How to calculate time duration and hours worked

Updated 2026-11-13

Quick answer

Convert both times to minutes and subtract. From 09:30 to 17:45 is (17 × 60 + 45) − (9 × 60 + 30) = 1,065 − 570 = 495 minutes, which is 8 hours 15 minutes, or 8.25 hours.

Steps

Write the start and end times on the 24-hour clock. Here: 09:30 and 17:45.
Turn each into minutes after midnight: 570 and 1,065.
Subtract the start from the end: 495 minutes.
If the end is earlier than the start, the shift passed midnight, so add 24 × 60 minutes first.
Subtract any unpaid break, then convert: 495 ÷ 60 = 8.25 hours. Or use the time duration calculator.

Overnight shifts and breaks

A shift from 22:00 to 06:00 has an end time earlier than the start, so the calculator adds a day: the duration is 8 hours. With a 30-minute unpaid break, the 09:30 to 17:45 day is 7 hours 45 minutes, or 7.75 hours, which is 465 minutes.

A day from 08:45 to 18:15 with a 60-minute break is 8 hours 30 minutes, or 8.5 hours.

Decimal hours for pay

Timesheets and payroll usually want decimal hours, not hours and minutes. Divide the minutes by 60: 15 minutes is 0.25, 30 minutes is 0.5 and 45 minutes is 0.75 of an hour. So 8 hours 15 minutes is 8.25 hours, and at ₹400 an hour that is ₹3,300.

Limits

The calculator covers a span of up to 24 hours on a single clock. For a longer gap across several days, use the date difference calculator. It does not adjust for daylight saving changes or for time zones, so for work that crosses them, compare the clock times in the same time zone first.

Common questions

How do I calculate hours between two times?

Convert both to minutes, subtract, and divide by 60 for hours.

How do I handle a shift that crosses midnight?

If the end is earlier than the start, add 24 hours to the end before subtracting. The calculator does it for you.

How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?

Divide by 60. 45 minutes is 0.75 hours.

Does the calculator handle breaks?

Yes. Enter the unpaid break in minutes and it is subtracted.