About the Time Duration
Timesheets and invoices need hours as decimals, but clocks run in base 60, so seven hours and forty-five minutes is 7.75 hours rather than 7.45. This calculator handles that conversion, subtracts unpaid breaks, and copes with shifts that run past midnight.
How to use the Time Duration
- Enter the start time and end time in 24-hour or AM/PM format.
- If the end time is earlier than the start time, the tool assumes an overnight shift.
- Enter any unpaid break in minutes.
- Read the duration in hours and minutes plus the decimal hours figure for payroll.
The formula behind it
Decimal hours = hours + (minutes ÷ 60). 7 h 45 m becomes 7.75, not 7.45.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide by 60. Fifteen minutes is 0.25, thirty is 0.5, forty-five is 0.75, and twenty minutes is 0.333 recurring.
How does it handle a night shift?
If the end time is earlier than the start time it adds a day, so 22:00 to 06:00 correctly returns eight hours rather than a negative number.
Should breaks be deducted?
Unpaid breaks should be. Paid rest breaks should not. Employment rules on which is which vary by country and contract, so check before invoicing.
Can I total a whole week?
Calculate each day, then add the decimal hours together. Decimals add cleanly, which is exactly why payroll systems use them instead of hours and minutes.