Hours Calculator
Enter a start time and an end time to see exactly how many hours and minutes are in between — minus any unpaid break — in hours and minutes, decimal hours and total minutes.
Enter a start time and an end time.
On this page
How to calculate the hours between two times
- Convert both times to the 24-hour clock. 9:00 AM is 9:00 and 5:30 PM is 17:30.
- Subtract the start from the end. 17:30 − 9:00 = 8 hours 30 minutes. If you have to borrow, take 1 hour as 60 minutes: 17:15 − 9:40 is 16:75 − 9:40 = 7 hours 35 minutes.
- If the end is earlier than the start, add 24 hours. A shift from 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM is 6:30 + 24:00 − 22:00 = 8 hours 30 minutes.
- Subtract unpaid breaks. 8 hours 30 minutes minus a 30-minute lunch = 8 hours.
- Convert to decimal hours if you need to by dividing the minutes by 60: 7 hours 35 minutes = 7 + 35 ÷ 60 = 7.58 hours.
Worked example: a night shift from 10:45 PM to 7:15 AM with a 45-minute unpaid meal break
- In 24-hour time: 22:45 to 7:15. The end is earlier, so add 24 hours: 31:15 − 22:45 = 8 hours 30 minutes.
- Minus the 45-minute break: 7 hours 45 minutes.
- In decimal: 7 + 45 ÷ 60 = 7.75 hours.
Common shift lengths
| Shift | Unpaid break | Hours worked | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | none | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | 30 min | 7:30 | 7.50 |
| 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM | 30 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | 60 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM | 30 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM | 30 min | 11:30 | 11.50 |
| 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM | 30 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 7:00 PM – 7:00 AM | none | 12:00 | 12.00 |
To add up several shifts or a whole week, use the time card calculator. To add durations that aren't tied to a clock time, use the add time calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours is 9 to 5?
8 hours. With a 30-minute unpaid lunch it's 7.5 hours worked; with a paid lunch it's still 8.
How many hours is 7 AM to 3:30 PM?
8 hours 30 minutes, or 8 hours worked after a 30-minute unpaid break.
How do I calculate hours that go past midnight?
Add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting. From 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM: 31:00 − 23:00 = 8 hours. The calculator does this automatically when the end time is earlier than the start time.
Why is 7 hours 30 minutes 7.5 and not 7.30?
Because there are 60 minutes in an hour, not 100. 30 minutes is half an hour, so it's 0.5 in decimal hours. See the minutes to decimal chart.
Sources
- Time arithmetic based on the 24-hour clock; decimal hours = minutes ÷ 60.
- Which breaks are paid: 29 CFR 785.18 and 785.19 (U.S. Department of Labor). How we calculate.