Hours Worked Calculator

Calculate total hours worked between a start time and end time, with optional break deduction. Great for freelancers, contractors, and hourly employees.

· CalcFlow Editorial

Enter hour in 24-hour format. 9 = 9 AM, 13 = 1 PM, 17 = 5 PM.

Enter hour in 24-hour format. 17 = 5 PM, 22 = 10 PM.

Total unpaid break time. Enter 0 if no break or fully paid.

$

Enter your hourly rate to calculate earnings for this shift. Leave at 0 to skip.

Enter values above and click Calculate to see your results.

Results shown are estimates for informational purposes only. Nothing on CalcFlow is financial, tax, legal, or medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important decisions.

What is a Hours Worked? An hours worked calculator computes the total time between a shift start and end, subtracts unpaid breaks, and converts the result to decimal hours for payroll and invoice use.

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Rule of Thumb

Standard full-time: 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. Overtime (US federal) kicks in after 40 hours/week at 1.5x rate. Convert minutes to decimal hours by dividing by 60.

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Example Calculation

A shift from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM with a 30-minute lunch break = 8.0 hours worked. At $22/hour, that is $176.00 for the shift.

Key Facts

  • •The US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires overtime pay at 1.5x for hours over 40 per week for non-exempt employees.
  • •Some states (California, Alaska, Nevada) require daily overtime after 8 hours in a day, not just weekly.
  • •Freelancers and contractors often bill in 15-minute increments (0.25 hour blocks) for cleaner invoices.

Understanding Hours Worked Calculator

Tracking hours accurately is the foundation of fair pay for hourly workers and accurate billing for freelancers. Converting between hours-and-minutes and decimal hours is where most mistakes happen. Most people can subtract 9 AM from 5 PM and get 8 hours, but add a non-round break (37 minutes) or an overnight shift and mental math quickly breaks down. This calculator handles both cases cleanly, including overnight shifts that cross midnight. For anyone billing clients, the decimal hours output is what matters most: multiply decimal hours by your rate and you get your invoice amount directly. For employees, knowing the exact hours worked helps verify that your paycheck matches what you actually worked.

Tips and Best Practices

  • 1Use 24-hour format for clarity: 1 PM = 13, 5 PM = 17, 11 PM = 23. This eliminates AM/PM confusion.
  • 2Track break time honestly. For non-exempt employees, unpaid breaks must actually be unpaid and duty-free. If you work through lunch, you may be entitled to pay for that time.
  • 3For freelancers, bill in 0.25-hour increments (15 minutes minimum). Round up to the nearest 15 minutes to protect your time.
  • 4If you work multiple shifts in a day, calculate each separately and add the totals. Do not try to span multiple shifts in one calculation.

Real-World Example

Maria works 6:45 AM to 3:15 PM with a 45-minute unpaid lunch. Gross time: 8 hours 30 minutes = 510 minutes. Minus 45 minutes = 465 minutes = 7.75 hours. At $19.50/hour: 7.75 x $19.50 = $151.13. If Maria bills a client instead, her invoice line reads: 7.75 hours x $75 = $581.25.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Forgetting to subtract breaks. A 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM shift is 8 gross hours. With a 30-minute unpaid lunch, the payable time is 7.5 hours.
  • Using 60-based minutes as decimals. 8 hours 30 minutes is NOT 8.30 hours. It is 8.5 hours. Multiplying 8.30 x $20 gives $166, but the correct answer is $170.
  • Miscounting overnight shifts. A shift from 10 PM to 6 AM is 8 hours, not -16 hours. Always add 24 hours when the end time is earlier than the start time.

How to Use

  1. Enter your shift start time (hour and minute in 24-hour format).
  2. Enter your shift end time (hour and minute).
  3. Enter total break time in minutes (unpaid time).
  4. Optionally enter your hourly rate to calculate earnings.
  5. Click Calculate to see hours worked and pay.

Formula

Hours Worked = (End Time - Start Time) - Break Minutes / 60
Common ShiftGross TimeWith 30 min break
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM8 hours7.5 hours
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM8.5 hours8 hours
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM8 hours7.5 hours
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM8 hours7.5 hours
10:00 PM - 6:00 AM (overnight)8 hours7.5 hours
6:00 AM - 2:00 PM8 hours7.5 hours

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I calculate hours worked between two times?

Subtract the start time from the end time to get gross work time, then subtract any unpaid break minutes. Convert total minutes to hours by dividing by 60. Example: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM = 510 minutes, minus 30 min break = 480 minutes = 8.0 hours.
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How does this handle overnight shifts?

If your end time is earlier than your start time, the calculator automatically assumes the shift crosses midnight and adds 24 hours to the end time. For example, 10 PM to 6 AM is treated as an 8-hour shift.
Q

What is decimal hours and why does it matter?

Decimal hours express time as a decimal fraction rather than hours and minutes. 8 hours 30 minutes = 8.50 decimal hours. Payroll systems and invoices typically use decimal hours because you can multiply directly by an hourly rate.
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Does this calculate overtime?

Yes, if you enter an hourly rate and work more than 8 hours in a shift, the calculator shows regular pay at your rate and overtime pay at 1.5x for hours beyond 8. Note that overtime rules vary by state and employer.

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