Hours Calculator
Enter a start time and an end time, take off any unpaid break, and get the total in hours and minutes and in decimal hours for payroll.
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The formula
Hours = (end time - start time) - break. If the end time is earlier than the start, the end is treated as the next day.
Hours and minutes or decimal hours?
You get both. 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 in decimal hours, which is the figure most payroll and invoicing systems want. To convert by hand, divide the minutes by 60.
Night shifts
If you start at 10 pm and finish at 6:30 am, the end time is earlier on the clock, so we assume it is the following morning and count 8 hours 30 minutes. A note on the result tells you when that happened.
Typical shift examples
| Start | End | Break | Paid hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | 17:30 | 30 min | 8:00 |
| 08:15 | 16:45 | 45 min | 7:45 |
| 22:00 | 06:00 | 0 | 8:00 |
Examples to check
Type these into the calculator above to see how it behaves. Every result below was produced by the same calculator code that runs on this page.
| What you enter | What you get |
|---|---|
| Start time: 09:00; End time: 17:30; Unpaid break (minutes): 30 | Hours worked: 8:00 (h:mm) |
| Start time: 08:15; End time: 16:45; Unpaid break (minutes): 45 | Hours worked: 7:45 (h:mm) |
| Start time: 22:00; End time: 06:00 | Hours worked: 8:00 (h:mm) |
| Start time: 13:10; End time: 14:55 | Hours worked: 1:45 (h:mm) |
Hours Calculator: frequently asked questions
How do I add up hours for a whole week?
Calculate each day here, then add the results with the time calculator. Or add the decimal hours together, which is easier to total.
Can I use 24-hour times?
Yes. The time fields follow your device settings and the calculator reads them as 24-hour values internally.
Does it take leap years into account?
Yes. Calculations use real calendar dates, including leap days and the different lengths of months.
Is what I enter in this calculator saved or sent anywhere?
No. The calculation runs in your browser, so what you enter is not sent to our servers. We only count, anonymously, whether a tool ran successfully.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes. It is free, needs no sign-up and has no usage limit.
Last reviewed: October 3, 2026