Hours worked calculator
Enter a start time and an end time to see the hours worked, minus any unpaid break, in hours and minutes and in decimal hours. Add more shifts to get a total.
Work hours calculator: time between two times
How to calculate hours worked
Hours worked is the time between when you start and when you finish, minus any break that is not paid. This page does that in one step for a single shift or several shifts, such as two part-time jobs on the same day, and shows the answer both ways payroll uses: hours and minutes (7:45) and decimal hours (7.75).
Worked example: one shift with a break
You start at 9:15 AM, finish at 5:45 PM and take an unpaid 45-minute break.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Time on the clock | 5:45 PM − 9:15 AM | 8 h 30 min |
| Minus the unpaid break | 8 h 30 min − 45 min | 7 h 45 min |
| In decimal hours | 7 + 45 ÷ 60 | 7.75 |
Worked example: two shifts in one day
A split shift from 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM and again from 4:00 PM to 8:15 PM adds up as 4 h 30 min + 4 h 15 min = 8 h 45 min (8.75 decimal hours). The gap in the middle is not counted.
The formula
Hours = end time − start time (+ 24 h if the end is not after the start) − unpaid break
Decimal hours = hours + minutes ÷ 60
Inside the calculator every time is turned into minutes after midnight. For example, 5:45 PM is 17 × 60 + 45 = 1,065 minutes and 9:15 AM is 555, so the difference is 510 minutes, or 8 h 30 min. Working in whole minutes avoids rounding drift; the decimal is rounded to two places only at the end.
Edge cases
- Overnight: 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM is 8 h 30 min. If the end time is the same as the start time, that is a full 24-hour shift.
- Breaks longer than the shift are flagged, because they cannot be right.
- Paid breaks: leave them out. Under US federal rules, short rest breaks (usually 5 to 20 minutes) count as hours worked. A real meal break when you are fully relieved of duty, usually 30 minutes or more, does not.
- Typing times: 9:00, 09:00, 9 am, 9:00 AM and 21:00 all work. A time like 25:00 or 9:75 gets an error.
From hours to a time card
For a single day this page is all you need. For a whole week with overtime, use the time card calculator. It uses the same rules and saves your days, so “Add to my timesheet” here puts a result straight onto your card. For a two-week pay period, the biweekly time card works out overtime week by week. To fill in a paper card by hand, follow how to fill out a time card.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours worked between two times?
Subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract any unpaid break. 9:15 AM to 5:45 PM is 8 hours 30 minutes; minus a 45-minute break that is 7 hours 45 minutes, or 7.75 decimal hours.
How do I add up several shifts?
Use “Add shift” for each one. The calculator works out each shift separately and then adds them. Up to 6 shifts can be added.
What if my shift goes past midnight?
Enter the times as they are. An end time earlier than or equal to the start time is read as the next day, so 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM is 8 hours 30 minutes.
What does 7.75 hours mean?
It is 7 hours and 45 minutes in decimal form, because 45 minutes is 0.75 of an hour. Payroll systems often use decimal hours. The decimal hours chart lists every minute from 1 to 60.
Can I use 24-hour time?
Yes. Type 17:30 or 5:30 PM; both work. You can also type short forms like 9a or 5:30p. Choose how times are shown under Settings on the time card.
Is anything saved on this page?
No. This calculator does not save anything unless you press “Add to my timesheet”, which copies the result to the date you pick in your saved time card in this browser.
Why is my result different from my pay stub?
Your employer may round punches, pay some breaks, or use a different workweek. Check with them, and try the rounding option on the time card.
Updated · Written by the HoursLog team