Use this free hours calculator to find the exact time between two clock times. Enter a start time and end time, subtract unpaid breaks, and see the result in hours and minutes plus decimal hours for payroll or timesheets. It also handles overnight shifts and multiple work periods.
How Many Hours Between Common Work Times
The time between each start and end time, with no break subtracted. For paid time, take off any unpaid break, or enter your own times in the calculator above. Times are often said without AM or PM: “8 to 3” usually means 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and “5 to 10” is 5 hours whether both times are AM or both are PM. In the calculator, type 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM, or 8:00 and 15:00: a time without AM or PM is read as 24-hour time.
| 12-hour | 24-hour | Time between | Decimal hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-day shifts (3 to 6 hours) | |||
| 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | 19:00 to 22:00 | 3 hours | 3.00 |
| 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM | 9:00 to 12:30 | 3 hours 30 minutes | 3.50 |
| 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM | 10:00 to 14:00 | 4 hours | 4.00 |
| 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM | 8:00 to 12:30 | 4 hours 30 minutes | 4.50 |
| 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM | 9:00 to 14:00 | 5 hours | 5.00 |
| 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM | 17:00 to 22:00 | 5 hours | 5.00 |
| 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM | 8:30 to 14:00 | 5 hours 30 minutes | 5.50 |
| 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM | 8:00 to 14:00 | 6 hours | 6.00 |
| 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM | 14:00 to 20:00 | 6 hours | 6.00 |
| Full-day shifts (7 to 9 hours) | |||
| 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM | 8:00 to 15:00 | 7 hours | 7.00 |
| 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM | 9:00 to 16:00 | 7 hours | 7.00 |
| 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM | 8:30 to 15:30 | 7 hours | 7.00 |
| 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM | 9:30 to 16:30 | 7 hours | 7.00 |
| 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM | 7:00 to 14:30 | 7 hours 30 minutes | 7.50 |
| 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM | 9:00 to 16:30 | 7 hours 30 minutes | 7.50 |
| 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM | 9:30 to 17:00 | 7 hours 30 minutes | 7.50 |
| 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM | 7:00 to 15:00 | 8 hours | 8.00 |
| 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM | 8:00 to 16:00 | 8 hours | 8.00 |
| 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM | 8:30 to 16:30 | 8 hours | 8.00 |
| 6:30 AM to 2:30 PM | 6:30 to 14:30 | 8 hours | 8.00 |
| 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM | 14:00 to 22:00 | 8 hours | 8.00 |
| 8:15 AM to 4:30 PM | 8:15 to 16:30 | 8 hours 15 minutes | 8.25 |
| 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM | 8:00 to 16:30 | 8 hours 30 minutes | 8.50 |
| 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM | 8:30 to 17:00 | 8 hours 30 minutes | 8.50 |
| 8:45 AM to 5:30 PM | 8:45 to 17:30 | 8 hours 45 minutes | 8.75 |
| 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 8:00 to 17:00 | 9 hours | 9.00 |
| 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM | 8:30 to 17:30 | 9 hours | 9.00 |
| Long shifts (10 to 12 hours) | |||
| 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 8:00 to 18:00 | 10 hours | 10.00 |
| 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM | 6:30 to 17:00 | 10 hours 30 minutes | 10.50 |
| 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM | 8:30 to 19:00 | 10 hours 30 minutes | 10.50 |
| 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 7:00 to 18:00 | 11 hours | 11.00 |
| 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM | 9:00 to 20:00 | 11 hours | 11.00 |
| 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM | 7:00 to 19:00 | 12 hours | 12.00 |
| 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM | 8:00 to 20:00 | 12 hours | 12.00 |
| Overnight shifts (end time is the next day) | |||
| 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM | 18:00 to 2:00 | 8 hours | 8.00 |
| 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM | 22:00 to 6:00 | 8 hours | 8.00 |
| 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM | 23:00 to 7:00 | 8 hours | 8.00 |
| 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM | 22:00 to 8:00 | 10 hours | 10.00 |
| 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM | 19:00 to 7:00 | 12 hours | 12.00 |
| 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM | 20:00 to 8:00 | 12 hours | 12.00 |
Common Hours Between Two Times
Need a quick answer? These common time differences use the stated AM/PM or 24-hour times and do not subtract a break.
| Start | End | Time Between |
|---|---|---|
| 8:15 AM | 12:00 PM | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| 8:30 AM | 2:30 PM | 6 hours |
| 8:30 | 14:30 | 6 hours |
| 7:30 | 14:30 | 7 hours |
| 9:30 | 14:30 | 5 hours |
| 9:00 AM | 5:00 PM | 8 hours |
For paid work time, subtract any unpaid lunch or break from the time between start and end. For example, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 8 hours elapsed; with a 30-minute unpaid break, paid time is 7 hours 30 minutes.
How this is calculated
Total = (end time − start time) − unpaid breaks
If the end time is earlier than the start time, the shift is treated as crossing midnight and 24 hours is added before subtracting. All arithmetic is done in whole minutes, then converted to decimal at the end — which is why 8 hours 15 minutes shows as exactly 8.25, never 8.249999.
Worked example
Start 8:15 AM, finish 5:00 PM, 30-minute unpaid lunch.
8:15 AM to 5:00 PM = 8 hours 45 minutes = 525 minutes
Minus a 30-minute break = 495 minutes
Total: 8:15, or 8.25 decimal hours
Edge cases handled
Overnight shifts, multiple breaks, odd-minute values, 12-hour and 24-hour input (plus shorthand like 815 or 8.15), breaks longer than the shift (flagged as an error rather than a negative number), and equal start/end times (we ask rather than assume). Full list on our methodology page.
How to Calculate Hours Between Two Times
To calculate hours worked between two times:
- Subtract the start time from the end time.
- If the end time is earlier than the start time, the shift crossed midnight: add 24 hours.
- Subtract any unpaid breaks.
- For payroll, divide the remaining minutes by 60 to get decimal hours.
Here is how common shifts work out:
| Start – End | Unpaid Break | Hours Worked | Decimal Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | 1 hour | 7:00 | 7.00 |
| 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM | 30 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 7:45 AM – 4:15 PM | 45 min | 7:45 | 7.75 |
| 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM | 30 + 15 min | 9:45 | 9.75 |
| 11:00 PM – 7:00 AM | 30 min | 7:30 | 7.50 |
Subtracting a Lunch Break
Tap + Add unpaid break and enter the length in minutes. For 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM with a 30-minute unpaid lunch, the calculator shows 8:00, or 8.00 decimal hours.
If you took more than one unpaid break, add each one: a 30-minute lunch and a 15-minute break on a 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM shift leave 9:45, or 9.75 hours. Paid breaks don’t need to be entered.
Shifts That Cross Midnight
Enter the times exactly as you worked them. When the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator treats the end as the next day and shows the notice “Overnight shift — end time treated as next day,” so you can see what it assumed.
11:00 PM to 7:00 AM with a 30-minute break is 7:30.
If the start and end times are the same, the calculator doesn’t guess. It asks whether you meant a zero-length entry or a full 24-hour shift.
More Than One Shift in a Day
For a split shift, tap + Add another shift and enter the second one.
6:00 AM to 10:30 AM plus 4:00 PM to 8:15 PM totals 8:45, or 8.75 hours. The gap between the two shifts isn’t counted.
Under More options, you can enter an hourly rate. At 18.00 an hour, that 8:45 comes to 157.50 estimated gross pay before tax and deductions.
Add and Subtract Hours and Minutes
To use SumHours as a time adder, open Add / Subtract Time in the calculator above. Enter the first duration in hours and minutes, choose + Add or − Subtract, then enter the second duration. The result shows as hours and minutes (H:MM), decimal hours and total minutes. If you subtract more time than you started with, the result is labelled as negative rather than wrapped around the clock.
- Add: 3:45 + 2:30 = 6:15 (6.25 decimal hours, 375 minutes)
- Subtract: 8:00 − 1:15 = 6:45 (6.75 decimal hours, 405 minutes)
To add hours and minutes by hand, add the minutes first. Every 60 minutes carries over as 1 hour: 45 + 30 = 75 minutes, which is 1 hour 15 minutes, so 3:45 + 2:30 = 5 hours + 1:15 = 6:15.
Typing Times Without AM or PM
A time without AM or PM is read as 24-hour time.
“8:30” to “2:30” is read as 8:30 in the morning to 2:30 the next morning: an overnight span of 18 hours.
Type 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, or 08:30 to 14:30, to get 6:00.
Hours and Minutes vs Decimal Hours
The calculator shows both formats.
8:15 means 8 hours 15 minutes, and 8.25 is the same length of time written as a decimal, which is what most payroll systems ask for.
They’re easy to mix up: 8.15 decimal hours is only 8 hours 9 minutes.
To convert any total, use the Time to Decimal Calculator.
To add up a whole week, or to print or download a timesheet, use the Work Hours Calculator.
FAQ
How do I calculate hours between two times?
Subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract any unpaid breaks. The calculator above does this and shows both formats — hours and minutes for reading, decimal hours for payroll.
How do I calculate hours across midnight?
Enter the times as they are. If the end time is earlier than the start time, we treat the shift as crossing midnight and show a notice confirming it. A 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM shift returns 8 hours.
What is 8 hours 15 minutes in decimal?
8.25. Divide the minutes by 60 — 15 ÷ 60 = 0.25.
Does this include tax?
No. SumHours calculates hours and, when you enter a rate, estimated gross pay before tax and deductions. It does not calculate tax or take-home pay.
Is 9 to 5 eight hours?
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 8 hours elapsed. If you take a 1-hour unpaid break, that leaves 7 paid hours. Enter your actual start, end and break times above.
How Many Hours Is 8:30 to 2:30?
8:30 AM to 2:30 PM is 6 hours.
Without AM or PM, the times are read as 24-hour clock times, so 8:30 to 2:30 counts as an overnight span of 18 hours. Adding AM or PM avoids that.
Can I Subtract More Than One Break?
Yes. Tap + Add unpaid break once for each break. Each one is subtracted from that shift’s total.
Can I use this as a time clock calculator?
Yes. Enter the clock-in and clock-out times from your time clock or punch report and subtract any unpaid break. The calculator shows the hours worked in hours and minutes and as decimal hours. For a full week of punches, use the time card calculator.
Is this a time duration calculator?
Yes, for the time between two clock times. Enter a start and an end time to see the duration in hours and minutes and in decimal hours, including spans that run past midnight (up to 24 hours). To add a duration to a time or take one away, use Add / Subtract Time in the calculator above. For durations across several days, enter each day in the time card calculator.
Related Calculators
Work Hours & Time Card Calculator: Add up a whole week, or print a two-week timesheet.
Clock In Calculator: Total several clock-in and clock-out punches.
Shift Calculator: Calculate one shift, including night shifts.
Time to Decimal Calculator: Convert your total to decimal hours for payroll.
Salary Calculator: Turn your hours into estimated gross pay.