WiseCalcs

Hours calculator

Enter a start time and an end time on a 24-hour clock, plus any break in minutes. The calculator shows the hours worked as a decimal and as hours and minutes, and handles overnight shifts automatically.

Enter a start time, an end time, and any break to see the hours worked as a decimal (e.g. 7.5) and as H h M min.

Hours worked

7.5 h

Duration

7 h 30 min

The duration is the time between start and end, with 24 hours added when the shift crosses midnight, minus the break. It is shown both as decimal hours and as whole hours and minutes.

How does it work?

The gap between start and end is taken in minutes; if the end is at or before the start, 24 hours (1440 minutes) are added so an overnight shift counts correctly. The break is then subtracted and the result is divided by 60 to give decimal hours.

Hours worked

hours=(end−start mod 1440)−break60\text{hours} = \dfrac{(\text{end} - \text{start} \bmod 1440) - \text{break}}{60}
start
Start time in minutes since midnight.
end
End time in minutes since midnight.
break
Unpaid break in minutes.

09:00 to 17:00 with a 30-minute break is 7.5 hours (7 h 30 min).

Method & sources

Times are entered on a 24-hour clock (HH:MM). If the end time is at or before the start time, the shift is treated as crossing midnight, so 24 hours are added. The break is subtracted in whole minutes from the gross span; the net result never falls below zero.

How we calculate

  • Times are entered on a 24-hour clock (HH:MM).
  • If the end time is at or before the start time, the shift is treated as crossing midnight, so 24 hours are added.
  • The break is subtracted in whole minutes from the gross span; the net result never falls below zero.

What this calculator does

It measures how long you worked between two clock times. Subtract an unpaid break and you get the net hours, shown both as a decimal (handy for timesheets and pay) and as hours and minutes.

How to use it

  1. Enter the start time, for example 09:00.
  2. Enter the end time, for example 17:00.
  3. Enter the break in minutes, or leave it at 0.
  4. Read the hours worked as a decimal and as hours and minutes.

A worked example

From 09:00 to 17:00 is 8 hours. Subtract a 30-minute break and you have 7.5 hours, or 7 h 30 min. A night shift from 22:00 to 06:00 spans 8 hours, because the calculator adds 24 hours when the end time is earlier than the start.

Overnight shifts

When the end time is at or before the start time, the calculator assumes the shift crosses midnight and adds a full day, so 23:30 to 07:00 counts as 7.5 hours rather than a negative span.

When it's useful

Filling in a timesheet, checking a shift before payday, working out billable hours, or confirming how long a task or meeting actually ran.

FAQ

How do I calculate hours worked between two times?
Enter the start and end time on a 24-hour clock and any break. The calculator subtracts the break from the span between the two times and shows the result as decimal hours and as hours and minutes.
How are overnight shifts handled?
If the end time is at or before the start time, the calculator adds 24 hours, so a shift like 22:00 to 06:00 is correctly counted as 8 hours.
How is the break applied?
The break is entered in minutes and subtracted from the gross time. For example, 8 hours minus a 30-minute break is 7.5 hours.
Why are the hours shown as a decimal?
Decimal hours (such as 7.5) are easier to multiply by an hourly rate or enter into a timesheet than hours and minutes, so both formats are shown.
Can I share a calculation?
Yes. Use Share to copy a link that reopens the calculator with the same start time, end time, and break.

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Add this calculator to your own site. The snippet includes the calculator iframe and a small attribution link:

<iframe src="https://wisecalcs.com/embed/en/hours-calculator" width="100%" height="520" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p>Calculator from <a href="https://wisecalcs.com/en/time-date/hours-calculator">WiseCalcs</a></p>