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Hours Between Times Calculator

By Muddasir Riaz · Updated November 12, 2026

Enter a start time and an end time to see the hours and minutes between them, in decimal hours too. Add an unpaid break to see your hours worked.

How to use the hours between two times calculator

1. Enter the start time and end time. Pick AM or PM in the time box, or use the 24-hour clock.
2. Add a break if you want it taken off. Type the unpaid minutes, such as 30 or 60.
3. Press Calculate hours. You see the hours and minutes, the decimal hours, and the total minutes.

For a full week with overtime and pay, use the Work Hours Calculator. For a lunch end time and paid hours, use the Lunch Break Calculator.

How many hours is 8 to 5?

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 9 hours. Count from 8 AM to 12 noon (4 hours) and from 12 noon to 5 PM (5 hours). If you take a 30-minute unpaid lunch, you work 8.5 hours. With a 60-minute unpaid lunch you work 8 hours, which is a standard full workday.

How many hours is 9 to 6, 8 to 4 and other shifts?

This chart shows common shifts. The last two columns show hours worked after taking off an unpaid lunch.

How do you calculate the time between two times?

Hours between = end time − start time

1. Change both times to the 24-hour clock. 5:00 PM becomes 17:00. 8:00 AM stays 8:00.
2. Subtract the start time from the end time. 17:00 − 8:00 = 9:00, which is 9 hours.
3. If minutes do not line up, borrow an hour. From 8:45 AM to 5:15 PM: 17:15 − 8:45 = 8 hours 30 minutes.
4. Take off any unpaid break.

How do you calculate hours across noon or midnight?

Across noon, nothing special is needed once you use the 24-hour clock. Across midnight, add 24 hours to the end time first. For example, 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM is 6:00 + 24:00 = 30:00, and 30:00 − 22:00 = 8 hours. The calculator does this when the end time is earlier than the start time.

How do you convert minutes to decimal hours?

Payroll uses decimal hours, so 8 hours 30 minutes is written as 8.5. Divide the minutes by 60 and add them to the hours.

A common mistake is to write 7 hours 45 minutes as 7.45. The correct decimal is 7.75.

Common mistakes when calculating hours between times

• Mixing up AM and PM. 8 to 5 means 8 AM to 5 PM. If you type 5 AM by mistake the answer will look strange.
• Forgetting the break. A time span is not the same as paid time if lunch is unpaid.
• Using 100 minutes per hour. There are 60 minutes in an hour, so convert minutes carefully.
• Ignoring midnight. For night shifts, the end time is on the next day.

To total hours for many days at once, use the Time Card Calculator.

Frequently asked questions

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Lunch Break CalculatorFind when lunch ends and your paid hours with a 30, 45 or 60 minute lunch.

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Sources and further reading

• U.S. Department of Labor: Fact Sheet #22, Hours Worked Under the FLSA
• U.S. Department of Labor: Breaks and Meal Periods

This calculator gives estimates for information only. It is not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.