Billable hours chart and calculator for attorneys
A billable hours chart converts minutes worked into billable increments. In the most common method, each tenth of an hour equals 6 minutes, so 1–6 minutes bills as 0.1 hours, 7–12 minutes as 0.2 hours and so on up to 1.0 hour for 55–60 minutes.
Billable hours calculator
Billable hours chart (tenths of an hour)
| Minutes worked | Hours billed |
|---|---|
| 1–6 min | 0.1 |
| 7–12 min | 0.2 |
| 13–18 min | 0.3 |
| 19–24 min | 0.4 |
| 25–30 min | 0.5 |
| 31–36 min | 0.6 |
| 37–42 min | 0.7 |
| 43–48 min | 0.8 |
| 49–54 min | 0.9 |
| 55–60 min | 1.0 |
Rounds up to the next increment, the most common convention. Follow your engagement letter and any client or court billing guidelines.
How to use the billable hours calculator
Choose your billing increment, enter the minutes worked and your hourly rate. The calculator rounds the entry up to the next increment and shows the billable hours and amount. The chart below the calculator lists every range of minutes and the hours billed for it, which you can print as a reference.
Tenths of an hour vs quarter hours
Billing in tenths of an hour (6-minute increments) is the most common convention in US law firms. Some firms and engagement letters use quarter hours (15-minute increments). Smaller increments generally produce bills that track actual time more closely. Some clients and courts set their own billing guidelines, so follow your engagement letter and any applicable guidelines.
Billable hours conversion table (tenths)
| Minutes | Hours billed |
|---|---|
| 1–6 | 0.1 |
| 7–12 | 0.2 |
| 13–18 | 0.3 |
| 19–24 | 0.4 |
| 25–30 | 0.5 |
| 31–36 | 0.6 |
| 37–42 | 0.7 |
| 43–48 | 0.8 |
| 49–54 | 0.9 |
| 55–60 | 1.0 |
Tips for accurate billable time
- Record time contemporaneously, not at the end of the week.
- Write task-based descriptions that explain the value of the work.
- Record each task separately rather than block billing, unless your client agrees otherwise.
- Review entries before invoicing.
EvidenceDesk time tracking records entries in billing increments automatically and turns them into invoices.
This content is general information, not legal, tax or accounting advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. See our disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
How many minutes is 0.1 billable hours?
0.1 billable hours is 6 minutes. Each tenth of an hour equals 6 minutes.
How do you convert minutes to billable hours?
Divide the minutes by your increment (6 for tenths, 15 for quarter hours), round up to the next whole number, then multiply by the increment's share of an hour (0.1 or 0.25).
What is billable time?
Billable time is the time an attorney or staff member spends on work that can be charged to a client under the engagement agreement.
How many minutes is 0.25 billable hours?
0.25 of an hour is 15 minutes, which is the quarter-hour billing increment.
Can EvidenceDesk round time automatically?
EvidenceDesk records time on the matter with timers and manual entries, so it can be billed in the increment your firm uses.
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