Time Duration Calculator
Calculate elapsed hours between two clock times, including overnight shifts.
Calculate time duration
Enter 24-hour clock values, such as 17:15 for 5:15 p.m.
Time summary
Time after break
- Elapsed time
- 8 hr 45 min
- Break
- 30 min
- Decimal hours after break
- 8.25 hr
Time arithmetic only; payroll rounding, overtime, and break rules are not applied, so this is time worked less the break you entered rather than a statement of what you will be paid.
Your entries and results stay in this browser. This tool does not send, save, or add them to the page address.
Calculate hours between clock times
Enter a start and end time using 24-hour clock values, indicate whether the end is on the next day, and enter any unpaid break. Results distinguish total elapsed time from time after the break.
Decimal hours and hours with minutes
Decimal hours are useful for timesheets and multiplication. Fifteen minutes is one quarter of an hour, so 8 hours 15 minutes is 8.25 decimal hours.
Rounding and payroll limitations
This calculator does not apply employer rounding, overtime, payroll, or labor-law rules. Many payrolls round each entry to the nearest six or fifteen minutes, which can move the total either way. The result is the time you worked less the break you entered, not a statement of what you will be paid. Verify entries and follow the policies that govern your situation.
Frequently asked questions
How does the calculator handle an overnight shift?
Select the next-day option when the end occurs on the following calendar day. The calculator then adds 24 hours before finding the difference.
Is the break included in elapsed time?
Elapsed time spans from start to end. Time after break subtracts the entered break, so both figures remain visible and distinct. Whether that time is what you are paid for depends on your employer's rules, which this tool does not apply.
Why does 9:00 to 9:00 show zero rather than 24 hours?
Identical start and end times are treated as a zero-length span on the same day. Select the next-day option to get a full 24 hours. If a break is entered, a zero-length span will also report that the break is longer than the elapsed time.
Does decimal time use minutes after the decimal point?
No. Decimal hours express minutes as a fraction of 60. For example, 8 hours 15 minutes equals 8.25 hours, not 8.15.
Can this determine legally required breaks or overtime?
No. Break, overtime, rounding, and pay rules vary by employer and jurisdiction. This tool only performs time arithmetic from your entries.