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Hours Calculator

An hours calculator finds the time worked between a start and an end clock time, subtracts unpaid break minutes, and converts the result to decimal hours for payroll. It accepts 24-hour times like 17:30 or 12-hour times like 5:30 pm, and it handles overnight shifts that cross midnight without any extra input.

Hours worked
8h 0m
09:00 → 17:30, minus 30 min break
Decimal hours
8.00
for payroll
Per 5-day week
40.0
hours
Minutes
480
8.00 paid hours this shift
Enter this decimal figure on a timesheet — 40.0 hours if repeated five days.
Inputs
Start time
End time
Break
min
Read decimal hours, not the minutes
For payroll, 7h 45m is 7.75 hours, not 7.45 — minutes are a fraction of 60. Enter the Decimal hours figure on a timesheet, never the h:m string.
The 30-minute break is unpaid
The 30 min break is subtracted as unpaid time — set Break to 0 if yours is paid. Shifts that run past midnight are handled automatically as overnight.
One shift, before deductions
This is a single shift's paid time — it doesn't apply overtime multipliers, multiple breaks, or paid breaks. To turn these hours into take-home pay, use the Paycheck calculator.
Ask a follow-up
Uses your inputs above
8h 0m hours worked. Want to try a variation?

The math

Reviewed 2026
Formula
hours = end − start − break (overnight wraps past midnight)

Related calculators

Date difference
Time
Paycheck

Example: how hours is calculated

Step-by-step with default inputs

Suppose you put the default values into Hours Calculator:

Start time
09:00
End time
17:30
Break
30 min

Plug those into the formula hours = end − start − break (overnight wraps past midnight) and the result is:

Hours worked
8h 0m

How does the hours calculator work?

Start and end are parsed as clock times — 24-hour (17:30) or 12-hour with am/pm (5:30 pm) — and converted to minutes since midnight. If the end time is earlier than the start, the shift is assumed to cross midnight and 24 hours are added, which handles overnight work automatically. Break minutes are then subtracted (never below zero) and the remainder is reported three ways: hours and minutes, raw minutes, and decimal hours (minutes divided by 60), the form payroll systems multiply by an hourly rate. The weekly figure multiplies one shift by five. The calculator deliberately models a single shift with a single unpaid break; overtime rules, multiple breaks, and paid breaks are left out because they depend on the employer and jurisdiction.

Last reviewed July 2, 2026 · Editorial policy

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert worked time to decimal hours for payroll?

Divide the total minutes by 60: 7 hours 45 minutes is 465 minutes, which is 7.75 decimal hours. Payroll systems multiply that decimal directly by the hourly rate.

Does it work for overnight shifts?

Yes — if the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator assumes the shift crossed midnight and adds 24 hours. A 22:00 to 06:00 shift is 8 hours before breaks.

Is the break treated as paid or unpaid?

Unpaid — the break minutes are subtracted from the total before anything is reported. If your break is paid, set Break to 0 so the full span counts.

Can I type 12-hour times like 5:30 pm?

Yes — both 24-hour times (17:30) and 12-hour times with am or pm are accepted. 12:00 am is treated as midnight (00:00) and 12:00 pm as noon.

How accurate is this hours calculator?

The math is deterministic — the same inputs always produce the same output, and the formula is shown above. Accuracy of the answer for your situation depends on how well your inputs match reality and how well the formula models the question.

How do I share my result?

Hit Share at the top of the page. Every input you change is encoded in the URL, so a permalink reproduces exactly what you see. No account needed.