Time Duration Calculator

Calculate the exact length of time between two times or dates — in hours, minutes, and total units. Great for timesheets, shifts, and event planning.

Results

Duration
Total Hours
Total Minutes
Decimal Hours

How to Calculate Duration Between Two Times

The duration is simply the end moment minus the start moment. This calculator handles the tricky parts for you — spans that cross midnight, runs over several days, and breaks you want to subtract — then expresses the result in several useful formats at once.

Decimal Hours for Timesheets and Payroll

Payroll systems usually want time as decimal hours, not hours and minutes. The conversion is to divide the minutes by 60: 30 minutes is 0.5 hours, 15 minutes is 0.25, and 45 minutes is 0.75. So a shift of 8 hours 30 minutes is 8.5 decimal hours. This tool shows the decimal value automatically, so you can drop it straight into a timesheet or multiply it by an hourly rate. To turn those hours into pay, use our paycheck calculator.

Subtracting Breaks

Unpaid lunch and rest breaks shouldn't be counted as worked time. Enter the total break in minutes and the calculator subtracts it from the gross duration, giving you the net payable time. For a shift from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM with a 30-minute lunch, the net worked time is 8 hours.

Common Uses

  • Work shifts and timesheets — calculate hours worked, including overnight shifts.
  • Project tracking — measure how long a task or session took.
  • Event planning — work out the length of a meeting, flight, or activity.
  • Billing — convert time worked into billable decimal hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate hours between two times?

Subtract the start time from the end time. Enter both moments above and the calculator returns the gap in hours and minutes, total hours, total minutes, and decimal hours — even if the times cross midnight.

How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?

Divide the minutes by 60. So 15 minutes is 0.25 hours, 30 minutes is 0.5, and 45 minutes is 0.75. This calculator shows the decimal value for you, which is what most payroll systems require.

Does this work for overnight shifts?

Yes. Because you enter full dates and times, a shift that starts at 10:00 PM and ends at 6:00 AM the next day is calculated correctly as eight hours.

How do I subtract a lunch break?

Enter the break length in minutes in the optional field. The calculator subtracts it from the total, giving the net worked time used for pay.