Calculate elapsed hours and minutes between two clock times, including shifts that cross midnight.
Calculate a same-day interval
Enter the start and end time. The calculator subtracts the start time from the end time and returns hours, minutes and decimal hours.
Overnight shifts
If the end time is earlier than the start time, choose the overnight option to treat the end time as occurring on the following day.
Decimal hours
Payroll and timesheet systems often use decimal hours. For example, 30 minutes equals 0.5 hours, not 0.30 hours.
Breaks and unpaid time
The basic calculator measures elapsed clock time. If a work record includes unpaid breaks, subtract them separately or use a dedicated time-card workflow.
Practical uses
Use the calculator for work shifts, study sessions, travel, appointments and activity tracking.
Limitations
Time-zone changes and daylight-saving transitions require a date/time-zone-aware calculation rather than simple clock arithmetic.
Worked example: an overnight shift
A shift starting at 18:00 and ending at 02:00 the next day lasts 8 hours. The date boundary is essential; comparing the clock values alone would incorrectly suggest a negative duration.
Convert minutes to decimal hours
Divide minutes by 60. A 45-minute period is 0.75 hours, while a 15-minute period is 0.25 hours. This is important when entering time into payroll or spreadsheet systems.
Payroll caveat
Actual paid hours can differ from elapsed clock time because of unpaid breaks, rounding rules, overtime rules and employer policies.
Elapsed Time vs Net Work Time
Elapsed time is the difference between the start and end timestamps. Net work time removes breaks or other periods that the applicable timesheet policy excludes. These values should not be treated as interchangeable.
Decimal Hours Conversion
For example, 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 decimal hours. The minutes value is divided by 60; it is not appended to the hour value as 7.45.
Overnight Example
A shift from 22:00 to 06:00 on the following day lasts 8 elapsed hours. The date boundary must be recognized before subtracting the clock times.
Breaks and Payroll Rules
An hours calculator can measure elapsed time, but it cannot decide whether a break is paid, unpaid or subject to a workplace rule. Apply the actual timesheet policy separately.
Multiple Breaks
If a shift contains several excluded breaks, add the excluded minutes first and subtract the total from elapsed time. Keep the original start and end times so the calculation can be audited later.
Daylight-Saving and Time-Zone Cases
Simple clock arithmetic may be insufficient when a period crosses a daylight-saving transition or spans time zones. Use date-and-time-zone-aware data for those cases.
Use the Tervilo Hours Calculator
Use the Tervilo Hours Calculator for ordinary same-day and overnight elapsed-time calculations.
Elapsed Time vs Net Work Time
Elapsed time is the difference between the start and end timestamps. Net work time removes breaks or other periods that the applicable timesheet policy excludes. These values should not be treated as interchangeable.
Decimal Hours Conversion
For example, 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 decimal hours. The minutes value is divided by 60; it is not appended to the hour value as 7.45.
Overnight Example
A shift from 22:00 to 06:00 on the following day lasts 8 elapsed hours. The date boundary must be recognized before subtracting the clock times.
Breaks and Payroll Rules
An hours calculator can measure elapsed time, but it cannot decide whether a break is paid, unpaid or subject to a workplace rule. Apply the actual timesheet policy separately.
Multiple Breaks
If a shift contains several excluded breaks, add the excluded minutes first and subtract the total from elapsed time. Keep the original start and end times so the calculation can be audited later.
Daylight-Saving and Time-Zone Cases
Simple clock arithmetic may be insufficient when a period crosses a daylight-saving transition or spans time zones. Use date-and-time-zone-aware data for those cases.
Use the Tervilo Hours Calculator
Use the Tervilo Hours Calculator for ordinary same-day and overnight elapsed-time calculations.