Hours Calculator
Add up hours and minutes worked across multiple shifts, convert time to decimal format, or calculate hours between two times instantly. Perfect for employee timecards, freelancer billing, and project tracking.
How to Calculate Hours Worked
In Timecard mode, add each shift by entering the day, start time, end time, and break duration in minutes. The break is subtracted from the working time automatically. Click "Add Another Shift" for multi-day weeks. If you add your hourly rate, the tool also estimates your gross pay before taxes.
Switch to "Time Between" mode for a simple one-off calculation between two clock times. This works for any time difference including overnight shifts that cross midnight.
The decimal hours value is the format most payroll systems and billing tools expect. For example, 7 hours and 30 minutes equals 7.50 decimal hours.
Hours to Decimal Conversion Formula
To calculate worked decimal hours from clock time, use this formula:
Decimal Hours = (End - Start in minutes - Break minutes) / 60
For example, a 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM shift with a 30-minute break gives: (8.5 hours x 60 = 510 minutes) - 30 minutes = 480 minutes / 60 = 8.00 decimal hours.
Multiplying decimal hours by your hourly rate gives gross wages before any deductions.
Time Between Hours Examples
- 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (30-min break): 7.5 decimal hours worked.
- 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM (overnight, 0 break): 8.5 hours. Overnight shifts are handled correctly by calculating the difference in total minutes across midnight.
- Full week - 5 days x 8h each: 40 total hours. At $18/hr rate = $720 gross pay.
- Bi-weekly timecard - 2 weeks x 40 hours: 80 hours. Useful for salaried employees verifying accrued time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate hours worked between two times?
Switch to "Time Between" mode, enter your start and end times, add your break duration, and click Calculate. The tool shows total time in both hours:minutes and decimal format. For payroll purposes, always deduct your lunch break before reporting hours.
What are decimal hours and why do payroll systems use them?
Decimal hours convert minutes into fractions of an hour. 30 minutes is 0.5, 15 minutes is 0.25, and so on. Payroll systems use decimal hours because they simplify multiplication for pay calculations. Multiplying 8.75 decimal hours by a $20 hourly rate is much simpler than working with hours and minutes separately.
Does this work for overnight shifts that cross midnight?
Yes. The hours calculator correctly handles overnight shifts. If your end time is earlier than your start time, the tool assumes the shift crossed midnight and adds 24 hours to the end time before calculating the difference.
Can I calculate my weekly paycheck with this?
Yes. Add all your shifts for the week, enter your hourly rate in the optional field, and the Estimated Pay section appears automatically. Note that this shows gross pay only and does not include taxes, deductions, or overtime calculations. Use our Time and a Half Calculator if you worked overtime hours.
Guides for the Hours Calculator
Longer reads on the maths and the practical side of this tool.
