How to use

The time duration calculator finds elapsed time between a start and end clock time on the same day or across midnight. If the end time is earlier than the start, it is automatically treated as the next day. An optional break can be subtracted, with output in hours and minutes, decimal hours and total minutes.

Choose the start and end times.
Enter an unpaid or excluded break in minutes if needed; leave it blank when there is no break.
Calculate to see net elapsed time, total minutes and decimal hours.

How it is calculated

Duration = end time − start time − break; if end is earlier than start, it is treated as the next day

Example

Example: 22:30 to 06:15 is treated as an overnight span of 7 hours 45 minutes. Subtracting a 30-minute break gives 7 hours 15 minutes, or 7.25 decimal hours.

Important notes

This tool is for clock-time spans under 24 hours and assumes a next-day rollover only when the end is earlier than the start. Use the date difference calculator for multi-day periods. Decimal hours are not clock notation: 7.5 hours means 7 hours 30 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Does it handle overnight shifts?

Yes. If the end time is earlier than the start, 24 hours are added and the end is treated as the next day.

Why show decimal hours?

They are useful for timesheets and billing. For example, 8 hours 30 minutes equals 8.5 hours.

Can the break be longer than the elapsed period?

No. The calculator rejects a break that equals or exceeds the elapsed duration because net time would be zero or negative.

Is this calculator free?

Yes. It is free to use and requires no account.

Time Duration Calculator