Time & Date
Hours Calculator
This hours calculator shows the exact time duration between a start time and end time. It supports overnight shifts and optional break-time subtraction for accurate net hours.
Quick answer
To find hours between two times, subtract the start from the end — for example, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 8 hours.
What this tells you
- •To find hours between two times, subtract the start from the end — for example, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 8 hours.
- •Add break minutes to get net working hours.
- •Overnight time ranges are handled automatically.
How to Use
- 1Enter the start time.
- 2Enter the end time.
- 3Enter break minutes if needed.
- 4Calculate to view total minutes and total hours.
How It Works
Formula
Raw duration = end minutes − start minutes
If raw duration is negative: raw duration + 1440
Net duration = raw duration − break minutes
Total hours = net duration ÷ 60The calculator converts each time into minutes from midnight, computes the difference, adjusts for overnight intervals, then subtracts break minutes to return net hours.
Calculation note: values are processed in the order shown above, using the current input units.
Worked Examples
Standard day shift
Start time09:00
End time17:30
Break30 min
Result8h 0m
Overnight shift
Start time22:00
End time06:00
Break0 min
Result8h 0m
Common mistakes
- Forgetting break deduction
- Using invalid time format
- Assuming overnight shifts are invalid
Frequently Asked Questions
Enter start and end time and the calculator returns net duration in hours and minutes.
Yes. If end time is earlier than start, it treats the range as crossing midnight.
Yes. Add break minutes to get net hours worked.
From 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 8 hours. With a 30-minute unpaid lunch, net working time is 7.5 hours.
From 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM is 8.5 hours (8 hours and 30 minutes) before any break deduction.
It estimates hours calculator outputs using the visible inputs and formula assumptions on this page.