Hours Calculator
Count elapsed hours and minutes between two clock times. Same-day mode wraps overnight when the end is earlier than the start — a 22:00 to 06:00 shift is 8 hours. Date mode uses start and end calendar dates so a shift can span many days.
Hours Calculator tool
About the Hours Calculator
This is different from the time calculator, which adds or subtracts durations you type (2 hours plus 45 minutes). Here you enter two clock readings and get the gap.
Dates are UTC calendar days plus minutes. Daylight-saving springs and falls are not applied. For a timesheet in a DST region, date mode can be off by an hour on the changeover night.
How the Hours Calculator works
Clock mode subtracts start minutes from end minutes on a 24-hour clock and adds 24 hours if the result is negative. Date mode subtracts the combined timestamps.
Start minutes = hour × 60 + minute
Elapsed = end − start; if elapsed < 0 and no dates, add 24 × 60
Example
09:00 to 17:30 is 8 hours 30 minutes (8.5 hours). 22:00 to 06:00 without dates is 8 hours overnight.
How to Use the Hours Calculator
- Choose clock-only or dated timestamps.
- Enter start and end hours (0–23) and minutes (0–59).
- In date mode, enter both calendar dates.
- Read hours:minutes and decimal hours.
- Use the time calculator if you need to add several durations instead.
Hours Calculator Examples
Office day
09:00–17:30 is 8.5 hours. Subtract an unpaid lunch yourself if needed.
Night shift
22:00–06:00 is 8 hours in clock mode because the end is earlier.
Two-day span
09:00 on 1 January to 17:00 on 2 January is 32 hours in date mode.
How to Calculate Hours Between Times
Convert each clock to minutes after midnight. Subtract. If you crossed midnight and you did not enter dates, add 1,440 minutes (24 hours). Divide by 60 for decimal hours.
Worked spans
These match the calculator.
| Start | End | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | 17:30 | 8:30 (8.5 h) |
| 22:00 | 06:00 | 8:00 (overnight) |
| 09:00 1 Jan | 17:00 2 Jan | 32:00 |
Timesheet tips
Decimal hours matter: 1:30 is 1.5, never 1.30. A weekly total is the sum of daily elapsed times, not a single clock pair unless you stayed on the clock. Clock-only mode never looks at calendar dates: if the end is earlier than the start it assumes you crossed midnight and adds 24 hours. Date mode does the opposite — it subtracts the two timestamps and will label a reversed span if the end is before the start. Daylight-saving springs and falls are not applied, so a changeover night in a DST region can be off by an hour. Unpaid breaks are not deducted; enter times that already exclude them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clock mode use dates?
No. It only looks at the four clock fields and wraps at 24 hours.
What if end is before start with dates?
The elapsed time is negative and labeled reversed.
Are breaks deducted?
No. Enter times that already exclude breaks, or subtract them after.
Seconds?
This tool is hours and minutes. Use the time calculator for seconds.
Payroll rounding?
Not applied. Some employers round to 6- or 15-minute marks.
Guides that use this calculator
- How to Add and Subtract Time (Hours and Minutes)
The time calculator adds durations, not clock times. Carry 60 seconds, keep hours past 24, and read decimal hours for a timesheet.