Time Duration Calculator: Hours & Minutes Between Times

Need to calculate hours worked or time elapsed? Enter start and end times to get the total duration in hours, minutes, and seconds instantly.

Time Duration Calculator

Calculate duration between two specific times. Perfect for timesheets and logging hours.

Start Time

End Time

Duration

20hours:00minutes

Total Hours

20.00

Total Minutes

1,200

Total Seconds

72,000

Decimal Hours

20.0000

Formatted Duration

09:00AM - 17:00PM

Quick Presets

Tips for Timesheets

For overnight shifts, the calculator automatically handles the day rollover
Decimal hours are useful for payroll calculations
Use 24-hour format for military, healthcare, or international contexts
Copy the formatted duration directly to your timesheet

How it works

Enter a start time and end time to calculate the duration between them. Choose between 12-hour (AM/PM) or 24-hour format based on your preference or industry standard.

The calculator automatically handles overnight durations. If end time is before start time, it assumes the end is on the following day. Perfect for shift work and overnight events.

Duration calculation example:

Start: 9:00 AM End: 5:00 PM Duration: 8 hours, 0 minutes Overnight example: Start: 11:00 PM End: 7:00 AM Duration: 8 hours (crosses midnight)

Results show hours, minutes, total minutes, decimal hours, and seconds. Decimal hours are essential for payroll calculations where time converts to monetary values.

When You'd Actually Use This

Timesheet and payroll

Calculate work hours for pay. Track overtime accurately. Convert to decimal for payroll systems. Verify time card entries.

Shift scheduling

Plan shift lengths. Calculate handover times. Ensure proper coverage. Track break deductions.

Meeting duration tracking

Schedule meeting lengths. Calculate available time slots. Plan agenda timing. Avoid overbooking rooms.

Cooking and baking

Time recipe steps. Calculate total cook time. Plan meal prep. Coordinate multiple dishes.

Travel time estimation

Calculate flight durations. Plan drive times. Estimate arrival. Coordinate connections.

Media and content length

Time video segments. Calculate podcast length. Plan broadcast slots. Edit to exact duration.

What to Know Before Using

Overnight shifts are automatic.End time before start time assumes next day. 10 PM to 6 AM calculates as 8 hours. No special setting needed.

Decimal hours matter for payroll.7 hours 30 minutes = 7.5 hours. Payroll systems use decimals. 15 minutes = 0.25 hours. Essential for accurate pay.

Breaks are not automatically deducted.Calculator shows total elapsed time. Subtract break time manually. 8 hours minus 30 min lunch = 7.5 work hours.

12-hour vs 24-hour format.12-hour needs AM/PM selection. 24-hour is unambiguous. Military, medical, and international use 24-hour.

Pro tip: For payroll, always verify company rounding rules. Some round to nearest 15 minutes. Others use exact time. Know your policy.

Common Questions

How do I calculate overnight shifts?

Just enter the times normally. 11 PM to 7 AM works automatically. The calculator detects overnight and adds 24 hours.

What's decimal hours?

Hours as a decimal number. 30 minutes = 0.5 hours. 15 minutes = 0.25 hours. Used for payroll and billing calculations.

How do I handle lunch breaks?

Calculate total time first. Then subtract break separately. 9 AM to 5 PM is 8 hours. Minus 30 min lunch = 7.5 hours worked.

Can I add multiple time periods?

Calculate each period separately. Add the decimal hours together. Monday 8 + Tuesday 7.5 = 15.5 total hours.

What format should I use?

Use whatever matches your input. US typically uses 12-hour. International and technical fields use 24-hour. Both work equally well.

How accurate is this for payroll?

Mathematically exact. But verify company policies. Some round to 6-minute increments. Others use exact time. Check your handbook.

Can I calculate time spans over multiple days?

For multi-day spans, use the date calculator. This tool handles same-day or overnight. Multi-day needs date context.

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Time Duration Calculator: Hours & Minutes Between Times