Hours Calculator – Calculate Time Duration
Our Hours Calculator helps you calculate the duration between two times, add hours and minutes to a time, or subtract time from a starting point. Perfect for tracking work hours, calculating shift lengths, and timesheet management.
How to Use the Hours Calculator
Calculate Duration Between Times
- Select "Between" mode
- Enter your start time (e.g., 9:00 AM)
- Enter your end time (e.g., 5:30 PM)
- View the duration in hours and minutes
Add or Subtract Time
- Select "Add Time" or "Subtract" mode
- Enter your starting time
- Enter hours and minutes to add or subtract
- View the resulting time
Time Calculation Formulas
Duration Between Times
Duration = End Time - Start Time
Converting to Decimal Hours
Decimal Hours = Hours + (Minutes ÷ 60)
Example: 8 hours 30 minutes = 8 + (30 ÷ 60) = 8.5 decimal hours
Common Work Hour Calculations
- 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM: 8 hours
- 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM: 9 hours
- 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM: 8.5 hours
- 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM (overnight): 8 hours
Overtime Calculations
Most employers consider hours over 40 per week as overtime. Our calculator helps you track daily hours to ensure accurate overtime calculation.
Understanding Time Formats
12-Hour vs 24-Hour Time
Our calculator uses 24-hour format internally for accuracy but displays 12-hour format (AM/PM) for convenience.
- 1:00 PM = 13:00
- 5:30 PM = 17:30
- 12:00 AM (midnight) = 00:00
- 12:00 PM (noon) = 12:00
Overnight Shifts
The calculator automatically detects overnight shifts. If your end time is earlier than your start time, it assumes you worked past midnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate hours worked for payroll?
Enter your clock-in time as the start time and clock-out time as the end time. Don't forget to subtract unpaid breaks separately.
What is decimal time and why use it?
Decimal hours express time as a decimal number (e.g., 8.5 instead of 8:30). It's commonly used in payroll systems and makes calculations easier: 8.5 hours × $15/hour = $127.50.
How do I handle lunch breaks?
Calculate your total time on site, then subtract your lunch break duration. For example, 9 AM to 5 PM is 8 hours minus 30-minute lunch = 7.5 work hours.
Can I calculate time for multiple days?
This calculator is for single-day time spans. For multi-day calculations, use our Date Calculator instead.
How do I convert minutes to decimal?
Divide minutes by 60. Examples: 15 min = 0.25, 30 min = 0.5, 45 min = 0.75. The calculator does this automatically.
Calculate Your Hours Now
Use our free Hours Calculator for accurate time tracking. Whether you're filling out timesheets, calculating overtime, or planning your schedule, this tool provides instant, precise results.