Calculate Time Worked
Editorial Review
Reviewed for date, time, and timezone logic by DP Tech Studio.
Reference sources
Important: Break treatment, rounding, and overtime thresholds can vary by employer policy and local labor law.
How the Work Hours Calculator Works
Enter your shift start time, end time, and any unpaid break minutes. The calculator converts both times into minutes, finds the difference, subtracts the break, and gives you the total in hours and minutes. If your shift crosses midnight — say 10 PM to 6 AM — it detects that automatically and still gives the right total.
You can use 12-hour (AM/PM) or 24-hour format, whichever matches how your workplace records time. The result is ready to use in timesheets, payslip checks, or invoice calculations straight away.
Worked Example
Here is a typical shift to show exactly what the tool does:
End time: 5:30 PM
Unpaid break: 30 minutes
Step 1: 5:30 PM − 9:00 AM = 8 hours 30 minutes
Step 2: Subtract break = 8h 30m − 30m = 8 hours 0 minutes worked
In 24-hour format: Start 0900, End 1730, Break 30 min → 8 h 0 min
Shift Scenarios This Tool Handles Well
This calculator works for any shift type, not just standard office hours. Here are a few common situations and what to expect:
- Standard office day — Start 09:00, End 17:00, Break 60 min → 7 hours 0 minutes worked.
- Evening shift — Start 14:00, End 22:30, Break 30 min → 8 hours 0 minutes worked.
- Night shift crossing midnight — Start 22:00, End 06:00, Break 30 min → 7 hours 30 minutes. The midnight crossover is handled automatically; you don't need to adjust anything.
- Freelancer billing by the hour — Start 10:15, End 14:45, no break → 4 hours 30 minutes = 4.5 billable hours to invoice.
- Part-time shift — Start 09:00, End 13:00, no break → 4 hours 0 minutes.
For weekly totals, run each shift separately and add the daily results together. Then multiply by your hourly rate to get your gross weekly pay before deductions.
Converting Hours and Minutes to Decimal
Many payroll systems and invoicing tools want time in decimal format rather than hours and minutes. The conversion is straightforward: divide the minutes by 60 and add that to the whole hours.
- 7 hours 30 minutes → 7 + (30 ÷ 60) = 7.5 hours
- 8 hours 15 minutes → 8 + (15 ÷ 60) = 8.25 hours
- 6 hours 45 minutes → 6 + (45 ÷ 60) = 6.75 hours
Once you have the decimal figure, multiply it by your hourly rate to get your total earnings for that shift. For example, 8.25 hours at £14/hr = £115.50.
Why Getting Hours Right Matters
Tracking your hours accurately is more important than it might seem, especially for the following situations:
- Minimum wage checks — Your total pay divided by total hours worked must equal or exceed the legal minimum wage. Undercounting hours can hide a compliance problem even when gross pay looks correct.
- Overtime thresholds — In many countries, hours worked beyond a daily or weekly limit trigger mandatory higher pay. You need accurate hour records to know when you've crossed that line.
- Freelance invoicing — Overbilling by even a few minutes per session can cause disputes. An accurate, consistent record of start and end times protects you and builds client trust.
- Tax documentation — Self-employed people claiming home office or vehicle expenses sometimes need to show what proportion of their time was spent on business activities. Good hour records support those claims.