Loading calculator...
- Enter a start time and an end time to get the hours and minutes between them.
- Add dates when the time spans more than one day.
- If the end time is earlier than the start and you left the dates blank, it counts as the next day, which suits night shifts.
- Subtract an unpaid break, and get decimal hours for timesheets and payroll.
How to use the time duration calculator
Enter the start and end times
Pick the time you started and the time you finished. The calculator uses plain clock times with minutes.
Add dates for longer spans
Fill in both dates to measure across several days. Leave both blank for a single day or an overnight shift.
Subtract a break
Type the unpaid break in minutes, such as 30 for a half-hour lunch.
Read the result
You get the duration in hours and minutes, plus decimal hours, total minutes, total seconds and days.
How time duration is calculated
From clock times to a duration
Duration = end time − start time, counted in minutes
If the end is earlier than the start and no dates are set, add 24 hours (the shift ran past midnight)
Time after break = duration − unpaid break
Decimal hours = minutes ÷ 60
Example: 7 hours 30 minutes is 450 minutes, which is 7.5 decimal hours.
Worked examples
A day shift with a lunch break
Start at 9:00 AM, finish at 5:30 PM, with a 30 minute unpaid break.
A night shift from 10:00 PM to 6:15 AM works the same way. The end is earlier than the start, so the calculator adds a day and returns 8 hours 15 minutes, or 8.25 decimal hours.
A job that spans several days
Start on October 5 at 8:00 AM and finish on October 7 at 2:30 PM.
Minutes to decimal hours
Quick reference
Payroll systems usually want decimal hours. Divide the minutes by 60.
Where a time duration calculator helps
Timesheets and payroll
Work out hours worked per shift, take off unpaid breaks and copy decimal hours straight into a timesheet.
Night and split shifts
Overnight shifts are handled automatically, with no need to add 24 hours by hand.
Project and study logs
Track how long a task, workout or study session really took from start to finish.
Events and travel
Find how long an event, drive or wait lasts when you know the start and end clock times.
Both times are treated as being in the same time zone, and clock changes for daylight saving are not included. For a trip across time zones, convert both times to the same zone first.
Time duration calculator FAQ
How do I calculate the time between two times?
Subtract the start time from the end time. From 9:15 AM to 1:45 PM is 4 hours 30 minutes. Enter both times and the calculator does the borrowing and the minutes for you.
How do I calculate hours worked overnight?
Leave the dates blank and enter the start and end times. When the end time is earlier than the start, the calculator counts it as the next day, so 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM is 8 hours.
How do I convert hours and minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60 and add the result to the hours. 6 hours 45 minutes is 6 + 45 ÷ 60 = 6.75 hours.
Can I calculate across several days?
Yes. Enter a start date and an end date along with the times. The result shows days, hours and minutes, and the total in decimal hours.
What happens if the start and end time are the same?
With no dates entered, the duration is 0. If you mean a full 24 hours, enter the dates so the calculator can see the next day.
Does it include seconds?
No. It works in whole minutes, which is what timesheets and shift schedules normally use. Total seconds is shown as minutes times 60.