8pm to 4am is how many hours?
8:00 PM to 4:00 AM the next day is 8 hours (8.00 decimal hours). Take off any unpaid break to get the hours you are actually paid for.
The quick answer
20:00 to 04:00 (next day) = 480 minutes 480 ÷ 60 = 8.00 hours = 8h 00m Minus a 30-minute unpaid break = 7h 30m paid
This shift crosses midnight. Split it at 12:00 AM if you are working it out by hand: 8:00 PM to midnight, plus midnight to 4:00 AM.
8pm to 4am after an unpaid break
| Unpaid break | Hours worked | Decimal hours |
|---|---|---|
| None | 8h 00m | 8.00 |
| 15 minutes | 7h 45m | 7.75 |
| 30 minutes | 7h 30m | 7.50 |
| 45 minutes | 7h 15m | 7.25 |
| 60 minutes | 7h 00m | 7.00 |
Deduct a break only when it is unpaid, and only once — a common payroll error is subtracting a break that the clock system has already excluded.
Across a week
| Days a week | No break | With 30-min break |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 24h 00m | 22h 30m |
| 4 | 32h 00m | 30h 00m |
| 5 | 40h 00m | 37h 30m |
| 6 | 48h 00m | 45h 00m |
Weeks over 40 paid hours usually attract overtime. Split regular and overtime pay in the overtime pay calculator, or total a full timesheet in the time card calculator.
What the shift pays
Gross pay for one 7h 30m shift after a 30-minute unpaid break, before any deductions:
The same shift in other formats
- 12-hour: 8:00 PM – 4:00 AM (next day)
- 24-hour: 20:00 – 04:00
- Decimal hours: 8.00
- Minutes: 480
Payroll systems usually want decimal hours. Convert any other duration with the decimal hours converter, or read clock times with the military time converter.
Frequently asked questions
Is 8pm to 4am 8 hours exactly?
Yes — 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM the next day is 480 minutes, which is 8 hours or 8.00 decimal hours. That is the elapsed time; unpaid breaks come off separately.
How many hours is 8pm to 4am with a 30-minute lunch?
7 hours 30 minutes, or 7.50 decimal hours. Subtract the break only if it is unpaid — see the lunch break guide if you are unsure.
Does this shift cross midnight?
Yes. 8:00 PM is on one day and 4:00 AM is on the next, so the elapsed time is measured across midnight. In a timesheet, record it on the day the shift started and mark it as ending the next day.
What is 8pm to 4am five days a week?
40 hours of elapsed time, or 37 hours 30 minutes once a 30-minute unpaid break is taken off each day. Totals should be summed from minutes, not from rounded daily decimals.