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Hours Calculator in Spain

Harvest enables accurate time tracking for teams and freelancers, helping manage Spain's complex work hour regulations with ease.

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How many hours did you work this week?

Enter your clock-in and clock-out times for each day. The calculator handles breaks, overtime, and weekly totals automatically.

Day Clock In Clock Out Break Hours
Total hours this week 0h
Regular hours (≤40) 0h
Overtime hours 0h
Average hours/day 0h
Total break time 0h

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Walk through the entire flow below. Start a timer, check your reports, and create a real invoice — all in three clicks.

Go ahead — start tracking!

One click and you're timing. Try it right here: start a timer, add an entry, edit the details. This is exactly how it feels in Harvest.

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Acme Corp
Website Redesign
Homepage layout revisions
1:24:09
Content Strategy
Blog calendar planning
1:30:00
SEO Audit
Technical audit report
0:45:00
Brand Guidelines
Color system documentation
2:15:00
Logo Concepts
Initial sketches round 1
1:00:00
Today's total 6:54:09

Understanding Spain's Standard Working Hours

In Spain, the standard maximum working hours are set at 40 hours per week, calculated as an average over a 12-month period. However, by December 31, 2025, this limit will be reduced to 37.5 hours per week without any reduction in salaries. This transition reflects a broader move towards improving work-life balance across Europe. The daily limit for working hours is generally set at 9 hours, unless otherwise specified in collective agreements. These agreements often provide more favorable terms, including shorter working weeks or additional rest periods.

The structure of the typical Spanish workday might include split shifts, especially in traditional sectors, with breaks for the 'siesta'. However, modern companies are increasingly adopting continuous workdays. Employers must ensure that rest periods and breaks are respected: employees working over 6 hours must have a 15-minute break, and there must be a minimum of 12 consecutive hours of rest between shifts.

Navigating Overtime and Rest Regulations in Spain

Overtime in Spain is defined as any work beyond the standard 40 hours per week, with a legal cap of 80 hours per year. Overtime must be compensated either monetarily, often at a premium rate like time-and-a-half, or through equivalent time off. Importantly, overtime required by 'force majeure', such as dealing with emergencies, is exempt from this cap. Employers must track and manage overtime meticulously to avoid exceeding these limits.

Rest periods are equally regulated, with employees entitled to at least one and a half uninterrupted days of rest per week. This typically includes Sunday and either Saturday afternoon or Monday morning. Night work, defined as work performed between 10 PM and 6 AM, is subject to additional compensation or reduced hours. These regulations ensure workers have adequate downtime, contributing to both safety and productivity.

Implementing Time Tracking Compliance in Spain

Since the introduction of Royal Decree-Law 8/2019, all Spanish companies are required to record the start and end times of each employee's workday. This legislation is part of a wider effort to ensure transparency and fair compensation for overtime. By 2026, digital time tracking systems will become mandatory, phasing out manual methods. These systems must be objective, reliable, and tamper-resistant, with records kept for a minimum of four years.

Non-compliance can result in significant penalties, ranging from €626 to €10,000 per employee. To avoid these fines, employers should adopt digital solutions that are compliant with Spain's legal requirements. Such systems provide not only compliance but also insights into workforce productivity, aiding in strategic planning and resource allocation.

Adapting to Collective Bargaining Agreements and Special Cases

Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) in Spain play a crucial role in defining working conditions, often setting terms more favorable than the general law. These agreements can influence everything from working hours to overtime compensation and must be consulted for each sector and region. For instance, some agreements may specify shorter workweeks or additional rest days.

Special consideration is given to categories like minors, who are restricted from night work and entitled to longer rest periods, and part-time workers, where "complementary hours" are limited. Additionally, international students in Spain can work up to 30 hours per week during academic terms. Understanding these nuances is essential for employers to ensure compliance and foster a supportive work environment.

Track Work Hours with Harvest

See how Harvest simplifies tracking work hours in Spain, ensuring compliance with local regulations and efficient time management.

Screenshot of Harvest time tracking for work hours in Spain

Hours Calculator in Spain FAQs

  • In Spain, the maximum standard working hours are 40 per week, averaged over 12 months. By the end of 2025, this will reduce to 37.5 hours per week. Daily limits are set at 9 hours unless otherwise specified by agreements.

  • Overtime in Spain is any work beyond 40 hours per week and is limited to 80 hours annually. It must be compensated with pay at a premium rate or equivalent time off, as agreed upon in contracts or collective agreements.

  • Workers are entitled to at least one and a half uninterrupted days of rest per week, typically including Sunday. Additionally, a 12-hour rest period is required between work shifts, and a 15-minute break after 6 hours of work.

  • Employers must record daily start and end times for each employee's workday. By 2026, digital time tracking systems will be mandatory. Records must be kept for four years, and non-compliance can lead to significant fines.

  • Harvest offers a flexible time tracking solution that can adapt to international teams' needs, helping manage and monitor work hours effectively, though it does not specifically handle regional regulations or provide current time information.

  • Yes, work performed between 10 PM and 6 AM is considered night work in Spain, which entitles workers to additional compensation or reduced hours. Their average working time cannot exceed 8 hours per day.

  • For part-time workers, complementary hours refer to additional hours agreed upon in the contract, regulated separately, and cannot exceed 60% of their contracted ordinary hours.