Hours Calculator
Enter a start time, an end time and a break to get hours worked, in hours-and-minutes and decimal hours.
What this tool does
An hours calculator finds the time between a start and an end time, takes off any unpaid break, and multiplies by the number of days. It shows hours and minutes and decimal hours, which payroll usually needs, and the pay if you enter an hourly rate.
Calculates the time worked in a shift from start to end, allowing for shifts that finish after midnight, and subtracts an unpaid break.
Multiplies by the number of days and converts to decimal hours and, if you enter a rate, to pay.
How to use it
- Enter the start time and the end time.
- Enter the unpaid break in minutes.
- Enter the number of days with the same shift.
- Enter an hourly rate if you want the pay.
- Read the hours worked and the decimal figure.
Why use a hours calculator
Handles shifts that cross midnight without any extra steps. Timesheets and invoices need decimal hours, and converting 7 hours 45 minutes to 7.75 by hand, then multiplying across a week, is where small errors add up to real money.
Why we built it
We built the hours calculator to handle shifts that cross midnight without extra steps, and to give both hours-and-minutes and decimal hours for payroll. Turn the result into pay with the hourly to salary calculator, or add durations with the time calculator.
Handy alongside this: the Sleep Calculator, the Long Division Calculator and the Minutes to Hours Converter.
Who this tool is for
- Employees filling in timesheets
- Managers checking shift lengths
- Freelancers billing by the hour
When to use it
- Filling in a timesheet or invoice.
- Checking hours for payroll.
- Working out overnight or night-shift hours.
- Finding how long an event or task lasted.
How it is calculated
Hours worked = (end − start − break) per day, with 24 hours added if the end is earlier than the start. Decimal hours = minutes ÷ 60. Total = per-day hours × number of days.
Worked example: 09:00 to 17:30 with a 30 minute break is 8 hours exactly. Over 5 days that is 40 hours, and at a rate of 20 an hour, 800 in pay.
Rounding rules for pay differ by employer - some round to the nearest 5 or 15 minutes. This calculator does not round.
What you enter, and what you get back
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Start and end time | 24-hour times; an end earlier than the start is treated as the next day. |
| Break | Unpaid minutes to subtract. |
| Days | How many days with this shift. |
| Rate | Optional hourly rate. |
| Result | Hours and minutes, decimal hours, pay, whether it crosses midnight. |
Issues you may run into
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Hours seem 12 out | AM and PM were mixed up. | Use 24-hour times. |
| Error about the break | The break is longer than the shift. | Reduce the break. |
| Decimal looks odd | 7:45 is 7.75, not 7.45. | Minutes are divided by 60. |
A worked example
These are the values the calculator opens with, so you can see exactly what it does with them. Change any value on the page and the result updates; the figures below come from the same calculation.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Start time | 09:00 |
| End time | 17:30 |
| Unpaid break | 30 |
| Number of days | 5 |
| Hourly rate | 0 |
With those inputs, the calculator returns:
- Total over 5 days: 40h 00m
- Per day: 8h 00m (8.00 h)
- Total as decimal hours: 40.00
- Shift crosses midnight: No
Assumptions and limitations
- One shift pattern repeated; different days need separate calculations.
- No overtime multipliers.
- Does not round to payroll increments.
- Time zones and daylight saving are not considered.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours worked?
Subtract the start time from the end time, take off the unpaid break, and read the result in hours and minutes or as decimal hours.
How do I handle a shift past midnight?
Just enter the times. If the end time is earlier than the start, the calculator treats the shift as running into the next day.
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. 45 minutes is 0.75 hours and 15 minutes is 0.25.
Does it subtract lunch breaks?
Yes, enter the unpaid break in minutes and it is taken off each day.
Can it work out pay?
Enter an hourly rate and the pay for the total hours is shown.