Hours Between Two Times Calculator
Calculate the hours between two times, subtract an unpaid break, and see the result as hours and minutes, decimal hours, and total minutes.
Written and checked by TheToolNet Editorial Team · Last reviewed: October 3, 2026 · Editorial method
Find the time between two clock times
How to calculate hours between times
Convert each time to minutes after midnight, subtract the start from the end, then subtract the break. For 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, the raw span is 510 minutes. After a 30-minute break, the answer is 480 minutes, 8 hours, or 8.00 decimal hours.
Overnight times
If the end time is earlier than the start, the calculator automatically treats it as the following day. You can also check the overnight box explicitly. For spans longer than 24 hours, use actual dates in the date difference calculator.
Decimal hours are not clock minutes
| Hours and minutes | Decimal hours |
|---|---|
| 7:15 | 7.25 |
| 7:30 | 7.50 |
| 7:45 | 7.75 |
Divide minutes by 60. Do not write 7 hours 30 minutes as 7.30 hours.
Limitations
This is clock arithmetic for a span under 24 hours. It does not adjust for daylight-saving transitions because no date or time zone is supplied. Use a date-aware system for payroll shifts that cross a clock change.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours is 9 AM to 5 PM?
Eight hours before subtracting a break. With a 30-minute unpaid break, the worked time is 7 hours 30 minutes or 7.50 hours.
Does the result include the break?
The raw span does; the headline worked time subtracts the break you enter.