Ever wondered how many hours in a month? Whether you’re planning your work schedule, calculating payroll, or just curious, knowing the number of hours in each month can be surprisingly useful. On average, a month has between 720 to 744 hours, depending on how many days it contains. But that’s just the surface — not every month is created equal. In this guide, we’ll break down monthly hours, explain how they’re calculated, and explore real-life uses, from working hours per month to time management for freelancers.
Monthly Hours Table: Quick Reference
The number of hours in a month depends on how many days it has. Each day has 24 hours, so months with 30 or 31 days have different totals. February is even shorter! Use the table below to see the total hours in each month. This quick reference helps with planning, tracking work hours, or managing projects. Whether you’re a student, employee, or freelancer, knowing your monthly hours can help you stay on top of your schedule.
| Month | Days | Total Hours (24 × Days) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 744 hours |
| February* | 28 | 672 hours |
| February** | 29 | 696 hours |
| March | 31 | 744 hours |
| April | 30 | 720 hours |
| May | 31 | 744 hours |
| June | 30 | 720 hours |
| July | 31 | 744 hours |
| August | 31 | 744 hours |
| September | 30 | 720 hours |
| October | 31 | 744 hours |
| November | 30 | 720 hours |
| December | 31 | 744 hours |
Work Hours Per Month (Standard Office Work)
Not every hour in a month is spent working. Most full-time jobs follow an 8-hour workday, 5 days a week. That usually adds up to 160 to 184 work hours per month, depending on the number of business days. Holidays, weekends, and local labor laws can change this. The table below shows an estimated breakdown of monthly working hours, which is helpful for payroll, project planning, and tracking productive hours.
Estimated Monthly Working Hours (8-Hour Days)
| Month | Working Days* | Total Work Hours (8 × Days) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 23 | 184 hours |
| February | 20 (28 days) | 160 hours |
| February** | 21 (29 days) | 168 hours |
| March | 21 | 168 hours |
| April | 22 | 176 hours |
| May | 23 | 184 hours |
| June | 21 | 168 hours |
| July | 23 | 184 hours |
| August | 22 | 176 hours |
| September | 21 | 168 hours |
| October | 23 | 184 hours |
| November | 21 | 168 hours |
| December | 22 | 176 hours |
How to Manually Calculate Hours in a Month
Calculating the number of hours in a month is simple. Just multiply the number of days in the month by 24. For example, March has 31 days, so:31 × 24 = 744 hours.
To calculate working hours per month, count the business days and multiply by 8 (or your daily work hours). This method helps with payroll, time tracking, and freelancer planning without using a tool or hours calculator.
Hours in Special Months
Not all months have the same number of hours. Some months are shorter, and February is the most unique.
- February has 28 days in a regular year (672 hours) and 29 days in a leap year (696 hours).
- April, June, September, and November have 30 days, giving 720 hours each.
- January, March, May, July, August, October, and December have 31 days, totaling 744 hours.
These variations matter when planning monthly hours, billable time, or estimating workload per month.
Leap Year Consideration: Does It Change Everything?
Yes, leap years can slightly affect your time calculations. In a leap year, February has 29 days instead of 28. That adds an extra 24 hours, making the total for February 696 hours instead of 672.
While it may not seem like much, this difference can impact monthly working hours, project timelines, and payroll calculations. If you’re managing hours annually or by quarter, remember to adjust for the extra day in leap year months like February.
Real-World Use Cases
Knowing how many hours are in a month isn’t just trivia — it’s practical. Here’s how different people use it:
- HR teams and payroll managers rely on monthly hours to calculate salaries and overtime.
- Freelancers and consultants use it to estimate billable hours or plan retainer packages.
- Project managers track time budgets across tasks and teams.
- Students and remote workers plan study or focus hours using a monthly schedule.
Whether for time tracking, productivity, or monthly planning, this simple number matters more than you think.
Monthly Time Budgeting Tips
Once you know the total hours in a month, you can plan your time better. Start by setting aside time for key areas:
- Work: Estimate your required monthly working hours.
- Sleep: 7–8 hours/day = ~210–240 hours/month.
- Personal time: Block hours for family, exercise, or hobbies.
- Learning or freelancing: Allocate productive slots.
Use tools like Google Calendar or time-blocking apps to build a monthly hour plan. This keeps you focused and helps balance work and life.
Yearly Hours at a Glance (with Chart)
If each month varies in total hours, what does that mean for the whole year?
In a non-leap year, there are:365 days × 24 hours = 8,760 total hours.
In a leap year:366 days × 24 hours = 8,784 total hours.
Here’s a quick monthly breakdown:
| Month | Days | Total Hours |
|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 744 hrs |
| February | 28 | 672 hrs |
| March | 31 | 744 hrs |
| April | 30 | 720 hrs |
| May | 31 | 744 hrs |
| June | 30 | 720 hrs |
| July | 31 | 744 hrs |
| August | 31 | 744 hrs |
| September | 30 | 720 hrs |
| October | 31 | 744 hrs |
| November | 30 | 720 hrs |
| December | 31 | 744 hrs |
Total: 8,760 hours/year (non-leap)
In leap years, just add +24 hours to February.
This chart is great for annual planning, time budgeting, and year-long project estimation.
