How the hours are worked out
For each row the calculator takes the end time minus the start time, then takes off the unpaid break. If the end is earlier than the start it assumes the shift ran past midnight and adds 24 hours, so 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. is 8 hours 30 minutes. A start and end that are the same count as zero hours. Paid time is shown as h:mm and as decimal hours, which is the minutes divided by 60.
Without am or pm, times are read on the 24-hour clock: 9 is 9:00 a.m. and 17 is 5:00 p.m. For an ordinary day shift, type 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, or 9:00 and 17:00. If you type 9 and 5 the end looks earlier than the start, so it is read as a 20-hour overnight shift — and the row warns you.
Worked examples
- Day shift: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. is 8:30. With a 30-minute unpaid break that is 8:00, or 8.00 decimal hours.
- Odd minutes: 9:15 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. is 8:25. Less a 45-minute break it is 7:40, which is 7.6667 hours — not 7.40.
- Overnight: 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. is 2:00 until midnight plus 6:30, which is 8:30. With a 30-minute break, 8:00. The shift is counted on the day it started.
Rounding
Some workplaces round time to the nearest 5, 6, 10 or 15 minutes. Choose an option and it is applied to each shift’s paid time, after the break: the nearest step, with exact halves rounding up. The rounded shifts are then added. The 7:40 shift (460 minutes) becomes 7:45 (7.75 h) at 15 minutes and 7:42 (7.70 h) at 6 minutes. The Exact figure shows what the total would be without rounding. This tool does not know your employer’s policy or any rules that apply to you, so check them before relying on a rounded figure.
Pay
Type an hourly rate and pay is decimal hours × rate, worked out from the exact minutes and rounded to the cent. With no rate entered, no pay is shown. For example, 7:40 is 460 minutes, and at a rate of 24.00 per hour that is 460 ÷ 60 × 24 = 184.00. The calculator does not add overtime, premiums, deductions or tax.
Related tools
To convert a result between h:mm and decimal hours, use the time converter; decimal minutes explained covers why 7:40 is not 7.40. To add up durations instead of clock times, use the time calculator.
Questions
How do I calculate hours worked between two times?
Subtract the start time from the end time, then take off any unpaid break. 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. is 8 hours 30 minutes; with a 30-minute break that is 8:00, or 8.00 decimal hours. Enter the start, end and break in a row and it is worked out for you.
How do I calculate hours for a night shift past midnight?
Enter the start and end as normal. When the end time is earlier than the start, the calculator treats it as the next day and adds 24 hours. 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. is 8:30. The shift is counted on the date it started.
How do I convert hours and minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60 and add the hours. 7 hours 45 minutes is 7 + 45 ÷ 60 = 7.75 hours, and 7 hours 40 minutes is 7.6667. Each row shows both forms, and the time converter handles any h:mm:ss value.
How do I round time to the nearest 15 minutes?
Divide the minutes by 15, round to the nearest whole number and multiply by 15. 7:40 is 460 minutes; 460 ÷ 15 = 30.67, which rounds to 31, and 31 × 15 = 465 minutes, or 7:45. Pick the rounding option and it is applied to each shift.
How do I work out pay from hours?
Multiply decimal hours by the hourly rate. 7:40 is 7.6667 hours, and at 24.00 per hour that is 184.00. Type your rate and total pay is shown; leave it blank and no pay is shown. Overtime, premiums and deductions are not included.
Why does 9 to 5 show 20 hours?
Without am or pm, times are read on the 24-hour clock, so a 5 means 5:00 a.m. The end is then before the start and the shift is read as running overnight, which the row flags. Type 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, or 9:00 and 17:00.