time clock rounding
The 7-Minute Rule: How Time Clock Rounding Works
How the 7-minute rule rounds punches to the nearest quarter hour, when rounding is legal under federal rules, examples, and states where it's risky.
Many time clocks round punches to the nearest quarter hour. The usual convention is the 7-minute rule: 1–7 minutes past a quarter rounds down, 8–14 minutes rounds up.
Examples
- Clock in 8:07 → 8:00. Clock in 8:08 → 8:15.
- Clock out 4:52 → 4:45. Clock out 4:53 → 5:00.
Over a week, rounding should even out: some days you gain a few minutes, some days you lose them.
Is it legal?
Federal regulations (29 CFR 785.48) allow rounding to the nearest 5 minutes, tenth of an hour or quarter hour as long as it averages out so employees are fully paid over time. A system that only ever rounds in the employer's favor — for example, always rounding clock-ins up — is not allowed.
California is stricter: its Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that employers can't round meal-period punches, and many employers there now pay to the minute. If your records come out short every week, keep your own log.
Our time card calculator can apply 5-minute, 6-minute (tenth of an hour) or 15-minute rounding so you can compare rounded and exact totals.
Quick answers
What is the 7-minute rule?
A rounding convention: punches 1–7 minutes past a quarter hour round down, 8–14 minutes round up to the next quarter hour.
Can my employer round my time?
Under federal rules, yes, if rounding is neutral and averages out so you're paid for all time worked over a period. Some states, like California, restrict it further.