How it works
The calculator subtracts the start time from the end time. If the end time is earlier than the start time, it adds 24 hours, so a shift from 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM counts as 8 hours 30 minutes instead of a negative number. It then subtracts the break.
The result is shown as clock hours (hours:minutes) and as decimal hours. Decimal hours are the minutes divided by 60 and added to the whole hours; payroll usually multiplies the hourly rate by this decimal figure, so 7 hours 30 minutes is paid as 7.5 hours, not 7.3.
Worked example
A shift from 8:15 AM to 4:50 PM is 8 hours 35 minutes. Subtracting a 45-minute unpaid lunch leaves 7 hours 50 minutes. As decimal hours, 50 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.83, so the result is 7.83 hours.
A night shift from 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM crosses midnight: it is 8 hours 30 minutes long. Subtracting a 30-minute break gives 8:00, or 8.00 decimal hours.
Adding both rows gives 15 hours 50 minutes, or 15.83 decimal hours, which "Send hours to the hourly paycheck calculator" carries over to the hourly paycheck calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours worked between two times?
Subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract any unpaid break. For times that cross midnight, add 24 hours to the end time first; the calculator does this for you.
How many hours is 9 AM to 5 PM?
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 8 hours. With a 30-minute unpaid lunch, it is 7 hours 30 minutes, or 7.5 decimal hours.
What is 8 hours and 45 minutes in decimal?
Divide 45 minutes by 60 to get 0.75, so 8 hours 45 minutes is 8.75 hours.
Why do payroll hours use decimals instead of minutes?
Pay is the hourly rate times hours worked, and that multiplication needs hours as a decimal. Writing 8:45 as 8.45 would undercount the time; the correct figure is 8.75.
What is the difference between this and the time card calculator?
This page measures one or a few time spans. The time card calculator lays out a full week, Monday to Sunday, with a break on each day and rounding options.