Hours Calculator
Pick a start and end time to see the hours worked between them, in hours and minutes and in decimal hours.
How the hours calculator works
The calculator subtracts the start time from the end time and takes off the break. It shows the result in hours and minutes, the way a clock reads, and in decimal hours, the way payroll and invoices count time.
Hours = end time - start time - break
If the end time is earlier than the start time, the shift ran past midnight and the calculator adds 24 hours. For several days at once, use the time card calculator.
Common shifts
| Shift | Break | Hours | 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 |
| 8:30 AM - 5:15 PM | 45 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM | 60 min | 11:00 | 11.00 |
| 10:00 PM - 6:30 AM | 30 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 11:00 AM - 3:20 PM | none | 4:20 | 4.33 |
Calculating hours by hand
Write both times on a 24-hour clock, so 5:30 PM becomes 17:30. Subtract the hours and the minutes separately. If the minutes come out negative, borrow one hour as 60 minutes.
Example: 8:45 AM to 5:20 PM. 17:20 - 8:45: the minutes give 20 - 45, so borrow an hour: 16:80 - 8:45 = 8 hours 35 minutes. As a decimal, 35 รท 60 = 0.58, so 8.58 hours.
More examples, including breaks and overtime, are in the guide on how to calculate hours worked.
FAQ
How many hours is 9 to 5?
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 8 hours. With an unpaid 30-minute lunch it is 7.5 hours of paid work, or 37.5 hours over a five-day week.
How many hours is 7 to 3:30?
7:00 AM to 3:30 PM is 8 hours 30 minutes. With a 30-minute unpaid lunch it is 8 hours.
How do I count hours across midnight?
Add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting. 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM: 30:00 - 22:00 = 8 hours. The calculator does this for you when the end time is earlier than the start time.
Why does my payroll show 7.75 instead of 7:45?
Payroll writes time as decimal hours. 45 minutes is 0.75 of an hour, so 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours. The time to decimal calculator converts any value.