Hours Calculator
Use our free online hours calculator to find the number of hours and minutes between a start time and an end time. This tool is used for timesheets, payroll, shift planning, and any situation where you need to calculate hours worked quickly and accurately.
How to Use This Hours Calculator
Using this time clock calculator is simple:
- Enter your start time in hours and minutes.
- Select AM or PM if using 12-hour format.
- Enter your end time in hours and minutes.
- Enter any break time in minutes to deduct from the total.
- Click Calculate to see total hours in HH: MM format, decimal hours, and total minutes.
What Is an Hours Calculator?
An hours calculator is an online tool that calculates the total hours and minutes between two points in time. You enter a start time and an end time, and the calculator gives you the duration instantly.
People use an hour calculator to track work hours, calculate pay, fill in timesheets, and plan shifts. It removes the need for manual time calculations and reduces errors in payroll and scheduling.
This Hours calculator supports both 12-hour and 24-hour clock formats and allows you to deduct break time from the total.
How to Calculate Hours Between Two Times
To calculate hours worked, subtract the start time from the end time. If the result includes minutes, convert them to get the total in hours and minutes or decimal hours.
Example: A work shift starts at 9:00 AM and ends at 5:30 PM.
- Step 1: Convert to 24-hour time: 9:00 and 17:30
- Step 2: Subtract hours: 17 − 9 = 8 hours
- Step 3: Subtract minutes: 30 − 0 = 30 minutes
- Step 4: Total time worked = 8 hours 30 minutes
How to Calculate Hours Worked With Breaks
When a shift includes a lunch break or other unpaid breaks, deduct the total break time from the total shift duration.
Example: A shift runs from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM with a 45-minute lunch break.
- Step 1: Total shift duration = 6:00 PM − 8:00 AM = 10 hours
- Step 2: Deduct break: 10 hours − 45 minutes = 9 hours 15 minutes
How to Calculate Hours Across Midnight
When a shift starts before midnight and ends the following day, add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting.
Example: A night shift starts at 10:30 PM and ends at 6:30 AM the next day.
- Step 1: Add 24 hours to end time: 6:30 AM = 6:30 + 24:00 = 30:30
- Step 2: Subtract start time: 30:30 − 22:30 = 8 hours 00 minutes
Converting Clock Time to Decimal Hours
Payroll software and spreadsheets often require hours in decimal format rather than hours and minutes. To convert, divide the minutes by 60 and add the result to the hours.
To convert 7 hours 45 minutes to decimal hours, you first divide the minutes (45) by 60, which equals 0.75. Then, you add this result to the whole number of hours (7), yielding a total of 7.75 hours.
Converting Decimal Hours to Clock Time
To convert decimal hours back to hours and minutes, separate the whole number and the decimal part, then multiply the decimal by 60.
Example: To convert 6.4 hours to clock time, the whole number represents 6 hours, and multiplying the decimal part by 60 (0.4 60) gives 24 minutes, resulting in a total clock time of 6 hours 24 minutes.
12-Hour vs 24-Hour Clock
This online hours calculator supports both clock formats.
A 12-hour clock uses the numbers 1 through 12, with AM for times before noon and PM for times after noon. 12:00 AM is midnight, and 12:00 PM is noon.
A 24-hour clock uses the numbers 0 through 23. Midnight is 00:00 and noon is 12:00. Times in the afternoon and evening are expressed as 13:00 through 23:00. This format is also known as military time and is used internationally to avoid ambiguity.
Hours Reference Table
| Time Period | Total Hours |
|---|---|
| 1 day | 24 hours |
| 1 week | 168 hours |
| 1 month (30 days) | 720 hours |
| 1 month (average) | 730.5 hours |
| 1 year (365 days) | 8,760 hours |
| 1 year (366 days) | 8,784 hours |
| 1 decade | 87,660 hours (average) |
| 1 century | 876,600 hours |
FAQs
What is an hours calculator?
An hours calculator is an online tool that finds the total time between a start time and end time. It is used for timesheets, payroll calculations, and tracking hours worked.
How do I calculate hours worked?
Subtract your start time from your end time to get the total duration. If you have breaks, subtract that time from the total to get your net hours worked.
How do I convert hours and minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60 and add the result to the hours. For example, 7 hours 30 minutes = 7 + (30 ÷ 60) = 7.5 decimal hours.
How do I calculate hours that go past midnight?
Add 24 hours to your end time and then subtract the start time. For example, a shift from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM is calculated as (6:00 + 24:00) − 22:00 = 8 hours.
What is the difference between a time calculator and an hours calculator?
A time calculator performs general time arithmetic , adding or subtracting time values. An hours calculator is specifically designed to calculate the duration between a start and end time for work or shift tracking purposes.
What is a time clock calculator?
A time clock calculator calculates total hours worked from clock-in and clock-out times. It is commonly used for payroll, timesheets, and shift scheduling.
Can I deduct lunch breaks from my hours?
Yes. Enter your total break time in minutes and the calculator will subtract it from the total shift duration to give you the net hours worked.
Does this calculator work with 24-hour time?
Yes. This hours calculator supports both 12-hour (AM/PM) and 24-hour clock formats.
How many hours are in a work week?
A standard full-time work week is 40 hours. A total calendar week contains 168 hours.
Is this hours calculator free?
Yes. Our online hours calculator is completely free with no sign-up required.