Hours between two times, for a single shift
This is the quick version of the time card: one shift, one answer. Set the start and end time, enter any unpaid break, and the hours worked show immediately in two forms. The h:mm form (7:30) is how a time clock displays it; the decimal form (7.50) is what payroll multiplies by your rate. Add an hourly rate if you want to see what the shift pays. For a full week of shifts, overtime and a printable card, use the time card calculator instead.
How hours worked are calculated
- Convert both times to minutes after midnight. 9:00 AM is 540; 5:30 PM is 1,050.
- Subtract start from end: 1,050 − 540 = 510 minutes.
- If the end time is earlier than the start, the shift ran past midnight; add 1,440 minutes (24 hours) before subtracting.
- Take away the unpaid break: 510 − 30 = 480 minutes.
- Divide by 60 for decimal hours: 480 ÷ 60 = 8.00.
Common shifts and their hours
| Shift | Unpaid break | Hours worked | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 30 min | 7:30 | 7.50 |
| 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 60 min | 7:00 | 7.00 |
| 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM | 30 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM | 30 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM | 30 min | 12:00 | 12.00 |
| 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM | 30 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM | none | 8:00 | 8.00 |
Which breaks come off the total
Only unpaid breaks are subtracted. Under federal rules, short rest breaks of about 5 to 20 minutes count as hours worked and must be paid. A meal period of 30 minutes or more is unpaid only if you are completely relieved of duty: if you eat at your desk while answering the phone, that time is work. Federal law does not require employers to give breaks at all, but many states do. The are lunch breaks paid guide covers both sides.
Overnight and long shifts
Shifts that cross midnight are the usual reason hand calculations go wrong. Subtracting 10:00 PM from 6:30 AM gives a negative number; the fix is to count the hours to midnight (2 hours) and then the hours after it (6.5 hours), for 8.5 hours before the break. The calculator does this automatically and flags that the shift crossed midnight. For overtime purposes, the hours belong to the workday in which the shift started unless your employer defines the workday differently.
Hours worked versus hours paid
Hours worked is the legal measure for minimum wage and overtime. Hours paid can be higher, because paid holidays, sick leave and vacation are paid but not worked, and they do not count toward the 40 hour overtime threshold under federal law. When you compare this total with a pay stub, compare it with the hours worked line, not the total hours paid.