Work Hours Calculator
Work out how long one shift lasted. Enter your start and end times and any unpaid break to get hours worked, decimal hours, and optional gross pay.
How to use the work hours calculator
- Choose 12-hour or 24-hour time.
- Enter the start and end time, such as 8:45am and 5:15pm.
- Select Ends next day if the shift passed midnight.
- Enter any unpaid break in minutes.
- For a split shift, choose Add another work period and enter each part.
How work hours are calculated
Elapsed time = end time − start time (+ 24 hours when the shift ends the next day) Net working time = elapsed time − unpaid break Decimal hours = net minutes ÷ 60 Gross pay = decimal hours × hourly rate
Times are counted in whole minutes and pay is rounded to 2 decimal places only at the end, in the currency you choose. The calculator uses the clock times you enter and does not adjust for time zones or daylight-saving changes. Details are on the methodology page.
Examples
Day shift
9:00 AM–5:30 PM is 8h 30m elapsed. Minus a 30-minute break = 8h 00m (8.00 hours).
Overnight shift
11:00 PM–7:15 AM (ends next day) is 8h 15m. Minus 45 minutes = 7h 30m (7.50 hours).
Split shift with pay
7:00 AM–11:30 AM plus 12:15 PM–3:45 PM = 8h 00m. At $18.50 per hour: $148.00.
Frequently asked questions
Should I subtract my lunch break?
Subtract only breaks you are not paid for. Many workplaces pay for short rest breaks and not for meal breaks, but policies differ, so check how your employer records breaks.
My shift ends after midnight. What do I enter?
Enter the start and end times as they appear on the clock and select Ends next day. For example, 11:00 PM to 7:15 AM with “Ends next day” selected is 8 hours 15 minutes before breaks.
Why do I have to type AM or PM?
In 12-hour format, “9:00” could be morning or evening, and a wrong guess would give a wrong answer. Type 9a or 9p, or switch to 24-hour format and type 21:00.
What does 8.5 hours mean in hours and minutes?
8.5 decimal hours is 8 hours 30 minutes. The Decimal Hours Converter converts either way.
Can I estimate pay in a currency other than US dollars?
Yes. Choose USD, INR, GBP, EUR, CAD, or AUD and enter your hourly rate in that currency. The hours don’t change, and no exchange rate is applied.
Can I add up a whole week?
Use the Time Card Calculator for a weekly or biweekly timesheet with daily totals, saving, CSV download, and printing.
Can a second work period start after midnight?
In this calculator all periods start on the same calendar day. If part of your shift starts after midnight, enter it on the next day in the Time Card Calculator, which checks for overlaps between days.