Free Hours Calculator
Calculate hours between times, deduct breaks, handle overnight shifts and total multiple intervals. See decimal hours and download a private CSV audit.
Enter start, end and break times
7:30
hours:minutes across 1 valid interval
Every interval in the total
| Interval | Start–end | Elapsed | Break | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work shift | 09:00–17:00 | 8:00 | 0:30 | 7:30 |
| Total | 8:00 | 0:30 | 7:30 | |
Times and calculations stay in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
Calculate time between two times without hidden assumptions
This hours calculator finds elapsed time, deducts breaks and adds multiple intervals. It shows the same total as hours and minutes, decimal hours and total minutes so you can use the representation that fits your record.
The default example runs from 09:00 to 17:00 with a 30-minute break. That is eight elapsed hours minus 30 minutes, or 7:30 / 7.50 decimal hours / 450 minutes. Replace the example with your genuine start, end and break times.
All calculations run in your browser. No time entry is uploaded, saved or sent to DraftFort.
This tool performs time arithmetic, not employment, payroll or legal analysis. It does not determine paid breaks, overtime, rounding rules, wages or required records. Apply the agreement and requirements that actually govern the work.
Hours between a start and end time
For a same-day interval, the calculation is:
net minutes = end time − start time − break minutes
The break is capped at the elapsed time, preventing an accidental negative result. If the end is earlier than the start, the interval is not silently assumed to cross midnight. Select End time is on the next day so the day boundary is visible in the calculation trail and exported record.
Overnight and longer shifts
Selecting next day adds 24 hours to the end time before subtracting the start. For example, 22:00 to 06:00 next day is eight elapsed hours. A 30-minute break produces 7:30 net hours.
The same control can represent a period longer than 24 hours: 09:00 to 17:00 next day is 32 elapsed hours. Review long intervals carefully because the tool does not decide whether they represent work, availability or some other period.
Add split shifts and multiple intervals
Use Add interval for split shifts, separate projects or several days that you want to total. Each line keeps its own:
- optional label;
- start and end time;
- explicit next-day choice; and
- break deduction in whole minutes.
Invalid intervals remain visible but are excluded from the total. The audit table shows the elapsed, break and net time for every included interval.
Hours:minutes versus decimal hours
Hours and minutes are not base-10 decimals. Thirty minutes is 0.5 hour, 15 minutes is 0.25 hour and 20 minutes is one-third of an hour. DraftFort first totals exact whole minutes and only then converts the total:
decimal hours = total net minutes ÷ 60
The main decimal result is displayed to two places; the CSV preserves four decimal places for each row. Do not treat display rounding as permission to round a payroll or client record—the applicable policy controls that decision.
From calculated hours to a time record
This calculator is useful for checking raw start/end intervals. Move approved hours into the timesheet template when you need a named, dated PDF record. For genuine client work, the billable hours calculator can measure utilization or revenue after the time has been reviewed. Use the invoice generator only after the quantity and rate are agreed.
What the CSV audit contains
The UTF-8 CSV includes the label, start and end time, whether the end is next day, elapsed minutes, break minutes, net minutes, hours:minutes and decimal hours for every valid interval. A final row records the combined total. The file is an audit of the inputs used here—not proof that the time was worked, approved, payable or billable.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours between two times?
Enter the start and end times. The calculator subtracts the start from the end, then deducts any break minutes you enter. The result appears as hours:minutes, decimal hours and total minutes.
Can the calculator handle a shift that crosses midnight?
Yes. Select End time is on the next day for that interval. This makes the day boundary explicit and supports overnight shifts as well as intervals longer than 24 hours.
Can I add several work periods or split shifts?
Yes. Add as many intervals as needed. Each interval has its own label, start time, end time, next-day setting and break deduction, and the calculator totals every valid interval.
How are decimal hours calculated?
Net minutes are divided by 60. For example, 7 hours 30 minutes is 7.50 decimal hours, while 7 hours 20 minutes is 7.3333 hours before display rounding.
Does this calculate overtime or wages?
No. It calculates elapsed minutes and break deductions only. It does not determine paid breaks, overtime eligibility, payroll rounding, wages, taxes or recordkeeping duties.
Can I download the calculation?
Yes. The UTF-8 CSV audit lists each interval, times, next-day choice, elapsed minutes, break minutes, net minutes, hours:minutes and decimal hours, followed by a total row.
Are my working times uploaded or saved?
No. The calculation and CSV creation happen locally in your browser. DraftFort does not receive or store the values you enter.