Date & Time
Time Duration Calculator
Calculate shift duration, breaks, overtime, rounding, and estimated pay.
Result
Enter your numbers and press Calculate to see the result.
Calculating…
How the time duration is calculated
The calculator measures the time between a start and end time, subtracts your unpaid break, and reports the result in hours and minutes as well as decimal hours — the format payroll systems expect. It can round payable time, repeat the shift total, and if the end time is earlier than the start, it assumes the shift crosses midnight and adds 24 hours.
Formulas
Duration = end − start (+ 24 h if overnight) − break
Payable time = rounded duration, if a rounding interval is selected
Decimal hours = total minutes ÷ 60
Pay = regular hours × rate + overtime hours × rate × multiplier
Worked example
A shift from 09:00 to 17:30 with a 30-minute break and no rounding: 8.5 hours minus 0.5 = 8 hours (8.0 decimal hours). At $25/hour with overtime after 8 hours, all 8 hours are regular time: $200. Stretch the shift to 19:00 and the extra 1.5 hours are paid at 1.5× — 8 × 25 + 1.5 × 37.50 = $256.25.
Minutes to decimal hours
| Minutes | Decimal |
|---|---|
| 15 min | 0.25 h |
| 30 min | 0.50 h |
| 45 min | 0.75 h |
Overnight shifts and crossing midnight
When the end time is earlier than the start — a shift from 22:00 to 06:00, for example — the calculator assumes the clock passed midnight and adds 24 hours, giving 8 hours rather than a negative result. This covers night shifts and late hospitality or healthcare hours without you having to split the entry across two days.
Why rounding is applied
Many payroll systems round clock time to a fixed interval — often the nearest 5, 6, or 15 minutes — so the payable total lines up with a standard pay grid. Rounding to the nearest quarter-hour is common and, done to the nearest interval, is broadly neutral over time because minutes rounded down balance those rounded up. Set the rounding to match your employer's rule so the decimal hours you report agree with the paycheck.
To annualize your rate across a full schedule, see the salary hourly/yearly calculator.
Time Duration Calculator — frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours worked?
Enter your start and end times and any unpaid break. The calculator subtracts the break from the span and shows the result in hours and minutes as well as decimal hours for timesheets.
Does it handle overnight shifts?
Yes. If the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator assumes the shift crosses midnight and adds 24 hours — a 22:00 to 06:00 shift counts as 8 hours.
What are decimal hours?
Minutes divided by 60 and expressed as a fraction of an hour: 7 hours 30 minutes equals 7.5 decimal hours. Payroll systems usually expect this format.
How is the estimated pay calculated?
Hours up to the overtime threshold are paid at your hourly rate; hours beyond it are paid at the rate times the overtime multiplier (1.5 by default). Both parts are added together.