Why a biweekly timesheet needs two separate weeks
Being paid every two weeks does not change how overtime is counted. Federal law measures overtime per workweek. If you work 45 hours in week one and 35 in week two, you worked 80 hours in the pay period — but you are still owed 5 hours of overtime for week one. Averaging the two weeks to 40 each would wrongly erase that overtime.
That is why this calculator totals each week separately and only then adds them together.
Example
| Hours worked | Regular | Overtime | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 45.0 | 40.0 | 5.0 |
| Week 2 | 35.0 | 35.0 | 0.0 |
| Pay period | 80.0 | 75.0 | 5.0 |
At $22/hour: 75 × $22 = $1,650 regular pay, plus 5 × $33 = $165 overtime, for a gross paycheck of $1,815. If the weeks had been averaged, the paycheck would have been only $1,760.
Biweekly vs. semi-monthly pay
Biweekly means every other week — 26 paychecks a year (27 in some years, depending on the calendar). Semi-monthly means twice a month, usually on the 15th and the last day — 24 paychecks a year. A semi-monthly period can contain part of a workweek, so overtime is still calculated per week and may land on a later paycheck.
How to fill in the biweekly time card
- Start week 1 on the first day of your employer’s workweek (often Sunday or Monday — check your pay stub).
- Enter each day’s start and end time, and any unpaid meal break in minutes.
- Add your hourly rate to see gross pay for the whole pay period.
- Use Print to keep a copy for your records.
Only need one week? Use the standard weekly time card calculator. Want to check a single shift? Try the hours calculator.
Sources and limits
The rules on this page come from these official sources, which we read on September 26, 2026. Pay rules change and differ by state, and some employers and union contracts pay more than the law requires. This page is general information, not legal or payroll advice. If you think you have been underpaid, contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division or your state labor department.