How many hours in a month?

672–744 hours, depending on the month. 730.5 on average.

By Darrell Donaghy, FounderLast reviewed May 2, 2026How we verify

744

31-day months

Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Aug, Oct, Dec

720

30-day months

Apr, Jun, Sep, Nov

672 / 696

February

28 days / 29 in leap years

Every month, by exact hour count

MonthDaysHoursMinutesSeconds
January3174444,6402,678,400
February (regular)2867240,3202,419,200
February (leap)2969641,7602,505,600
March3174444,6402,678,400
April3072043,2002,592,000
May3174444,6402,678,400
June3072043,2002,592,000
July3174444,6402,678,400
August3174444,6402,678,400
September3072043,2002,592,000
October3174444,6402,678,400
November3072043,2002,592,000
December3174444,6402,678,400

Where the 730.5 average comes from

An "average month" has 365 ÷ 12 = 30.4167 days. Multiply by 24: 30.4167 × 24 = 730 hours, or 730.5 once you account for the leap-year cycle (365.25 ÷ 12 × 24).

Use 730.5 when you need a single number for budgeting, contracts, or conversions that span multiple months. Use the exact per-month figure (above) when the calculation is for a specific calendar month.

See methodology for the underlying definitions.

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Why are months uneven?

The pattern of 30 / 31 / 28 / 29 day months is inherited from the Julian calendar (46 BCE) and preserved by the Gregorian reform (1582). The Gregorian reform changed the leap-year rule but left month lengths alone, so we're still using a 2,000-year-old layout.

The practical consequence: a salaried employee is paid the same in February as in March, but March contains 72 more clock-hours of life. An hourly worker on a fixed schedule earns more in a 31-day month than a 28-day one.

Work hours per month (rule of thumb)

For a 40-hour, 5-day week, an "average" work month is 2,080 ÷ 12 ≈ 173.3 hours (about 21.67 working days). The actual figure for a given calendar month depends on:

  • How many weekends fall in the month (4 or 5)
  • Federal/regional holidays observed
  • Any company-specific shutdown days

For exact monthly work hours including holidays, see the work-year breakdown.

Frequently asked questions

Which month has the most hours?

All 31-day months tie at 744 hours: January, March, May, July, August, October, December.

Which month has the fewest hours?

February. 672 hours in a regular year (28 days), 696 hours in a leap year (29 days).

Should I use 730 or 720 hours per month?

720 (= 30 × 24) is fine for rough mental math. Use 730 (or 730.5) for any calculation that should add up correctly across a full year — 720 × 12 is only 8,640, which falls 120 hours short of an actual year.

Is February ever a leap month?

Yes — every year divisible by 4 (with the exceptions explained on the hours-in-a-year page). Leap February has 29 days = 696 hours.

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