Find the elapsed time between a clock-in and clock-out, then subtract the break minutes you enter as unpaid. The result appears as hours and minutes and as decimal hours. An end time earlier than the start is treated as the following day for an overnight shift.
Work hours for one shift
Change the inputs to see the estimate. Calculations stay in your browser.
An end time earlier than the start is treated as the next day. Subtract only breaks that are genuinely unpaid. Wall-clock arithmetic does not handle daylight saving transitions.
Formula and example
Time worked = time from start to end − unpaid break minutes. For a 9:00 a.m. start and a 5:30 p.m. end, the elapsed time is eight hours and 30 minutes. Subtract a 30-minute unpaid meal break and the result is eight hours. For a shift from 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. the next day, the same 30-minute deduction also produces eight hours.
Only enter time that should genuinely be excluded. Under federal guidance, short rest breaks are ordinarily counted as hours worked. A bona fide meal period is generally not work time when the worker is completely relieved from duty. If you work through lunch, an automatic 30-minute deduction may understate your hours. The tool cannot decide whether a particular period is compensable under federal or state law.
For a closer look at which breaks count as work time, read our guide to paid rest breaks and unpaid meal periods.
Overnight shifts and limitations
The calculator treats a clock-out earlier than clock-in as next-day. Identical start and end times are rejected because a zero-hour shift and a 24-hour shift cannot be distinguished from two times alone. A shift spanning more than 24 hours, a daylight saving time change, or a change in time zone needs a dated time record and a manual review. The calculation uses wall-clock time; it does not apply payroll rounding.
For weekly totals, enter each shift’s hours in the weekly hours calculator, or use the seven-day time card. If a shift crosses the employer’s workweek boundary, the hours may need to be split between workweeks before evaluating overtime.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert 7 hours 45 minutes to decimal hours?
Divide 45 by 60 and add 7: the result is 7.75 hours. Decimal hours are useful for addition, but compare the underlying minutes when reconciling a time card.
Should I subtract a paid break?
No. The break field is for minutes that are truly unpaid and excluded from hours worked. Check your time record and the applicable rules before deducting any break.
Does an overnight shift automatically earn overtime?
No. Crossing midnight alone does not establish federal overtime. The applicable workweek, total hours worked, eligibility and any state rule matter. See the overtime calculator for a limited weekly pay estimate.
Sources and methodology
Reviewed October 7, 2026. The tool converts both clock times to minutes after midnight, adds 24 hours when the end is earlier, subtracts the entered unpaid break, then divides by 60 for decimal hours. Context on hours worked and meal periods comes from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Fact Sheet #22 and Breaks and Meal Periods guidance. Inputs stay in your browser. This is an estimate, not legal or payroll advice.