Work out hours between a start and end time, minus breaks.
Calculated locally in your browser.
How do you calculate hours worked between two times?
Worked minutes = (end − start) − break; if end is earlier than start, 24 hours are added for an overnight shift, and decimal hours = worked minutes ÷ 60. Decimal hours (e.g. 8.5) are what payroll systems use, while hours-and-minutes (8h 30m) reads easily on a time card. A 09:00–17:30 shift with a 30-minute break is 8 hours (8.0 decimal hours).
Understanding your result
Decimal hours (e.g. 8.5) are what most payroll systems use, while hours-and-minutes (8h 30m) is easier to read on a time card.
Formula and method
Worked minutes = (end − start) − break. If the end time is earlier than the start, 24 hours are added for an overnight shift. Decimal hours = worked minutes ÷ 60.
Assumptions and limitations
The tool works from the start time, end time and break you enter, assuming a single continuous shift. It does not apply overtime rules, rounding policies or unpaid-break laws, and it uses clock times only, so daylight-saving changes during a shift are not adjusted automatically.
Worked example
A 09:00–17:30 shift with a 30-minute break is 8 hours (8.0 decimal hours).
How to use this tool
- Enter the start and end time in 24-hour HH:MM.
- Add any unpaid break in minutes.
- Optionally add an hourly rate to estimate pay.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering times in 12-hour format — use 24-hour HH:MM, e.g. 17:30 for 5:30 PM.
- Forgetting to subtract an unpaid break.
About the Hours Calculator
Add up the hours between any start and end time, subtract breaks, and get the result in hours-and-minutes and decimal hours. Overnight shifts are handled automatically.
Who should use this tool
Hourly workers, freelancers and managers filling in a time card or timesheet.
Benefits
- Converts a shift into both hours-and-minutes and the decimal hours most payroll systems expect.
- Subtracts break time automatically so you record only paid working hours.
- Handles overnight shifts by adding the missing 24 hours when the end time falls before the start.
- Runs entirely in your browser, keeping your rota and pay details private.
Practical use cases
- Checking a timesheet before submitting it for payroll.
- Working out paid hours for a shift that crosses midnight.
- Estimating weekly hours from several start and end times.
- Confirming that a rostered shift matches the hours you were paid for.
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Frequently asked questions
Does it handle overnight shifts?
Yes. If the end time is earlier than the start, the calculator assumes the shift crosses midnight and adds 24 hours.
How is pay estimated?
Gross pay is decimal hours multiplied by your hourly rate. It does not account for overtime rules, taxes or deductions.
Should I enter break time in minutes or hours?
Enter the break as the number of minutes taken during the shift; the calculator subtracts it from the gross time between start and end. A 30-minute lunch is entered as 30. The result then shows the net paid time in both hours-and-minutes and decimal form.