Hours Calculator

About the Hours Calculator

Calculates the number of hours and minutes between a start and end time, with an optional unpaid break deduction, useful for timesheets.

How to use

Enter start and end times (24-hour HH:MM) and any break in minutes, then click Calculate.

Worked example

09:00 to 17:30 with a 30-min break → 8 hours.

How to use this calculator

1. Enter the start time.
2. Enter the end time.
3. Choose any needed time format such as AM or PM.
4. Calculate to see the total hours worked.

The formula explained

• \(\text{hours worked}\) = the total time between the start and end time
• \(\text{start time}\) = the time work begins
• \(\text{end time}\) = the time work ends

Step by step method

1. Write down the starting time for the shift.
2. Write down the ending time for the shift.
3. Subtract the start time from the end time to find the duration.
4. If the shift crosses midnight, account for the next day before subtracting.

Worked example

Here is a simple example of calculating a work shift from morning to afternoon.

1. Start time is 9:15 AM and end time is 4:45 PM.
2. From 9:15 AM to 4:15 PM is 7 hours.
3. From 4:15 PM to 4:45 PM is another 30 minutes, so the total is \(7.5\) hours.

Tips and common mistakes

• Make sure both times are on the same day unless the shift crosses midnight.
• Convert minutes to a fraction of an hour if you want a decimal result.
• Double-check AM and PM, since that is a common source of errors.
• If the shift includes a break, subtract the break time separately.

Frequently asked questions