How do I calculate hours across midnight?

The calculator automatically handles overnight spans. From 10 PM to 6 AM: minutes past midnight for 6 AM is 360, for 10 PM is 1320. Difference = 360 - 1320 + 1440 = 480 minutes = 8 hours.

What are decimal hours?

Decimal hours express minutes as a fraction of an hour: 30 minutes = 0.5 hours, 15 minutes = 0.25 hours, 45 minutes = 0.75 hours. This format is used in payroll, billing, and project management because it simplifies multiplication.

Can I add multiple time entries?

Enter each start and end time pair separately, noting the decimal hours for each. Sum the decimal hours for a total. For example, 2.5 + 3.75 + 1.25 = 7.5 total hours.

How does this handle lunch breaks?

Subtract your lunch break from the total. If you worked 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with a 1-hour lunch, total work time = 9 hours - 1 hour = 8 hours. Enter the actual work periods separately for precision.

Hours Calculator

Calculate total hours between two times — perfect for timesheets and payroll

Hours Calculator

Calculate hours between two times

Hours Calculator

Enter start and end times

Start Time (HH:MM)

End Time (HH:MM)

Formula

Hours = (End - Start) / 60

What Is the Hours Calculator?

The hours calculator computes the duration between a start time and end time, giving you total hours and minutes worked. It's an essential tool for tracking work hours, calculating overtime, billing clients, measuring project durations, and scheduling. The tool handles overnight spans — for example, a shift from 10 PM to 6 AM — and supports both 12-hour (AM/PM) and 24-hour (military) time formats.

You can also add multiple time intervals together, which is useful for calculating total hours worked across multiple shifts or days in a week. The calculator converts between decimal hours (e.g., 8.5 hours) and hours:minutes format (8 hours 30 minutes) so your results are compatible with payroll systems and timekeeping software.

How to Use the Hours Calculator

Enter the start time — for example, 9:00 AM.
Enter the end time — for example, 5:30 PM.
Optionally subtract break time — for example, 30 minutes for a lunch break.
Click Calculate to see total hours worked, displayed in both hours:minutes and decimal format.

Hours Calculation Formula

Duration = End time − Start time

If end time < start time (overnight shift):
  Duration = (24:00 − Start) + End

Subtract breaks:
  Net hours = Total duration − Break time

Decimal hours:
  Decimal = hours + (minutes / 60)
  Example: 8h 30m = 8 + 30/60 = 8.5 hours

Weekly total:
  Sum of daily hours across 5 days

For payroll purposes, most employers use decimal hours (8.5 hr) rather than hours:minutes format. Overtime is typically calculated at 1.5× the regular pay rate for any hours over 8 per day or 40 per week, depending on local labor law.

Example Calculations

Standard Workday with Lunch Break

Start: 9:00 AM — End: 5:30 PM — Lunch break: 30 minutes. Total duration = 8 hours 30 minutes. Subtract 30-minute break = 8 hours worked (8.0 decimal hours).

Overnight Shift

Start: 11:00 PM — End: 7:00 AM. Because the end time is before the start time, the calculator wraps past midnight: (24:00 − 23:00) + 7:00 = 1 + 7 = 8 hours worked.

Weekly Timesheet Total

Monday through Friday, each shift is 8 hours. Weekly total = 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 40 hours. Any hours above 40 in the week are overtime and typically paid at 1.5× the regular rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the calculator handle overnight shifts?▾

When your end time is earlier than your start time, the calculator automatically assumes the shift crossed midnight. It computes the time remaining until midnight from the start, then adds the end time. For example, 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM = 2 hours until midnight + 6 hours = 8 hours total.

What is the difference between decimal hours and hours:minutes?▾

Hours:minutes format (e.g., 8h 30m) expresses time as two separate values. Decimal hours (e.g., 8.5) express the same duration as a single number, where the decimal portion represents the fraction of an hour. Payroll software almost always uses decimal hours, so 8h 45m becomes 8.75 hours.

What is the standard overtime threshold?▾

In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires overtime pay (1.5× the regular rate) for any hours worked beyond 40 in a single workweek. Some states like California also require daily overtime for hours over 8 in a single day. Thresholds vary by country — check your local labor laws.

How do I calculate my total pay from hours worked?▾

Multiply your decimal hours by your hourly rate. For example, if you worked 42.5 hours at $20/hr: 40 regular hours × $20 = $800, plus 2.5 overtime hours × $30 (1.5×) = $75 — total pay = $875. Always use decimal hours for this calculation to avoid rounding errors.

How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?▾

Divide the minutes by 60. Common conversions: 15 min = 0.25 hr, 30 min = 0.50 hr, 45 min = 0.75 hr. For any value, the formula is: decimal = minutes ÷ 60. So 48 minutes = 48 ÷ 60 = 0.80 hours.