How to calculate work hours
Enter a start time, an end time, and any unpaid break minutes. The calculator finds the elapsed time, subtracts the break, and shows the result in both hours and minutes and decimal hours.
Multiple work periods
Use another work period when a day is split into separate shifts, such as 8:00 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Each valid period is calculated separately and then added into the total.
Overnight shifts
If the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator treats the end time as the next day. For example, 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM is an 8-hour elapsed shift before breaks.
Worked example
A shift from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM has 9 elapsed hours. Subtract a 30-minute unpaid break and the worked time is 8 hours 30 minutes, or 8.50 decimal hours.
Decimal hours
Decimal hours turn minutes into fractions of an hour. A 15-minute increment is 0.25 hours, 30 minutes is 0.50 hours, and 45 minutes is 0.75 hours.
Work hours FAQ
What does 8 hours 30 minutes equal in decimal hours?
8 hours 30 minutes equals 8.50 decimal hours because 30 minutes is one-half of an hour.
Can I leave a break blank?
Yes. A blank break is treated as zero minutes. Enter only unpaid break time you want subtracted from the work period.
Does this decide overtime?
No. This page totals time between clock times. Use the Time Card or Timesheet calculator when you also want regular and overtime hour splits.