How to calculate work hours
Enter the start and end of your shift and select AM or PM for each time. Add any unpaid break in minutes, or leave it blank for no break. The result updates automatically.
For several days of working hours, use the Time Card Calculator to build a weekly total.
Work hours formula
Worked minutes = end time - start time - unpaid break
Convert both times to minutes after midnight before subtracting. If the shift ends the next morning, add 1,440 minutes to the end time first.
How breaks are deducted
Only unpaid time is subtracted. Combine multiple unpaid breaks into one total; two 15-minute breaks mean 30 minutes. Leave paid breaks out of this field.
A break equal to the full shift gives zero worked hours. A longer break produces an error.
Overnight work shifts
An end time earlier than the start time counts as the next day. From 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM is 8 hours before breaks, or 7h 30m after a 30-minute unpaid break.
The calculator supports shifts shorter than 24 hours.
Decimal work hours
Divide worked minutes by 60 to get decimal hours. For example, 510 minutes is 8.50 hours. The decimal represents a fraction of an hour, so 8h 30m is not 8.30 hours.
Decimal hours are displayed to two places. Total minutes remain unrounded.
Worked example
You start at 8:00 AM, finish at 5:00 PM, and take a 60-minute unpaid lunch. The shift spans 540 minutes. Subtract 60 to get 480 minutes: 8h 00m, or 8.00 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What if my start and end times are identical?
With the same AM/PM selection, matching times mean zero hours, not a 24-hour shift. With different selections, they are 12 hours apart.
Can I use this hours worked calculator for a split shift?
Yes. Enter the first start and last end, then add the unpaid gap between shifts to your break total. The full span must be shorter than 24 hours.
Does it calculate pay or apply payroll rounding?
No. It measures time worked without applying pay rates, overtime rules, or rounding to a payroll interval. Follow your employer's policy when reporting hours.
Does it adjust for daylight saving time?
No dates or time zones are entered. If the clocks change during your shift, account for the actual hour gained or lost separately.
Are my shift details sent anywhere?
Your start time, end time, break, and results stay in your browser. Analytics records calculator use without those values or personal information.