Hours Calculator
Enter a start time and end time in hours and minutes to find the total duration. Useful for tracking work hours, billing clients, calculating shift lengths, or figuring out how long a meeting ran.
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Formula
Hours = (end_hour + end_min/60) − (start_hour + start_min/60)
Each time is converted to a decimal hour value by adding the minutes divided by 60. Subtracting start from end gives the elapsed decimal hours. Multiplying by 60 converts that to total minutes. Use 24-hour format: 9 AM = 9, 5 PM = 17.
How to use the Hours Calculator
- 1
Enter your start hour (0-23)
- 2
Enter your start minutes (0-59)
- 3
Enter your end hour (0-23)
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Enter your end minutes (0-59)
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Read your results instantly
Results update in real time as you type.
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Using 24-Hour (Military) Time
This calculator uses 24-hour format for clarity. Morning hours 1-11 are the same in both formats. Noon is 12. The afternoon and evening hours differ: 1 PM = 13, 2 PM = 14, and so on through midnight = 0 (or 24). If you work a 9-to-5, enter start_hour = 9 and end_hour = 17. The military time calculator on this site can help you convert if needed.
Tracking Work Hours and Billing
Freelancers and hourly workers use time duration calculations daily. A shift from 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM is 8.25 hours — that extra quarter hour matters when billing at $50/hour. The total minutes result (495 minutes in that example) is useful for time-tracking apps that record in minutes. Always round to the nearest increment your employer or client specifies, typically 6 or 15 minutes.
Tips & Insights
Overnight Shifts
If your shift crosses midnight, the result will be negative. Subtract the result from 24 to get the correct duration. For example, 10 PM to 6 AM: 6 − 22 = −16, so 24 − 16 = 8 hours.
Add a Lunch Break
Calculate your total shift hours, then subtract 0.5 or 1 for an unpaid lunch break to get your billable hours.
Weekly Hour Totals
Run this calculator for each workday and add the daily totals. Multiplying your hourly rate by the weekly total gives your gross pay estimate.
Worked Examples
Standard 9-to-5
8.0 hours (480 minutes).
Meeting 10:15 AM to 11:45 AM
1.5 hours (90 minutes).
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Frequently Asked Questions
What format should I use for hours?
Use 24-hour format. 9 AM = 9, 12 PM noon = 12, 5 PM = 17, 11 PM = 23, midnight = 0.
How do I handle an overnight shift?
If end time is earlier than start (e.g., start 22, end 6), the result is negative. Add 24 to get the correct answer: 24 + (6 − 22) = 8 hours.
Can I calculate partial hours?
Yes. Enter the minutes for start and end times. 9:30 AM to 11:15 AM gives 1.75 hours (1 hour 45 minutes).
What is the decimal hour for 45 minutes?
45 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.75 hours. So 2 hours 45 minutes = 2.75 hours.
How do I convert decimal hours to hours and minutes?
Take the decimal part and multiply by 60. 2.75 hours: .75 × 60 = 45 minutes, so 2 hours 45 minutes.
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