Hours Worked Calculator
Calculate hours worked from start time, end time and unpaid break.
Assumptions used in this calculation
- Overnight shifts: If the end time is earlier than the start time, the shift is assumed to end on the next day.
- Break handling: The break is assumed to be fully unpaid and is subtracted once from the total elapsed time between start and end.
About this calculator
Filling out a timesheet by hand means subtracting a start time from an end time, then subtracting an unpaid break on top, and converting the result to the decimal hours format most payroll systems expect, which adds up to several small chances to make an error, especially on an overnight shift. This calculator takes a shift's start time, end time, and unpaid break length in minutes, and returns the net payable hours as a decimal figure, correctly handling shifts that cross midnight by treating an end time earlier than the start time as falling the next day. It's built for hourly workers and small business owners logging or checking timesheets, where an accurate net hours figure directly determines a paycheck.
Worked example
9:00 AM to 6:00 PM with a 30-minute break
Result: 8.5 hours
Was this helpful?