Semi-monthly payroll is easy to confuse with biweekly, but the two are different. A semi-monthly pay period ends on fixed dates, usually the fifteenth and the last day of the month, so there are twenty-four paydays a year instead of twenty-six. That means the periods do not line up with the days of the week, and a standard weekly timesheet is awkward to use. This template lists the actual dates instead.
Dates Down the Page, Not Weekdays
Each of the two tables lists calendar dates in the first column, with the weekday written beside the number, such as 2 Mon or 16 Mon. The left table covers the first to the fifteenth, and the right table covers the sixteenth to the thirtieth, with an extra row labelled 31 for months that need it. The sample month is November 2026, so the thirty-first row stays empty.
An Amber Header in Zilla Slab
A rounded amber band holds the title Semi-Monthly Timesheet in Zilla Slab, with NOVEMBER 2026 in spaced capitals at the right. The details strip below lists the employee, position, manager, and pay dates. The sample is a receptionist called Rosa Delgado with pay dates of 15 November and 30 November. A warm amber and charcoal palette keeps the page practical rather than fancy.
What Each Column Records
| Column | Meaning | Example row |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Day number and weekday | 2 Mon |
| In | Start of work | 9:00 AM |
| Out | End of work | 5:30 PM |
| Hrs | Hours worked after the break | 8.00 |
The sample assumes a thirty-minute unpaid break, so a 9:00 to 5:30 day is 8.00 hours and a 9:00 to 5:00 day is 7.50.
Half Totals That Match the Pay Dates
At the bottom of each table, a shaded total row adds the hours for that half month. In the sample, the first half totals 78.00 hours and the second half totals 86.00. Because each half corresponds to one pay date, payroll can pay each total without any extra splitting. The numbers are typed text, so retype them when your own times differ.
A Month Total in a Dark Band
A charcoal band under the two tables states the hours for the month, 164.00, with the two halves repeated at the right. This is the figure managers usually want for reports and for checking against a monthly salary or an annual hours target. It also gives part-time staff a quick view of how close they are to their agreed hours.
Weekends Stay Blank
Saturdays and Sundays are listed but left empty in the sample, which keeps the dates continuous and makes it obvious that nothing was forgotten. If you work weekends, fill them in. Public holidays can be marked in the in column as PH and the paid hours typed in the hours column.
Filling In the Sheet Day by Day
- Type your name, position, manager, and the two pay dates.
- Write in and out times on every working day.
- Work out the hours after subtracting the break.
- Add the first half and the second half separately.
- Add both halves for the month and sign.
Handling Months of Different Lengths
February has 28 or 29 days, and some months have 31. The second table includes a thirty-first row so that long months fit. For February, delete the extra rows or leave them empty. The first half always ends on the fifteenth, so the left table never changes.
Two Signature Lines
An employee line and a manager line sit at the bottom left. Some employers want a signature at the end of each half, and others only at month end. If you need a signature for each pay date, print two copies and sign one after each period, or add an extra signature line beside the half total.
Adapting the Page to Another Month
To reuse the sheet, retype the month and year in the header, retype the date and weekday labels in both tables, and clear the sample times. Weekday labels change every month, so take a moment to check them against a calendar. A printed calendar next to your desk is the simplest way to be sure.
Printing the Narrow Date Tables
Print at actual size on US Letter. The tables are narrow and use small type, around eight points, so avoid shrinking the page. Store each signed sheet in a folder by month, and keep a scanned copy with your payroll records.
Tracking Hours for Salaried Staff on Semi-Monthly Pay
Salaried employees are often paid the same amount each half month, regardless of their hours. Some employers still want hours recorded for budgeting, project costing, or to monitor workload. In that case, the totals are information, not pay. Add a note at the top of the page saying that the sheet is for record only, so no one mistakes the hours for a pay calculation.
Dealing With Pay Dates That Fall on Weekends
When the fifteenth or the month end lands on a Saturday or Sunday, most payrolls pay on the Friday before. The pay dates field in the strip at the top is the right place to record the real date, such as 27 November instead of 30 November. Cut-off dates for submitting the sheet usually move with it, so mention both to avoid confusion.
Matching the Semi-Monthly Sheet to Your Pay Dates
Semi-monthly pay usually falls on two fixed dates, such as the 15th and the last day of the month, so the two halves of the page have different lengths. Write the exact dates in the period field, and check that the last working day before each pay date is the cut-off your payroll uses. A printed reminder of the cut-off avoids late sheets and corrected pay.
Semi-Monthly Timesheet Questions
How is this different from a biweekly timesheet?
Biweekly periods are fourteen days and follow the weekdays. Semi-monthly periods follow calendar dates, so they vary in length.
Can I use it for a salaried employee?
Yes, if you track hours for any reason, such as project billing or compliance. Simply ignore the pay fields.
