Hours Calculator
Count the hours between two times. Enter a start time and end time (and any unpaid break) to get the total hours worked in both hours-and-minutes and decimal form — ideal for timesheets and payroll.
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Result
Decimal hours (e.g. 8.5) are what payroll systems multiply by your hourly rate. Overnight shifts are handled automatically.
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Save ⟶How to use the Hours Calculator
- 1Enter your start time and end time.
- 2Enter any unpaid break in minutes.
- 3Read the total worked time in hours and minutes, plus decimal hours for payroll.
- 4Overnight shifts are handled automatically when the end time is earlier than the start.
Calculating work hours and timesheets
To find hours worked, convert both times to minutes since midnight, subtract the start from the end (adding 24 hours for overnight shifts), then take off any unpaid break. Convert the result back to hours and minutes, or to decimal hours for payroll by dividing the minutes by 60.
Decimal hours trip people up: 8 hours 30 minutes is 8.5 hours, not 8.3, because 30 minutes is half an hour. Common conversions are 15 min = 0.25, 20 min = 0.33, 45 min = 0.75.
Frequently Asked Questions
▸How do I calculate hours worked?
Subtract your start time from your end time, then subtract any unpaid break. For overnight shifts, add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting.
▸How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. 8 hours 30 minutes = 8 + 30/60 = 8.5 decimal hours, which is what payroll uses.