Time Duration Calculator
Hours between two times, including shifts past midnight.
Work out Time Duration. Hours between two times, including shifts past midnight. Handles the edge case everyone gets wrong.
24-hour clock, as HH:MM. Use 22:00 rather than 10:00 PM.
Elapsed time
8 h 30 min
8.5 decimal hours
Decimal hours are what payroll systems want: 8 h 30 min is 8.5, not 8.30. Multiplying 8.30 by an hourly rate underpays by eighteen minutes an occurrence, which is the commonest arithmetic error on a timesheet.
How the Time Duration Calculator works
Enter a start and end time on the 24-hour clock for the elapsed time in hours, minutes and decimal hours, with an optional unpaid break deducted. An end time earlier than the start is read as a shift running past midnight rather than an error.
Also known as: hours between two times calculator · time difference calculator · elapsed time calculator · how many hours worked calculator
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours between two times?
Convert both to minutes past midnight, subtract, and convert back. If the end is earlier than the start, add 24 hours — the shift crossed midnight.
What are decimal hours and why do they matter?
8 hours 30 minutes is 8.5 decimal hours, not 8.30. Payroll systems want the decimal form, and multiplying 8.30 by an hourly rate underpays by eighteen minutes every time. It is the commonest arithmetic error on a timesheet.
How do I handle a night shift?
Enter the times as they are — 22:00 to 06:00 — and the calculation treats it as eight hours across midnight. It reports that it did so, in case the times were simply entered the wrong way round.
Should breaks be deducted?
Unpaid breaks, yes. Paid breaks stay in. Which applies depends on your jurisdiction and contract — in many places a short rest break is paid and a longer meal break is not.
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