Hours Calculator – Calculate Time Between Two Times
Calculate the hours and minutes between two times, minus a break.
About the Hours Calculator
What is the Hours Calculator?
An hours calculator measures the elapsed time between two clock times, optionally subtracting a break.
Why use this calculator?
Shift workers, freelancers and anyone billing by the hour need a quick, accurate duration between start and end times.
How to use it
- Enter the start and end times in HH:MM format.
- Enter any break in minutes.
- Read the duration in hours and minutes.
Formula
Duration = end − start − break, with a full day added for overnight spans.
Times are interpreted in 24-hour format, so 17:30 means half past five in the afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use times past midnight?
Yes. If the end time is earlier than the start time, the calculator assumes the shift crosses midnight.
Why subtract a break?
Unpaid breaks are not working time, so subtracting them gives the hours you are actually paid for.
Does it account for leap years?
Yes. The date logic follows the Gregorian calendar, including leap years and differing month lengths.
Are weekends and holidays excluded?
Only if the calculator says so. By default, results count every calendar day; use a business-day option where available.
Which time zone is used?
Calculations use whole calendar dates and are time-zone independent unless a time-of-day is involved.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes. Every calculator on this site is completely free, with no hidden fees, no subscriptions and no limits on how many times you can use it.
How accurate are the results?
We use standard, widely accepted formulas and calculate in your browser using double-precision arithmetic. Results are rounded for readability, so treat them as reliable estimates rather than a guarantee. Real-world factors can vary the true figure.
Can I add this calculator to my own website?
Yes. Open this calculator page and use the "Add to your website" box in the sidebar to copy a ready-made iframe snippet, then paste it into any HTML page.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The layout is fully responsive, so it works on desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile phones, and every input adapts to touch screens.
Is the information I type kept private?
Yes. All calculations run locally in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded, stored or shared with anyone.