Calculate a shift
Overnight shifts are handled automatically.
Paid time
8h 00m
8 decimal hours
Common questions
How many paid hours is a 9 to 5 shift with a 30-minute lunch?
A 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM shift is 8 hours. Subtract a 30-minute unpaid lunch to get 7.5 paid hours (7 hours 30 minutes). This tool does that in one step.
How is an overnight shift calculated (start after end)?
When the end time is earlier than the start time, the shift is treated as crossing midnight. A 10:00 PM start and a 6:00 AM end is 8 hours. Subtract any unpaid break the same way.
What are decimal hours, and when do I need them?
Decimal hours express minutes as a fraction of an hour. Thirty minutes is 0.5, fifteen minutes is 0.25. Payroll and timesheet systems often ask for this, so the calculator shows paid time in both clock time and decimal hours.
Do short rest breaks and lunch breaks count the same?
No. Brief rest breaks are usually paid and not subtracted. An unpaid meal break is the one you subtract. Check what your employer counts on your time card before choosing the break amount.
How do I add up a full week of shifts?
The work hours calculator handles one shift at a time. Use the Time Card Calculator to total a full week and separate regular and overtime hours.
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Related tools
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How it works
Calculate hours worked in a shift
The calculator finds the elapsed time between the start and end, then subtracts the unpaid break. The result includes clock time and decimal hours.
Subtracting a lunch break
A 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM shift lasts 8.5 hours. Subtracting a 30-minute unpaid lunch produces 8 paid hours. Example: a 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM shift is 8.5 hours. With a 45-minute unpaid lunch, the paid time is 7 hours 45 minutes (7.75 decimal hours). Short rest breaks and real meal breaks are treated differently, and how to calculate work hours with an unpaid lunch break explains which is which.
Overnight shifts
When the end is earlier than the start, it is treated as the following day. A 10:00 PM start and 6:00 AM end spans eight hours.
Decimal hours
Payroll systems often express minutes as a fraction of an hour. Thirty minutes is 0.5 hours, while 15 minutes is 0.25 hours. Minutes to decimal hours has a conversion chart in five minute steps.
Add a full week
For several shifts, use the Time Card Calculator to total the week and separate estimated regular and overtime hours.
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