How it works
Convert each date and time to minutes, then subtract the start from the end. Calendar dates are counted in whole days of 1,440 minutes.
A worked example
09:00 to 17:30 on the same day is 8 hours 30 minutes, or 8.5 hours. 22:00 on Monday to 06:00 on Tuesday is 8 hours.
What to keep in mind
Counts elapsed clock time between two dates and times. Time zones and daylight-saving clock changes are not applied.
How to calculate the duration between two dates and times
Enter a start date and time and an end date and time. The calculator converts both into minutes, subtracts the start from the end and shows the result as days, hours and minutes, as total decimal hours and as total minutes.
Overnight shifts and multi-day periods
For a shift that crosses midnight, set the end date to the following day. For example, 22:00 on Monday to 06:00 on Tuesday is 8 hours. The same approach works for periods that span several days, such as a hire period, a trip or an on-call rota.
Converting a duration to decimal hours
Timesheets and payroll often need hours as a decimal. Divide the minutes by 60 and add them to the whole hours: 7 hours 45 minutes is 7.75 hours, and 8 hours 20 minutes is about 8.33 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count an overnight shift?
Set the end date to the next day. For example, a start of 22:00 on 1 March and an end of 06:00 on 2 March gives 8 hours.
Can I calculate the time between two dates as well as two times?
Yes. Choose any start and end date. The result shows the full duration in days, hours and minutes as well as total hours and minutes.
What are decimal hours?
Decimal hours show minutes as a fraction of an hour. For example, 8 hours 30 minutes is 8.5 hours and 7 hours 15 minutes is 7.25 hours.
Does the calculator include breaks?
No. It measures the full interval between the two moments. Subtract unpaid breaks separately.
Does it adjust for the clocks changing?
No. It counts clock time, so a period that crosses a daylight-saving change in March or October may be one hour different from the time actually elapsed.
Results use the assumptions above. Check critical measurements and dates independently.