Hours Calculator

An hours calculator measures the elapsed time between one clock-in and one clock-out, then subtracts unpaid break minutes to leave the paid hours for that single shift. Find the total time between a start and end time, minus any break. Overnight shifts are handled automatically, and the result is shown in hours and minutes and as decimal hours.

Total time —
Decimal hours — hours
Total minutes — minutes

How to Calculate Hours Worked

Three steps, all in your browser.

1

Enter start and end times

Type or pick the clock times the shift began and ended. Use the same 24-hour or AM/PM picker your device shows — the math is identical either way.

2

Add any break

Enter unpaid break time in minutes to deduct it from the total. Leave it at zero for a fully paid shift.

3

Read the total

See the result in hours and minutes and as decimal hours for payroll. Tracking a whole week? Open the Timecard Calculator for daily totals and pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the hours calculator handle overnight shifts?
If the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator assumes the shift crossed midnight and adds 24 hours to the end before subtracting. So a shift from 22:00 to 06:00 is correctly counted as 8 hours rather than a negative number. You do not need to flag an overnight shift — just enter the clock times as they appear and the tool works out the direction. The only case it cannot guess is a shift longer than 24 hours, which you would split into separate days.
Does it subtract break time?
Yes — the hours calculator deducts break time. Enter the total unpaid break in minutes and it is deducted from the worked time. For example, a shift from 09:00 to 17:30 is 8 hours 30 minutes; with a 30-minute lunch break the paid total becomes 8 hours 0 minutes. If the break you enter is longer than the time worked the result is shown as zero rather than a negative figure, and a note explains why. Leave the break field blank or at zero if the whole shift is paid.
What is the difference between HH:MM and decimal hours?
HH:MM shows the duration the way a clock does — for example 7 hours and 45 minutes is 7:45. Decimal hours express the same duration as a single number for payroll math: 7:45 becomes 7.75 because 45 minutes is three-quarters of an hour. Payroll systems and invoices usually want decimal hours, so the calculator shows both. To convert manually you divide the minutes by 60, so 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75.
Is the hours calculator free and private?
Yes — the LK Forge Hours Calculator is completely free with no account, no sign-up and no limits, and every calculation happens locally in your browser. The times you enter are never sent to a server or stored, so there is nothing to log. Once the page has loaded it works offline, which makes it handy for quickly checking a shift length on a phone. For a full week of shifts and pay, use the companion Timecard Calculator.

Related time & date tools

World Clock

Live local time worldwide with analog city clocks and a built-in meeting planner.

Time & date

→

Time Zone Converter

Convert any time between time zones and cities, with daylight saving handled automatically.

Time & date

→

Meeting Planner

Find overlapping working hours across cities to schedule calls at a fair time for everyone.

Time & date

→

World Population Clock

Live world population counter with births, deaths, and per-country statistics, sourced from the World Bank.

Time & date

→

Military Time Converter

Convert between 12-hour and 24-hour (military) time, with a full reference chart.

Time & date

→

Calendar & Date Calculator

Yearly calendar, date-difference calculator, and days-until countdown in one place.

Time & date

→

Timer & Stopwatch

Countdown timer, stopwatch with laps, and count-up timer — accurate even in background tabs.

Time & date

→

Age Calculator

Work out an exact age in years, months, and days from any birth date.

Time & date

→

Productivity Tools

Daily and weekly habit tracker with streaks, plus mind-map and concept-map makers.

Productivity

→