Back to Calculators

Hours Calculator — Calculate Time Between Times

Calculate work hours, shift duration, and time difference between two times with break deductions. Get instant results in hours:minutes, decimal hours, and total minutes format.

Calculate Hours Between Times

Enter times without the colon: 915, 1225, etc.

minutes

How It Works

  • • Enter start and end times in hhmm format (e.g., 915 for 9:15)
  • • Choose 12-hour or 24-hour clock format
  • • Add break time to deduct from total hours
  • • Get instant results in multiple formats

Answer:

Total time hh:mm

03:10

In decimal hours

3.17 hours

In minutes

190 minutes

🕐 Clock Format: 12 hour

☕ Break Time: 0 minutes

💼 Perfect for timesheet tracking

What is an Hours Calculator?

An hours calculator is a time calculation tool that helps you determine the exact duration between two times. Whether you're calculating work hours, shift duration, project time, or billable hours, this calculator provides instant accurate results in multiple formats.

Our hours calculator supports both 12-hour (AM/PM) and 24-hour clock formats, allowing you to enter times in the most convenient way. It automatically handles overnight shifts that cross midnight and lets you deduct break times for accurate work hour calculations.

The calculator displays results in three formats: traditional hours:minutes format (e.g., 13:00), decimal hours for payroll calculations (e.g., 13.00 hours), and total minutes for detailed tracking (e.g., 780 minutes). This flexibility makes it perfect for various use cases from employee timesheets to freelance time tracking.

For Employees

  • ✓ Track daily work hours
  • ✓ Calculate overtime
  • ✓ Verify timesheet accuracy
  • ✓ Log project time

For Employers

  • ✓ Calculate payroll hours
  • ✓ Verify shift durations
  • ✓ Track attendance
  • ✓ Monitor productivity

For Freelancers

  • ✓ Track billable hours
  • ✓ Calculate project time
  • ✓ Generate invoices
  • ✓ Time management

How to Use the Hours Calculator

Step 1: Choose Clock Format

Select between 12-hour (AM/PM) or 24-hour clock format based on your preference. Most people find 12-hour format easier for daily use, while 24-hour format is common in military, medical, and international settings.

Step 2: Enter Start Time

Enter your start time in hhmm format without colons. For example: 915 for 9:15, 1030 for 10:30, or 1430 for 2:30 PM (in 24-hour format). If using 12-hour format, select AM or PM from the dropdown.

Step 3: Enter End Time

Enter your end time in the same format. For overnight shifts (e.g., 11 PM to 7 AM), just enter the times normally — the calculator automatically handles midnight crossover and calculates the correct duration.

Step 4: Add Break Time (Optional)

If you took breaks during this period (lunch, coffee breaks, etc.), enter the total break duration in minutes. The calculator will automatically deduct this from your total work hours to give you accurate billable or payable time.

Step 5: View Results

Get instant results in three formats: Hours:Minutes (13:45), Decimal Hours (13.75) for payroll, and Total Minutes (825) for detailed tracking. Use the format that best suits your needs — no need to do manual conversions!

Quick Examples:

  • 9:15 AM to 5:30 PM (30 min break): Enter 915, select AM, then 530, select PM, break = 30 → Result: 8:00 hours
  • 22:30 to 06:15 (overnight): Enter 2230, then 615 (24-hour format) → Result: 7:45 hours
  • 1:00 PM to 9:45 PM (1 hour break): Enter 100 PM, then 945 PM, break = 60 → Result: 7:45 hours

Benefits of Using Hours Calculator

Accurate Payroll Calculations

Calculate exact work hours for payroll processing. Get decimal hour format (e.g., 7.5 hours) that's directly usable for hourly wage calculations. Eliminate rounding errors and ensure fair compensation.

Timesheet Verification

Verify timesheet accuracy before submission. Compare calculated hours with your records to catch errors. Perfect for employees who need to confirm their logged hours match actual work time.

Overtime Tracking

Quickly calculate overtime hours beyond your standard shift. Essential for employees tracking extra hours and employers managing overtime costs. Supports overnight shifts that cross midnight boundaries.

Freelance Time Billing

Track billable hours for client projects with precision. Convert time to decimal format for invoicing. Ensure you're billing for every minute worked while maintaining professional accuracy.

Break Time Management

Automatically deduct unpaid breaks from total hours. Whether it's lunch breaks, coffee breaks, or other non-working time, get accurate net working hours for fair time tracking and compensation.

Multiple Time Formats

Get results in hours:minutes, decimal hours, and total minutes simultaneously. No need for manual conversion — use the format that suits your specific need, whether it's payroll, project management, or billing.

💡 Pro Tip: For accurate payroll, always use the decimal hours format (e.g., 7.75 hours instead of 7:45). This eliminates calculation errors when multiplying by hourly rates!

Real-World Use Cases

🏢 Office Employee Scenario

Situation: Sarah works from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM with a 1-hour lunch break and two 15-minute coffee breaks (total 90 minutes).

Calculation: Enter 900 AM to 600 PM, deduct 90 minutes breaks

Result: 7 hours 30 minutes (7.5 hours) of actual work time

🌙 Night Shift Worker Scenario

Situation: Mike works night shift from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM with a 30-minute break.

Calculation: Enter 2300 (24-hour) to 700 (crosses midnight), deduct 30 minutes

Result: 7 hours 30 minutes of overnight shift work

💼 Freelancer Billing Scenario

Situation: Alex is a freelance designer who worked on a project from 2:30 PM to 9:15 PM with no breaks, billing at $50/hour.

Calculation: Enter 230 PM to 915 PM

Result: 6.75 hours × $50 = $337.50 to bill

⏰ Part-Time Student Worker Scenario

Situation: Emma works part-time at a cafe from 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM, 3 days a week, with a 20-minute break each day.

Calculation: Enter 400 PM to 930 PM, deduct 20 minutes

Result: 5.17 hours/day × 3 days = 15.5 hours/week

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate hours between two times?

Enter the start time and end time in hhmm format (without colons). For example, 9:15 AM = 915, 2:30 PM = 230. Select AM/PM for 12-hour format or use 24-hour format (14:30 = 1430). The calculator instantly shows the time difference in hours:minutes, decimal hours, and total minutes.

Can this calculator handle overnight shifts?

Yes! The calculator automatically handles shifts that cross midnight. For example, if you work from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM, enter 2300 and 700 (24-hour format) or 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM (12-hour format). It will correctly calculate 8 hours of work time.

What is decimal hours and why is it useful?

Decimal hours represent time as a decimal number (e.g., 7.5 hours instead of 7:30). This format is essential for payroll calculations — you can directly multiply decimal hours by hourly wage rate. For example: 7.5 hours × $20/hour = $150 (easier than calculating 7:30 × $20).

How do I deduct break time?

Enter your total break time in minutes in the "Deduct breaks" field. For example, if you had a 30-minute lunch and two 15-minute coffee breaks, enter 60 minutes (30+15+15). The calculator automatically subtracts this from your total hours to show net working time.

What's the difference between 12-hour and 24-hour format?

12-hour format uses AM/PM (9:00 AM, 5:00 PM) — common in USA, Canada, India. 24-hour format runs 00:00 to 23:59 (09:00, 17:00) — used in military, healthcare, and most of Europe. Choose whichever you're comfortable with; both give identical results.

Can I calculate time for multiple days?

This calculator works for single-day calculations (up to 24 hours). For multi-day periods, calculate each day separately and add the results. For example, if you worked 8 hours Monday, 7.5 hours Tuesday, and 9 hours Wednesday, calculate each day and sum: 8 + 7.5 + 9 = 24.5 hours total.

How accurate is this calculator for payroll?

The calculator provides precise time calculations suitable for payroll processing. However, always verify against your company's official timekeeping system. Different organizations may have specific rounding rules (e.g., round to nearest 15 minutes) or overtime calculation policies.

What if I enter times in the wrong format?

The calculator expects hhmm format without colons (e.g., 915 not 9:15). If you enter invalid times like 2561 (25 hours, 61 minutes), results may be inaccurate. Always enter: hours (00-23 or 01-12) followed immediately by minutes (00-59). Examples: 900, 1430, 2359.

Can I use this for calculating study hours or workout time?

Absolutely! While designed for work hours, this calculator works for any time tracking need — study sessions, gym workouts, project time, gaming sessions, or any activity where you need to track duration. The break deduction feature is perfect for accounting for rest periods.

Is there a mobile app for this calculator?

Our hours calculator is fully mobile-optimized — it works perfectly on smartphones and tablets through your web browser. No app download needed! Bookmark this page for quick access anytime you need to calculate hours. Works offline after initial load on most modern browsers.

Smart Tips for Time Tracking

  • Round strategically: Many companies use 15-minute rounding rules. If you clock in at 8:52 AM, it might be rounded to 9:00 AM. Understand your company's policy to avoid losing paid time. Arriving a few minutes early ensures you get credit for full hours.

  • Track breaks separately: Keep a note of all break times throughout your shift — lunch, coffee breaks, personal time. It's easier to add them up at the end rather than trying to remember. Many workers lose money by under-reporting breaks.

  • Use 24-hour format for night shifts: If you regularly work overnight shifts, 24-hour format (e.g., 23:00 to 07:00) is less error-prone than 12-hour format with AM/PM. It eliminates confusion and makes time tracking across midnight much clearer.

  • Double-check your timesheet: Before submitting, calculate your hours independently using this calculator. Compare with your official timesheet to catch data entry errors or system glitches. Even small errors compound over pay periods.

  • Understand overtime calculations: Overtime typically starts after 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week (varies by location). Use this calculator to track both regular and overtime hours separately. Overtime hours usually pay 1.5× or 2× regular rate.

  • For freelancers: Add buffer time: When billing clients, consider adding 10-15% buffer for administrative tasks like emails, calls, and project management. If you worked 6.75 hours directly, charging for 7-7.5 hours accounts for indirect project time.

  • Save your calculations: Take a screenshot or note down your daily hours. This creates a personal backup record. If there are ever payroll disputes, you'll have independent documentation of hours worked. Especially important for contractors and hourly workers.

  • Consider productivity: Track not just hours worked, but productive hours. If you're billing by the hour, clients value focused work time. Use the calculator to track pure work sessions vs. total time at desk to improve your productivity and billing accuracy.

Quick Time Conversion Reference

Time FormatHours:MinutesDecimal HoursTotal Minutes
15 minutes00:150.25 hours15 minutes
30 minutes00:300.50 hours30 minutes
45 minutes00:450.75 hours45 minutes
1 hour01:001.00 hours60 minutes
2 hours 15 min02:152.25 hours135 minutes
4 hours 30 min04:304.50 hours270 minutes
7 hours 45 min07:457.75 hours465 minutes
8 hours (standard workday)08:008.00 hours480 minutes
9 hours 30 min09:309.50 hours570 minutes
12 hours12:0012.00 hours720 minutes

Quick Formula: To convert minutes to decimal hours, divide by 60. To convert hours:minutes to decimal: Hours + (Minutes ÷ 60). For example: 7:45 = 7 + (45÷60) = 7 + 0.75 = 7.75 hours.

Explore More Calculators

Check out our financial calculators for SIP, EMI, salary, and more

Need Help with Time Calculations?

Our expert tutors can help you understand time calculations, work hour management, and mathematical concepts. Get personalized one-on-one guidance tailored to your learning style.