Time Duration Calculator
Hours and minutes between two clock times — for timesheets, shifts and billing, with decimal-hours output.
Handles shifts that cross midnight (e.g. 22:00 to 06:00 = 8 hours) and subtracts unpaid breaks. The decimal-hours output (7h 45m = 7.75) is what payroll and invoicing use — multiply it by an hourly rate to bill. Use 24-hour format to avoid AM/PM ambiguity.
Formula
About Time Duration Calculator
The time duration calculator works out exactly how much time elapsed between two clock times — the everyday need behind timesheets, shift logs, billable hours and 'how long was that?'. Enter a start and end time in 24-hour format, subtract any unpaid break, and it returns the duration in hours and minutes plus the decimal hours that payroll and invoicing actually use (7h 45m = 7.75 hours). It correctly handles overnight shifts that cross midnight, so a 22:00–06:00 shift reads as 8 hours, not a negative number.
How to use Time Duration Calculator
- 1Enter your values into Time Duration Calculator — sensible, domain-typical defaults are pre-filled so you see a real result immediately.
- 2The result recomputes live using the formula shown on the page; there is no button to press.
- 3Adjust any input to compare scenarios, then read the worked example to see the substituted numbers.
Why use Time Duration Calculator?
- ✓Computes Time Duration instantly in your browser — no sign-up, no upload, no server round-trip.
- ✓100% free and unlimited, with the exact formula shown: duration = end − start (minutes), wrapping past midnight, minus break.
- ✓Runs entirely client-side, so every value you enter stays private on your device.
- ✓Live recompute as you type, with a worked example and authoritative references for trust.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours worked for a timesheet?+
Subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract unpaid breaks. This tool does it and outputs decimal hours — 8:00 to 16:30 with a 30-minute break is 8 hours, or 8.00 decimal. Multiply decimal hours by your hourly rate to get pay or an invoice amount. Using 24-hour time avoids AM/PM mistakes.
What are decimal hours and why use them?+
Decimal hours express minutes as a fraction of an hour: 15 min = 0.25, 30 min = 0.5, 45 min = 0.75. So 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 decimal hours. Payroll and billing use this form because you can directly multiply by an hourly rate — you can't multiply '7h 45m' by a rate without converting first.
How does it handle shifts crossing midnight?+
When the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator assumes it's the next day and adds 24 hours, so 22:00 to 06:00 correctly gives 8 hours. Without this wrap-around you'd get a negative or nonsensical result. It's essential for night shifts, on-call periods and any duration spanning two calendar days.
Should breaks be included in worked hours?+
Unpaid breaks (typically meal breaks) are subtracted from worked hours, which is why this tool has a break field — enter the unpaid minutes and they're deducted. Paid short breaks usually aren't subtracted. Labor rules on break pay vary by region and employer, so follow your local rules; the calculator just does the arithmetic you specify.
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