# Hours Calculator

> Work out the hours and minutes between a start and an end time, including overnight shifts, minus an unpaid break, in decimal hours too.

Category: Date, time & lifestyle · Applies to: Worldwide · Last updated: 2026-10-29
Interactive calculator: https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/hours-calculator

Enter a start time and an end time in 24-hour format to get the time between them. If the end is earlier than the start, the shift is treated as running past midnight.

Also called: Work hours calculator, Shift length calculator.

## Inputs
- Start time (default 09:00)
- End time (default 17:30)
- Unpaid break (unit min; default 30; optional)

## Results
- Hours worked (decimal)
- Hours and minutes
- Total minutes
- Time from start to end, before the break

## Formula

```
Minutes = End − Start (add 24 h if End is earlier than Start) − Break;  Hours = Minutes ÷ 60
```

Where:
- Start, End: 24-hour clock times
- Break: unpaid break in minutes

## Worked example
1. From 09:00 to 17:30 is 8 h 30 min = 510 minutes.
2. Minus a 30-minute break: 510 − 30 = 480 minutes.
3. 480 ÷ 60 = 8.00 hours.

**Result:** A 09:00 to 17:30 shift with a 30-minute unpaid break is 8 hours of work.

## What the result means

Use the decimal figure to multiply by an hourly rate: 7 h 45 min is 7.75 hours, not 7.45.

## Assumptions and limits
- Shifts are shorter than 24 hours.
- Clock changes for daylight saving time during the shift are not counted.
- For a full week with overtime, use the Time Card Calculator.

## Questions

### How do I enter a night shift?

Enter it as it is, for example 22:00 to 06:00. Because the end is earlier than the start, the calculator counts through midnight and gives 8 hours.

### Is a paid break subtracted?

Only enter breaks you are not paid for. Paid breaks count as working time.

## Related calculators
- [Time Card Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/time-card-calculator)
- [Time Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/time-calculator)
- [Date Difference Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/date-difference-calculator)

Source: GM¹X CalcVerse — https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/hours-calculator