How to use this hours calculator
- Start time, enter the time your shift or task began (for example 09:00).
- End time, enter the time it finished (for example 17:30).
- Break, optionally enter unpaid break time in minutes to subtract it from the total.
- Hourly rate, optionally enter your pay rate to see gross pay for the hours worked.
- Read your total time, decimal hours and pay, they update instantly as you type.
Nothing is submitted or stored: the times never leave your device, so you can fill in a timesheet or check a shift privately.
How work hours are calculated
The calculator turns each time into minutes since midnight, then subtracts the start from the end to get the gap between them. That gap is the raw time worked. If you enter a break, those minutes are taken off, and the result is clamped so it never drops below zero. The total is then shown three ways: ashours and minutes (like 8h 30m), as decimal hours (8.50, where 30 minutes is half an hour), and, if you add a rate, as gross pay from decimal hours times your hourly rate.
Overnight shifts are handled automatically. When the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator assumes the shift ran past midnight and adds 24 hours. So a shift from 22:00 to 06:00 returns 8 hours rather than a negative number. This keeps night shifts, on-call windows and late finishes accurate without any extra steps.
Decimal hours are the format most payroll systems and timesheets expect, because they make multiplying by a rate simple. To convert minutes to a decimal, divide them by 60: 15 minutes is 0.25, 30 minutes is 0.50 and 45 minutes is 0.75. Gross pay shown here is before tax, national insurance and other deductions, so treat it as an estimate of earnings rather than a final figure.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours between two times?
Subtract the start time from the end time. This calculator does it for you, so 9:00 to 17:30 gives 8 hours 30 minutes. Enter a break to subtract it from the total.
How does the calculator handle overnight shifts?
If the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator assumes the shift runs past midnight and adds 24 hours. So 22:00 to 06:00 returns 8 hours.
How are hours shown in decimal?
Decimal hours express minutes as a fraction of an hour. 8 hours 30 minutes becomes 8.50, because 30 minutes is half an hour. Payroll and timesheets often use this format.
Can it work out my pay?
Yes. Enter an hourly rate and the calculator multiplies it by the decimal hours worked to show gross pay before tax and deductions.
Is my data uploaded?
No, everything is calculated on your device and nothing is sent anywhere.