Work Calculator
Two calculators in one page. Physics work: solve W = F·d·cos θ, lifting work on an incline, power, and energy-unit conversions. Work hours: turn weekly hours and an hourly rate into gross pay with overtime.
100% client-side — nothing leaves your browser Free · no signupWork: force × distance
W = F · d · cos θ
Work W
—
joules
Work on an incline / lifting
W = m · g · h g = 9.80665 m/s²
Work against gravity depends only on vertical height gained, not on the slope path (friction ignored).
Work W
—
joules
Power
P = W / t
Power P
—
watts
Energy unit converter
1 kWh = 3,600,000 J exactly
Conversions
Worked examples
Pushing a crate: 100 N over 5 m at 30° → 433.01 J
Lifting: 10 kg raised 2 m → 196.13 J
Power: 433.01 J delivered in 10 s → 43.30 W
Method. All physics modes convert inputs to SI units first, then apply the formula:
W = F·d·cos θ, W = m·g·h (g = 9.80665 m/s²), P = W/t.
Each mode solves its equation forward and backward: enter what you know, and the tool solves for the unknown given the others. Reverse solvers rearrange the same equations algebraically; when no real solution exists
(e.g. |W/(F·d)| > 1 for the angle solver) the tool says so instead of guessing.
Energy conversions use exact definitions: 1 kWh = 3.6×10⁶ J, 1 cal = 4.184 J, 1 BTU = 1055.05585262 J.
Work hours & pay
pay = regular hours × rate + overtime hours × rate × 1.5
Hours per day
Gross weekly pay
—
—
Method. Weekly hours are split at the overtime threshold (default 40 h, the US FLSA rule):
regular hours × rate, plus overtime hours × rate × multiplier (default 1.5×).
Monthly ≈ weekly × 52/12, annual ≈ weekly × 52. Overtime law varies by country and state —
adjust the threshold and multiplier to match your local rules. Figures are gross pay before tax.
What you can calculate here
- Calculate work done by a constant force with the work formula W = F·d·cos θ — including work at an angle, plus reverse solvers for force, distance, and angle — the work formula triangle, done for you.
- Work and power: learn how to calculate power from work and time (P = W/t), or solve for any of the three quantities.
- Work done on an incline: lifting work against gravity (W = m·g·h) for ramps, stairs, and hoists.
- Energy unit conversions: convert joules to kilowatt-hours, BTU, calories, foot-pounds, electronvolts, and therms.
- Work hours to pay: turn hours worked into weekly gross pay with overtime (1.5× time-and-a-half) and double-time settings, plus monthly and annual salary estimates.
Scope boundary: what this tool is (and isn't)
This tool covers two distinct meanings of “work calculator” — that is deliberate, because both show real search demand:
- Tab 1 — Physics work: W = F·d·cos θ with reverse solvers, incline/lifting work (m·g·h), power (P = W/t), and energy-unit conversion. For students, engineers, and homework.
- Tab 2 — Work hours & pay: weekly hours × hourly rate with overtime into gross pay, plus monthly/annual projections. For hourly workers and payroll estimates.
Not covered here: torque / rotational work, spring work (½kx²), thermodynamics cycles, salary negotiation, tax withholding, or time-tracking. This page estimates — it is not legal, payroll, or engineering advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for work in physics?
Work is calculated as W = F x d x cos(theta), where F is the applied force in newtons, d is the distance moved in meters, and theta is the angle between the force and the direction of motion. The result is in joules. Only the component of force along the direction of motion does work.
How do I calculate work when the force is applied at an angle?
Multiply force times distance times the cosine of the angle: W = F x d x cos(theta). For example, pushing with 100 N over 5 m at 30 degrees gives 100 x 5 x cos(30) = 433.01 J. At 90 degrees cos is zero, so no work is done; past 90 degrees the work becomes negative.
What is the difference between work and power?
Work is the total energy transferred, measured in joules. Power is how fast that work is done: P = W / t, measured in watts. Doing 433 J of work in 10 seconds requires 43.3 W of power; doing the same work in 1 second requires 433 W. This tool has a dedicated power solver tab.
How do I convert joules to kilowatt-hours (kWh)?
Divide joules by 3,600,000, because 1 kWh = 3.6 x 10^6 J exactly. For example, 433.01 J equals 0.0001203 kWh. The energy converter on this page also converts joules to kJ, calories, BTU, foot-pounds, electronvolts, and therms in one step.
How is work calculated for lifting or pushing up an incline?
Work against gravity is W = m x g x h, where m is mass in kilograms, g is 9.80665 m/s^2, and h is the vertical height in meters. Lifting 10 kg by 2 m takes 10 x 9.80665 x 2 = 196.13 J, regardless of the slope path taken, as long as friction is ignored.
Can work be negative?
Yes. When the force opposes the motion (angle greater than 90 degrees), cos(theta) is negative and so is the work. Friction always does negative work because it points opposite to motion. In this calculator, enter an angle above 90 degrees and the result will correctly show a negative joule value.
What are the units of work?
The SI unit of work is the joule (J): one newton-meter. Common alternatives are kilojoules (kJ), watt-hours and kilowatt-hours (kWh) for electrical energy, calories and kilocalories for food and heat, BTU for heating and cooling, and foot-pounds in US customary engineering.
How is overtime pay calculated?
Multiply overtime hours by 1.5 times the regular hourly rate, then add regular pay. Example: 45 hours at Rp50,000 per hour with overtime after 40 hours gives 40 x 50,000 + 5 x 75,000 = Rp2,375,000. The 1.5x rate after 40 hours is the US federal FLSA rule; other countries and states differ, so adjust the threshold and multiplier fields to match your local rules.
How do I calculate my weekly pay from hours and hourly rate?
Enter your hours for each day of the week, your hourly rate, and your overtime settings in the Work Hours tab. The calculator totals your hours, splits regular and overtime hours, and shows gross weekly pay plus monthly and annual projections. For example, 45 hours at $25 per hour with 1.5x overtime after 40 hours pays $1,187.50 for the week.
What is double time pay?
Double time means working hours paid at twice the regular rate (2x). Some jurisdictions require it, for example California generally requires double time after 12 hours in a single workday. To model it here, set the overtime multiplier field to 2 and adjust the threshold to match your local rule.
How do I convert an hourly wage to an annual salary?
Multiply the hourly rate by 2,080, the standard number of work hours in a year (40 hours x 52 weeks). At $25 per hour that is $52,000 per year before overtime. The Work Hours tab shows this annual projection automatically, plus a monthly estimate.
Does this page cover work hours or physics work?
Both, in two separate tabs. The Physics Work tab solves W = F x d x cos(theta), incline work, power, and energy unit conversions. The Work Hours tab calculates weekly pay from hours worked, overtime, and hourly rate. Use the tab that matches your search intent; they are fully independent calculators.
Is this work calculator free and private?
Yes. It is free with no signup, and every calculation runs 100 percent in your browser. No input is sent to any server, no account is needed, and closing the page erases everything. The page makes zero external network requests.
Why does the formula use cos(theta)?
Only the part of the force pointing along the direction of motion contributes to work. The cosine projects the force vector onto the displacement direction: at 0 degrees the full force counts (cos = 1), at 90 degrees none of it counts (cos = 0), and at 180 degrees the force fully opposes motion (cos = -1).
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