Hours Calculator
Calculate hours worked between two times
How to use Hours Calculator
Calculate hours and minutes worked between two times. Supports breaks and overnight shifts. Free online hours calculator tool.
Who needs an hours calculator?
Calculating hours worked accurately is essential for payroll, invoicing, timesheets, and compliance with labor regulations. Manual time arithmetic is surprisingly error-prone — especially across days, shifts spanning midnight, or when breaks are deducted.
- Freelancers and consultants: Track billable hours precisely for client invoices. A difference of 15 minutes per day adds up to over 60 hours annually at 260 working days.
- HR and payroll: Calculate total hours for payroll processing, including overtime thresholds. In many jurisdictions, hours over 8 per day or 40 per week must be paid at a premium rate.
- Night shift workers: A shift from 10pm to 6am crosses midnight — manual calculation requires subtracting from 24 hours. This tool handles overnight shifts automatically.
- Project managers: Sum hours worked across a project to compare actual versus estimated time and improve future estimates.
- Study time tracking: Students use time logs to track hours spent on different subjects and adjust study plans based on actual time invested.
Time format: Enter times in 24-hour format (HH:MM) for clarity — 14:30 instead of 2:30 PM. For a shift from 22:00 to 06:00, the calculator correctly returns 8 hours, not -16 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate hours across midnight?
If the end time is earlier than the start time, the shift crosses midnight. Add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting: 06:00 + 24:00 = 30:00 − 22:00 = 8 hours. This calculator handles this automatically.
How do I convert hours and minutes to decimal hours?
Divide minutes by 60 and add to whole hours. 7 hours 45 minutes = 7 + (45/60) = 7.75 hours. This decimal format is used for payroll calculations: 7.75 hours × €25/hour = €193.75.
What is the difference between a timesheet and a time clock?
A timesheet is a manual record of start/end times — filled in by the employee. A time clock records actual clock-in/out times via punch cards, key fobs, or biometric scanners. Time clocks reduce errors and fraud in hourly payroll. This calculator works with either system.
How do I account for break time?
Subtract break duration from total hours. A 9:00-17:30 shift with a 30-minute unpaid lunch = 8.5 hours − 0.5 hours = 8 hours paid. Many labor laws require paid breaks for shifts over a certain length — check local regulations.
What is the legal maximum working time per week in Europe?
The EU Working Time Directive caps working time at 48 hours per week averaged over a 17-week reference period. The UK retained this limit post-Brexit. Workers can opt out individually in some countries. Most European countries also mandate 11 consecutive hours of rest per day.
Hours calculator vs time tracking app vs payroll software
A simple hours calculator computes one shift or a few entries quickly — no account, no setup. A time tracking app (Toggl, Clockify, Harvest) logs time across projects, clients, and tasks with reporting — essential for freelancers managing multiple clients. Payroll software (Sage, Xero, Gusto) integrates time tracking with wage calculations, tax deductions, and payment processing. Use this calculator for quick, one-off calculations; use dedicated software for ongoing time and payroll management.