Hours Calculator

Find the hours and minutes between two clock times, with an optional unpaid break and overnight shifts handled automatically. Example: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM with a 30-minute break is 8 hours, or 8.00 in decimal hours.

How to use the Hours Calculator

1. Enter your start time and end time.
2. Add any unpaid break in minutes and the number of days.
3. Optionally add an hourly rate to see gross pay, then press Calculate.

Formula and method

Hours = (end time − start time) − break. If the end time is earlier than the start time, the shift crosses midnight, so 24 hours are added to the end time. Decimal hours = minutes / 60, so 8 h 15 min = 8.25 hours.

Minutes to decimal hours

Examples

8:00 AM to 4:30 PM with a 30-minute break is 8 hours. 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM is 8 hours 30 minutes. 7:45 AM to 12:15 PM with no break is 4 hours 30 minutes (4.5 hours). For a full weekly timesheet with overtime, use the time card calculator.

Adding and subtracting hours

To add durations, add the hours and the minutes separately and carry every 60 minutes into an hour: 3 h 45 min + 2 h 30 min = 5 h 75 min = 6 h 15 min. To compute a duration across days, use the time duration calculator.

How to calculate hours worked by hand

1. Convert both times to 24-hour format: 9:00 AM is 09:00 and 5:30 PM is 17:30.
2. Subtract the start from the end: 17:30 − 09:00 = 8 hours 30 minutes.
3. Subtract unpaid breaks: 8 h 30 min − 30 min = 8 hours.
4. For an overnight shift, add 24 hours to the end time first: 06:30 becomes 30:30, so 22:00 to 06:30 is 30:30 − 22:00 = 8 h 30 min.
5. For decimal hours, divide the minutes by 60: 8 h 15 min = 8.25 hours.

12-hour and 24-hour clock

To convert PM times to 24-hour time, add 12 hours (except 12 PM). AM times stay the same, except 12 AM becomes 00:00.

Hours in common time periods

Rounding time for payroll

Some employers round clock times to the nearest quarter hour, known as the 7-minute rule: punches within 7 minutes before a quarter-hour mark round down and 8 minutes or more round up. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act rounding is allowed only if it averages out and does not consistently cut pay. Ask your employer which method applies, and keep your own record using the calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate hours between two times?

Subtract the start time from the end time, convert to minutes if needed, then subtract any break. If the end is earlier than the start, add 24 hours.

How do I convert hours and minutes to decimals?

Divide the minutes by 60 and add the hours: 7 h 45 min = 7 + 45/60 = 7.75.

Does it handle overnight shifts?

Yes. If the end time is earlier than the start time, it treats the end as the next day.

How many hours is 9 to 5?

8 hours without a break, or 7 hours with a 1-hour unpaid lunch.

How do I calculate hours worked with a lunch break?

Work out the time between clock-in and clock-out, then subtract the unpaid lunch in minutes.

What is 7:45 in decimal hours?

7.75 hours, because 45 minutes is 0.75 of an hour.

How many hours between two dates?

Use the time duration calculator to count days, hours and minutes between two dates and times.

Related calculators

• Time Card Calculator
• Time Duration Calculator
• Work Hours Calculator
• Time Calculator
• Hourly to Salary Calculator

Browse all calculators