Work hours calculator
Enter the start, end, and unpaid break minutes. An earlier end time is treated as the following day.
Calculate work hours between two times with a break
Unpaid break is optional; a blank field means zero minutes.
8.00 decimal hours after the unpaid break
| Clock-in–clock-out | Elapsed | Unpaid break | Net HH:MM | Decimal hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00–17:30 | 8:30 | 30 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 09:00–17:30 | 8:30 | 45 min | 7:45 | 7.75 |
| 22:30–06:30 next day | 8:00 | 30 min | 7:30 | 7.50 |
| 08:00–12:00 | 4:00 | 0 min | 4:00 | 4.00 |
| 14:00–18:30 | 4:30 | 0 min | 4:30 | 4.50 |
For the split shift in the last two rows, 240 + 270 = 510 worked minutes, or 8:30 and 8.50 hours. The two-hour gap is already outside those two entries; subtracting it again would undercount work.
Check break treatment before entering a deduction
The break field cannot decide which time is paid. For covered U.S. situations, the Department of Labor explains that short rest periods generally count as work, while a bona fide meal period generally requires relief from duties. These are U.S. federal principles; check the rules that apply to your location and work. Read DOL Fact Sheet #22: Hours Worked.
Subtract elapsed time and unpaid breaks
For a same-day shift, net minutes = end minutes − start minutes − unpaid break minutes. The calculator shows both HH:MM and decimal hours; the latter is net minutes ÷ 60.
Enter breaks as a whole number of minutes. A 30-minute lunch and a 15-minute unpaid break total 45 minutes. Paid breaks remain in worked time, so do not subtract them here. If the break exceeds the shift, correct the entry before using the result.
Read an overnight result correctly
An end earlier than the start adds one calendar day in this clock-only model. For 22:30 to 06:30, the arithmetic is (390 + 1,440) − 1,350 = 480 elapsed minutes. Subtracting 30 unpaid minutes gives 450 minutes, or 7:30 and 7.50 hours.
The tool does not store dates or time zones. A clock change or travel across time zones can make actual elapsed time differ from clock-face subtraction. Use dated timestamps for those shifts, and for work lasting 24 hours or more. Matching start and end times return zero.
Add separate shifts without subtracting gaps twice
For split shifts, calculate each work period separately and add the resulting minutes. An 08:00–12:00 shift is 240 minutes, and 14:00–18:30 is 270 minutes; together they are 510 minutes, or 8:30 and 8.50 hours.
The time between separate entries has already been excluded. Do not deduct that off-duty gap a second time. For a seven-day total with one continuous shift each day, use the weekly calculator.
What this result can verify
Use the result to reproduce elapsed-time arithmetic before entering hours on a timesheet or invoice. Check AM/PM, source dates, break treatment, and rounding with the original record.
The calculator cannot decide whether waiting, travel, training, meals, or on-call time should be paid. It also does not apply overtime, minimum call-out pay, approval rules, or contract terms. Establish those inputs separately before relying on the arithmetic.