Calculate total man-hours for any project by entering the number of workers, hours per day, and number of days. You'll get the total man-hours, total labor cost, and a per-worker breakdown — perfect for project planning, payroll estimation, and workforce scheduling.
Total Man-Hours
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Hours Per Worker
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Total Labor Cost
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Overhead Cost
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Total Project Cost (incl. Overhead)
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Cost Per Man-Hour
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A man-hour (also called a person-hour) is a unit of work representing one person working for one hour. It is commonly used in project management and payroll to measure the total amount of labor required to complete a task or project. For example, if 3 workers each work 4 hours, that equals 12 man-hours.
The formula is simple: Man-Hours = Number of Workers × Hours Worked Per Day × Number of Days. If workers take breaks, subtract the break time (converted to hours) from the daily hours first. For example, 5 workers × 7.5 hours/day × 10 days = 375 man-hours.
To find total labor cost, multiply the total man-hours by the hourly pay rate: Total Cost = Man-Hours × Hourly Rate. To include overhead, add your overhead percentage on top of the labor cost: Total Project Cost = Labor Cost × (1 + Overhead % / 100).
The man-hours cost formula is: Total Cost = Man-Hours × Hourly Pay Rate. If you also want to factor in overhead expenses, use: Total Project Cost = (Man-Hours × Hourly Rate) × (1 + Overhead Percentage / 100). This gives you a comprehensive view of total project expenditure.
Rearrange the man-hours formula: Number of Workers = Total Man-Hours Required ÷ (Hours Per Day × Number of Days). For example, if a project requires 400 man-hours and each worker puts in 8 hours/day over 10 days, you need 400 ÷ 80 = 5 workers.
Yes, unpaid breaks should be deducted when calculating productive man-hours. Enter the total break minutes per worker per day in the 'Break Time' field, and the calculator will subtract this from each worker's daily hours before computing the total.
Clock hours refer to elapsed time (e.g., 9 AM to 5 PM = 8 clock hours), while man-hours measure actual productive labor. If a team of 4 workers each works 8 clock hours, they collectively contribute 32 man-hours. Man-hours scale with the number of people, clock hours do not.
Overhead costs cover expenses beyond direct labor wages — such as equipment, administration, insurance, and utilities. To include overhead, enter a percentage and the calculator adds it on top of your total labor cost to give you the full project cost.