12 + 12 = 24 minutes of compensable time. At $25/hr that's $10/day, $2,500+/year per employee. The DOL's Wage and Hour Division has issued back-pay findings against employers for exactly this pattern. The 7/8-minute rule only remains compliant when the rounding is symmetrical — some punches favour the employee, some favour the employer, and they average out. Use this calculator's reference table to verify each threshold independently.
7/8-Minute Rounding Reference Thresholds
| Raw Clock Punch | Rounded Time (Decimal) | FLSA Rule Application |
|---|---|---|
| 8:05 AM (5 min past) | 8:00 AM (0.00 hrs) | Rounded down (within 7-min window) |
| 8:07 AM (7 min past) | 8:00 AM (0.00 hrs) | Maximum round-down threshold |
| 8:08 AM (8 min past) | 8:15 AM (0.25 hrs) | Minimum round-up threshold |
| 8:14 AM (14 min past) | 8:15 AM (0.25 hrs) | Rounds down to nearest quarter |
| 8:22 AM (22 min past) | 8:15 AM (0.25 hrs) | Maximum round-down to :15 |
| 8:23 AM (23 min past) | 8:30 AM (0.50 hrs) | Rounds up to half-hour |
| 8:37 AM (37 min past) | 8:30 AM (0.50 hrs) | Rounds down to half-hour |
| 8:38 AM (38 min past) | 8:45 AM (0.75 hrs) | Rounds up to three-quarter hour |
| 8:52 AM (52 min past) | 8:45 AM (0.75 hrs) | Rounds down to three-quarter hour |
| 8:53 AM (53 min past) | 9:00 AM (1.00 hr) | Rounds up to next whole hour |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FLSA 7/8-minute quarter-hour rounding rule?
Under Fair Labor Standards Act regulations, specifically 29 CFR § 785.48, employers are permitted to round employee starting and stopping times to the nearest 15 minutes (quarter-hour). Minutes 1 through 7 past the quarter-hour round down to the previous 15-minute increment (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, or 0.75), while minutes 8 through 14 round up to the next quarter-hour.
Is quarter-hour rounding mandatory under federal labor law?
No. Rounding is an optional administrative convenience authorized by 29 CFR § 785.48. If an employer adopts time rounding, the policy must be impartial and balanced over time so that it does not systematically shortchange employees on their earned wages.
What are the exact minute intervals for 15-minute rounding?
The intervals are: minutes :01 to :07 round to :00 (0.00 hrs); minutes :08 to :22 round to :15 (0.25 hrs); minutes :23 to :37 round to :30 (0.50 hrs); minutes :38 to :52 round to :45 (0.75 hrs); and minutes :53 to :59 round to the next whole hour :00 (1.00 hr).
Can an employer round clock-ins up and clock-outs down?
No. One-sided rounding policies that consistently round in favor of the employer violate federal law under 29 CFR § 785.48 and create substantial exposure to back-pay claims, liquidated damages, and penalties.
How do 15-minute rounded intervals convert to decimal hours for payroll?
Each quarter-hour converts cleanly to two decimal places: 15 minutes = 0.25 hours, 30 minutes = 0.50 hours, 45 minutes = 0.75 hours, and 60 minutes = 1.00 hour.