Hours Calculator
Enter a start time and an end time and get the duration in hours and minutes — plus the decimal form (8 hours 30 minutes = 8.5) that timesheet systems actually want. Shifts that cross midnight are handled automatically: 10 PM to 6 AM is a clean 8 hours, not a negative number.
It exists because 'hours calculator' is secretly a payroll question. Hourly workers checking a paycheck, freelancers logging billable time, managers building rotas — everyone needs the same boring subtraction, done reliably, with the decimal version ready to paste into whatever system the company uses.
How to use
- Set the start time (your time picker uses 24-hour format; 22:00 is 10 PM).
- Set the end time — if it is earlier than the start, the shift is treated as crossing midnight.
- Read the duration in hours:minutes, and copy the decimal hours into your timesheet.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours between two times?
Convert both to minutes since midnight, subtract the start from the end, and divide by 60. From 9:00 AM (540) to 5:00 PM (1,020): 1020 − 540 = 480 minutes = 8 hours. This calculator does the subtraction and shows both formats.
How do I calculate a night shift that crosses midnight?
If the end time is earlier than the start time, add 24 hours to the end before subtracting. 10 PM to 6 AM becomes 22:00 to 30:00 — exactly 8 hours. The calculator detects this automatically.
What is 8 hours 30 minutes in decimal hours?
8.5 hours — divide the minutes by 60 and add to the hours. Timesheet and payroll systems almost always want the decimal form, which this calculator shows alongside the hours:minutes version.
Does it include breaks?
Not automatically — enter your break as a separate calculation, or subtract it yourself from the duration. Some employers round breaks to 15 minutes; check your workplace rules.