Time trackers show hours and minutes, but invoices and timesheets need decimal hours. 4 hours 17 minutes is not 4.17 hours: it is 4.28, because an hour has 60 minutes, not 100. This converter does the division for you, applies the billing increment in your contract, and works out what to charge.
How it works
Divide the minutes by 60 and add the whole hours. 17 minutes is 17 ÷ 60 = 0.283 of an hour, so 4h 17m is 4.283 hours, which rounds to 4.28 on an invoice.
If you bill in increments, the decimal is then rounded to that unit. A 6-minute increment is a tenth of an hour, so 4.283 hours becomes 4.3. A 15-minute increment is a quarter of an hour, so the same time becomes 4.25 when rounded to the nearest unit, or 4.5 when you always round up.
The amount to bill is the billable hours multiplied by your hourly rate. Rounding happens before the multiplication, which is how most time-billing contracts define it.
Enter minutes over 60 if that's easier: 0 hours and 257 minutes gives the same 4.28 hours.
A worked example
You tracked 4h 17m on a client project at $60 an hour, billed in 6-minute units. 17 ÷ 60 = 0.283, so the exact time is 4.28 hours. Rounded to the nearest 6 minutes it becomes 4.3 hours, and 4.3 × $60 = $258.00 to invoice.
Questions people ask
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. 15 minutes is 0.25 hours, 30 minutes is 0.5, 45 minutes is 0.75, and 20 minutes is 0.33. Then add the whole hours in front.
Why is 1 hour 30 minutes 1.5 and not 1.3?
Because 30 minutes is half of an hour. The digits after the decimal point are a fraction of 100, while minutes are a fraction of 60. Writing 1.3 for 1h 30m undercharges the client by 12 minutes.
How do I convert decimal hours back to hours and minutes?
Multiply the decimal part by 60. 2.4 hours is 2 hours plus 0.4 × 60 = 24 minutes. The calculator shows the billable time in hours and minutes for this reason.
What is the 6-minute rule in billing?
Billing in 6-minute units means each tenth of an hour is one unit, so time is recorded as 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and so on. It is common for lawyers, accountants and consultants. Check whether your contract rounds to the nearest unit or always up.
Is it fair to always round up?
It is common and usually acceptable when the contract states it, because short tasks like calls and emails carry switching time. Rounding up every tiny entry to 15 or 30 minutes can add up fast, so say which increment you use on your invoice or in your terms.