# Hours calculator

> A hours calculator sums start and end times across multiple shifts or time blocks, subtracts break time, and returns the total in both hours-and-minutes and decimal form.

Add up timesheet hours and minutes across multiple shifts, subtract breaks, and get the total in hours and decimal format.

**Interactive version:** https://onlinecalculator.me/date-time/hours-calculator/
**Category:** Date & Time

## How to use

1. Enter the **start** and **end** times for each shift (24-hour or AM/PM both work).
2. Enter **unpaid break** minutes per shift.
3. Press **+ Add row** for each additional shift.
4. The total appears at the bottom in both H:MM and decimal format.

## Formula

```
Net minutes = (end time − start time) − break minutes
Total hours = sum of net minutes across all shifts ÷ 60
```

For overnight shifts (end before start), 24 hours are added automatically.

## Worked example — a five-day week

| Day | Start | End | Break | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9:00 | 17:00 | 30 min | 7 h 30 m |
| Tuesday | 8:00 | 16:30 | 30 min | 8 h 00 m |
| Wednesday | 9:00 | 17:30 | 30 min | 8 h 00 m |
| Thursday | 9:00 | 17:00 | 30 min | 7 h 30 m |
| Friday | 9:00 | 14:00 | 0 min | 5 h 00 m |

Total: **36 h 00 m = 36.0 hours**

At $25/hour this is $900 gross pay for the week.

## Notes

- **Decimal hours** — payroll systems almost always require decimal hours. 7 h 30 m = 7.5, not 7.30. The calculator shows both.
- **Paid vs. unpaid breaks** — only subtract breaks your employer doesn't pay you for. In the U.S., meal breaks of 30+ minutes are typically unpaid; short rest breaks are paid.
- **Overnight shifts** are detected automatically when the end time is earlier than the start time (e.g., 22:00 to 06:00 = 8 hours).
- **Overtime** is not split out here. If your week exceeds 40 hours, multiply the overage by 1.5× (or your contract's rate) separately.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I convert hours and minutes to decimal hours?

Decimal hours = hours + (minutes / 60). For example, 7 hours 30 minutes = 7 + 30/60 = 7.5 hours.

### Does this handle overnight shifts?

Yes. If the end time is before the start time, the calculator assumes the shift crossed midnight and adds 24 hours.

### What break time should I enter?

Enter only unpaid break minutes. Paid breaks should not be subtracted.

### Can I use 12-hour (AM/PM) time?

Yes. The calculator accepts 9:00am, 5:30pm, and similar formats alongside 24-hour time.

### How do I share my timesheet?

Click "Share with my numbers" to copy a URL that saves all your shift entries.

## Sources

- [24-hour clock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24-hour_clock) — Wikipedia
- [Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Universal_Time) — Wikipedia

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