Hours Calculator - Calculate Hours Between Times & Work Hours

The core job of an hours calculator is finding the gap between two clock times. The figures people look up most: 9 to 5 is 8 hours, 8 AM to 4 PM is 8 hours, 9 AM to 5:30 PM is 8.5 hours, 7 AM to 3:30 PM is 8.5 hours, and 8 AM to 6 PM is 10 hours. The method is always the same — convert both times to a 24-hour value, subtract the start from the end, and express the remainder in hours and minutes. 5:30 PM becomes 17:30, 9:00 AM stays 09:00, and 17:30 − 09:00 = 8 hours 30 minutes. Enter any start and end time above and the calculator returns the result instantly in hours-and-minutes, total minutes, and decimal hours, so it drops straight into a timesheet or pay run.

Used as a time clock calculator, this tool turns a clock-in and clock-out into paid hours. Gross hours are the raw clock-out minus clock-in; net hours subtract unpaid breaks. Example: clock in 8:00 AM, clock out 4:30 PM is 8 hours 30 minutes gross; deduct a 30-minute unpaid lunch and net paid time is 8 hours 0 minutes. Add an hourly rate and the calculator multiplies your net decimal hours by it to estimate gross pay, applying your chosen overtime multiplier to hours above the threshold. For a single day this is all you need; for a full week or a two-week pay period with several days, the Time Card Calculator totals multiple shifts in one place.

Payroll systems almost always want decimal hours, not hours-and-minutes, because decimals multiply cleanly by a pay rate. The conversion is minutes ÷ 60: 15 minutes = 0.25, 20 minutes = 0.33, 30 minutes = 0.5, 40 minutes = 0.67, 45 minutes = 0.75. So 7 hours 45 minutes on a timesheet is 7.75 on a pay run, and 7.75 × $22/hour = $170.50. The reverse trips people up: 7.5 hours is 7 hours 30 minutes, not 7 hours 50 minutes, because the decimal is a fraction of 60, not 100. This calculator always shows both formats side by side, so you never have to convert by hand.

Overtime turns on a threshold, and the threshold depends on where you work. In the US the federal FLSA rule is weekly: hours over 40 in a workweek earn at least 1.5x for non-exempt staff, with no federal daily limit — but states can be stricter. California adds daily overtime: 1.5x after 8 hours in a day and 2x after 12. The UK has no statutory overtime premium — rates are whatever your contract sets — though the 48-hour average weekly cap still applies. Canada's federal rule is 1.5x after 40 hours a week or 8 in a day, with provinces varying (Ontario after 44/week). Australia sets overtime through modern awards, commonly 1.5x for the first two or three extra hours then 2x. Set the overtime threshold and multiplier above to model whichever rule applies to you.

A few figures come up again and again. A standard full-time week is 40 hours (8 hours × 5 days); part-time is typically under 30–35 hours depending on the employer and country. A full-time work year is about 2,080 hours (40 × 52) before holidays and leave, which usually bring actual worked hours to roughly 1,900–2,000. Common single shifts: an 8-hour day shift (9 to 5 with no unpaid break, or 8:30 to 5:00 with a 30-minute lunch), a 12-hour hospital or plant shift (7 AM to 7 PM, often with two paid breaks), and an 8-hour overnight shift (11 PM to 7 AM). To total a week, calculate each day here and add the daily hours, or use the Time Card Calculator to add several shifts at once.

To calculate hours worked: subtract start time from end time, then deduct any unpaid breaks. For example, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM = 8.5 hours elapsed. Minus 30 min lunch = 8 hours worked. Always convert to the same format (24-hour) before subtracting.

Decimal hours simplify payroll calculations. Divide minutes by 60: 15 min = 0.25, 30 min = 0.5, 45 min = 0.75 hours. So 7 hours 45 minutes = 7.75 decimal hours. Multiply by hourly rate for easy earnings calculation.

For shifts crossing midnight (like 11 PM to 7 AM), add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting. 11 PM = 23:00, 7 AM = 7:00 + 24 = 31:00. Duration = 31 - 23 = 8 hours. Our calculator handles this automatically.

Most jurisdictions require meal breaks for shifts over 5-6 hours. Typically 30-60 minutes for lunch, unpaid and deducted from work hours. Short rest breaks (10-15 min) are usually paid and not deducted. Check your local labor laws.

Overtime typically applies after 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week at 1.5x regular rate (time and a half). Some states have daily overtime; others only weekly. Double time (2x) may apply for hours over 12/day or work on holidays.

Common rounding methods: Quarter-hour (15 min intervals), Tenth-hour (6 min intervals), actual time. Quarter-hour: 8:07 → 8:00, 8:08 → 8:15. Rounding must be neutral over time - not always in employer's favor.