For a long time, calculating my work hours felt like a small but persistent annoyance. I’d jot down start times and end times, subtract breaks, double check totals, and then still wonder if I messed something up.
It wasn’t a big problem… but it was a recurring one.
And like any developer who gets repeatedly irritated by something, I did what we usually do: I built a solution.
So here it is: https://mytimecardcalculator.com
A simple, free, and clean time card calculator that helps anyone calculate their work hours accurately, whether you’re an employee, freelancer, contractor, or shift worker.
The Real Reason I Built It
The idea didn’t come from a grand plan. It came from a very relatable moment: me, sitting with my laptop, staring at a spreadsheet, realizing I had entered the same set of hours three different ways and still wasn’t fully sure if my totals were right.
I tried a few online calculators, but most of them:
- looked cluttered
- had intrusive ads
- were overloaded with fields
- required login or account creation
- or were simply too outdated
I didn’t need a full HR system. I didn’t need timesheet history.
I just needed a place to enter a few times and get a clean result.
So I built exactly that.
What MyTimeCardCalculator.com Does (And Why It Works Well)
The tool is intentionally simple, but that’s what makes it effective. Here’s what it offers:
✔️ Clean and intuitive UI
I wanted a tool you could understand in 2 seconds. No tutorials. No guessing.
Just pick your start time, end time, break duration, and you’re done.
✔️ Daily AND weekly calculations
Many calculators only support one shift. Mine supports an entire week — great for people who track weekly totals for payroll or clients.
✔️ Works with overnight shifts
One of the trickiest parts of time tracking.
If your shift goes from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, the calculator handles it smoothly.
✔️ PDF Export using jsPDF
This was a highly requested feature even before I built it.
You can instantly generate a downloadable, clean PDF of your completed time card — formatted neatly using jsPDF, entirely client-side, no servers involved.
Perfect for submitting timesheets to employers or keeping personal records.
✔️ 100% Free, No Login, No Tracking
Nothing is stored. Nothing is uploaded. No accounts, no cookies.
Just a simple browser tool that respects your privacy.
✔️ Mobile-first experience
A lot of people track hours on the go, especially shift workers.
So the layout is optimized to work smoothly on smartphones and tablets.
A Bit More About the Tech Stack
here’s the geeky breakdown:
- Frontend: Next.js
- Styling: Tailwind CSS
- PDF Generation: jsPDF
- Time logic: Custom JavaScript helpers using native Date APIs
- Hosting: Vercel
Time calculations happen entirely in the browser. No API calls, no server roundtrips.
PDF generation also happens directly client-side with jsPDF, so the download is instant and private.
Challenges & Interesting Problems Solved
Every small project has that one thing you thought would take 5 minutes… but takes 5 hours. Here were a few:
- Handling Overnight Shifts
If you work from 10 PM → 6 AM, technically “end time” is the next day.
I wrote a custom logic that detects when the end time passes midnight and adjusts the calculation accordingly.
- Designing a Weekly Table That Fits on Mobile
Tables + mobile screens = pain.
I had to rethink spacing, font sizes, and breakpoints to make everything readable without horizontal scrolling.
- Creating Human-Friendly PDF Layouts with jsPDF
jsPDF is powerful, but formatting text, aligning columns, and keeping everything clean took some trial and error.
The final result looks like a proper timesheet, not a random export.
- Preventing Weird Inputs From Breaking Everything
People enter time in all sorts of ways:
“9”
“9:00”
“09:00 AM”
“21:00”
I added smart checks so the calculator can handle inconsistencies without confusing the user.
Why I Love Building Tools Like This
There’s something very satisfying about building tools that solve small, real problems.
Not massive SaaS platforms.
Not giant dashboards.
Just tiny, useful, practical tools that make someone’s day easier — maybe yours, maybe mine, maybe both.
And honestly, I think the web needs more of that. More simple tools, fewer bloated systems.
What’s Coming Next
Even though the tool already feels polished, I’m planning a few more features:
- More PDF customization (branding, notes, signatures)
- CSV Export
Nothing that complicates the tool, just enhancements that keep it simple but more flexible.
Try It And Tell Me What You Think
If you track your hours or know someone who does, give it a try:
https://mytimecardcalculator.com
I’d genuinely love to know what you think.
Suggestions, feature ideas, UI feedback — everything helps.
And if you're also building tiny, useful web tools, share them in the comments.
I love checking out what others in the community are creating.
Thanks for reading!
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