How to find the hours between two times
- Write both times in 24-hour form. 4:45 PM is 16:45.
- Subtract the start from the end. 16:45 − 8:15 = 8:30.
- Went past midnight? If the answer is negative, add 24 hours.
Worked example: 9:40 PM to 6:15 AM. From 9:40 PM to midnight is 2 h 20 min, and from midnight to 6:15 AM is 6 h 15 min. Together that's 8:35, or 8.58 hours (515 minutes).
Need to take out a lunch break too? Use the timesheet calculator with lunch, or the time card calculator for a whole week.
Questions
How do I calculate the hours between two times?
Change both times to 24-hour time and subtract the start from the end. If the answer is negative, the time crossed midnight, so add 24 hours. 8:15 AM to 4:45 PM is 16:45 − 8:15 = 8 hours 30 minutes.
What if the end time is after midnight?
The calculator counts forward into the next day. 10 PM to 6 AM is 8 hours.
How many hours is 9 to 5?
9 AM to 5 PM is 8 hours. With a 30-minute unpaid lunch, that is 7.5 hours of work.
How many hours is 7 AM to 7 PM?
12 hours. 7 PM to 7 AM, overnight, is also 12 hours.
Does it work with military time?
Yes. Type 0815 or 1730 and it reads them as 24-hour times. The military time converter switches between the two.