Your result appears here.
About the Hours Calculator
The hours calculator finds the number of hours and minutes between two times of day. It is built for work shifts, so it also subtracts an unpaid break and can multiply the result by an hourly rate.
You enter three things: a start time, an end time and the length of the unpaid break in minutes. The calculator returns the time worked in hours and minutes, decimal hours, clock format and total minutes. If you add an hourly rate, it also shows the pay for that shift before taxes.
When the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator treats it as an overnight shift and counts into the next day. A shift from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM returns 8 hours, not a negative number.
How to Use the Hours Calculator
- Enter the start time of the shift.
- Enter the end time of the shift.
- Type the unpaid break in minutes. Leave it empty if there was no break.
- Optionally, enter your hourly rate.
- Read the hours worked and the pay in the result panel.
How to Calculate Hours Between Two Times
The manual method has three steps.
- Convert both times to 24 hour format. Add 12 to any PM hour after noon, so 5:30 PM becomes 17:30.
- Subtract the start from the end. If the end minutes are smaller, borrow 1 hour and add 60 minutes.
- Subtract the unpaid break.
17:00 − 8:15 = 8 h 45 min
8 h 45 min − 45 min = 8 h 0 min
Hours worked: 8 hours (8.00 decimal hours)
For an overnight shift, add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting. A shift from 11:00 PM to 7:30 AM becomes 31:30 minus 23:00, which equals 8 hours 30 minutes.
Hours Worked for Common Shifts
This table lists paid hours for common schedules after the unpaid break is removed.
| Start | End | Unpaid break | Hours worked | Decimal hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | 5:00 PM | 60 min | 7 h | 7.00 |
| 9:00 AM | 5:00 PM | 30 min | 7 h 30 min | 7.50 |
| 8:00 AM | 4:30 PM | 30 min | 8 h | 8.00 |
| 8:30 AM | 5:30 PM | 60 min | 8 h | 8.00 |
| 7:00 AM | 3:30 PM | 30 min | 8 h | 8.00 |
| 7:00 AM | 7:00 PM | 30 min | 11 h 30 min | 11.50 |
| 10:00 AM | 6:30 PM | 45 min | 7 h 45 min | 7.75 |
| 6:00 AM | 2:00 PM | None | 8 h | 8.00 |
| 3:00 PM | 11:00 PM | 30 min | 7 h 30 min | 7.50 |
| 11:00 PM | 7:00 AM | 30 min | 7 h 30 min | 7.50 |
| 7:00 PM | 7:00 AM | 60 min | 11 h | 11.00 |
| 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM | None | 4 h | 4.00 |
Unpaid Breaks and Paid Breaks
Only unpaid time should go in the break box. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, the US Department of Labor treats breaks in two ways.
- Short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes count as hours worked and are paid (29 CFR 785.18).
- Meal periods of 30 minutes or more are usually unpaid if the worker is fully relieved of duty (29 CFR 785.19).
Federal law does not require employers to give breaks. Some states do. California, for example, requires a 30 minute meal period for most shifts longer than 5 hours. Check your state labor department for local rules.
Converting Hours Worked to Pay
Pay equals decimal hours multiplied by the hourly rate. Minutes must be converted to decimals first by dividing by 60.
8.75 × $22.50 = $196.88
Typing 8.45 instead of 8.75 would pay $190.13, which is $6.75 short for one shift. The calculator always shows decimal hours so this mistake cannot happen. For a full week with overtime at time and a half, use the time card calculator.
Average Hours Worked in a Day
The Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey for 2024 reports that full time employees worked an average of 8.1 hours on the days they worked. The figure was 8.4 hours on weekdays and 5.6 hours on weekend days. Part time workers averaged about 5.4 hours on days worked.
Related Calculators
To add up several durations, use the main time calculator. To measure elapsed time down to the second or across several days, use the time duration calculator. To convert a total such as 7 h 20 min into decimal hours, use the time to decimal calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an hours calculator?
An hours calculator is a tool that finds the number of hours and minutes between a start time and an end time. Most hours calculators, including this one, also subtract unpaid breaks and convert the result to decimal hours for payroll.
How do I calculate hours worked with a lunch break?
Subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract the unpaid lunch break. For 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM with a 30 minute lunch, the shift is 8 h 30 min long and the hours worked are 8 hours.
How does the hours calculator handle overnight shifts?
If the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator assumes the shift ended the next day and adds 24 hours. A shift from 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM returns 8 h 30 min.
How many hours is 9 AM to 5 PM?
9 AM to 5 PM is 8 hours. With a 30 minute unpaid lunch it is 7.5 hours worked, and with a 1 hour lunch it is 7 hours worked.
How many hours is 7 AM to 7 PM?
7 AM to 7 PM is 12 hours. After a 30 minute unpaid break, the hours worked are 11.5 hours, or 11 h 30 min.
Should paid breaks be entered in the hours calculator?
No. Enter only unpaid breaks. Short paid breaks of 5 to 20 minutes are part of hours worked under federal rules, so they stay in the total.
Can the hours calculator work out my pay?
Yes. Enter your hourly rate and the calculator multiplies it by the decimal hours worked. The result is gross pay for the shift before taxes and deductions.