Duration Calculator - Time Between Two Clock Times

    How long is the gap between 08:30 and 17:15? This calculator takes two clock times and returns the duration in hours, minutes, seconds and decimal format. Handles overnight spans across midnight.

    Parameters

    Enter data for calculations

    24-hour format (e.g. 08:00, 14:30, 23:45)

    24-hour format (e.g. 17:00, 22:15, 23:59)

    Form progress0 / 2 fields

    💡 Fill in all required fields to unlock the calculate button

    Two clock times in, one number out

    The Duration Calculator measures the gap between two clock times. Enter a start time and an end time, and it returns the elapsed duration in hours and minutes, as a decimal value, and in total minutes and seconds. It handles overnight spans that cross midnight - just check the box and the calculator adds 24 hours automatically.

    How to calculate duration - step by step

    1. Start time - enter the beginning time in 24-hour format, e.g. 08:00 for 8 AM or 14:30 for 2:30 PM.
    2. End time - enter the ending time in the same format, e.g. 17:15 for 5:15 PM.
    3. Crosses midnight - if your end time is on the next day (like a night shift from 22:00 to 06:00), check this box.
    4. Read the results - hours, minutes, decimal hours, total minutes, total seconds and the full time range.

    Common durations at a glance

    Reference table for work shifts, meetings and daily routines:

    Start End Duration Decimal Context
    08:00 16:00 8 hr 0 min 8.00 Standard work day
    08:30 17:15 8 hr 45 min 8.75 Shift with overtime
    09:00 09:45 0 hr 45 min 0.75 Meeting / class period
    22:00 06:00 8 hr 0 min 8.00 Night shift (across midnight)
    06:15 14:45 8 hr 30 min 8.50 Early morning shift
    13:00 13:20 0 hr 20 min 0.33 Lunch break

    Decimal hours and why they matter

    Payroll, invoicing and project tracking often require time in decimal format. Converting 8 hours and 45 minutes to 8.75 makes multiplication straightforward: 8.75 x $25/hr = $218.75. Here is the conversion for common minute values:

    Minutes Decimal hours Minutes Decimal hours
    5 0.08 35 0.58
    10 0.17 40 0.67
    15 0.25 45 0.75
    20 0.33 50 0.83
    30 0.50 55 0.92

    Practical examples

    Example 1: Work shift 08:30 to 17:00
    Result: 8 hr 30 min (8.50 decimal hours, 510 minutes)
    Example 2: Night shift 22:00 to 06:30 (crosses midnight)
    Result: 8 hr 30 min (8.50 decimal hours, 510 minutes)
    Example 3: University lecture 10:15 to 11:45
    Result: 1 hr 30 min (1.50 decimal hours, 90 minutes)
    Example 4: Meeting 14:00 to 14:25
    Result: 0 hr 25 min (0.42 decimal hours, 25 minutes)
    Example 5: Cooking a roast 11:00 to 14:45
    Result: 3 hr 45 min (3.75 decimal hours, 225 minutes)
    Example 6: Flight 06:40 to 15:10
    Result: 8 hr 30 min (8.50 decimal hours, 510 minutes)

    FAQ - Frequently asked questions

    What is the duration from 08:00 to 17:00?
    The duration is 9 hours and 0 minutes, which equals 9.00 decimal hours or 540 minutes.
    How do I calculate a night shift that crosses midnight?
    Enter the start time (e.g. 22:00) and end time (e.g. 06:00), then check the "Time crosses midnight" box. The calculator adds 24 hours to account for the date change, giving you 8 hours.
    What is "decimal hours" and why is it useful?
    Decimal hours express time as a single number instead of hours and minutes. 8 hours 45 minutes = 8.75 decimal hours. This format simplifies payroll calculations: multiply decimal hours by an hourly rate to get the total pay without extra conversions.
    Can I use this for calculating overtime?
    Yes. Enter your actual clock-in and clock-out times. If the result exceeds your standard shift (e.g. 8 hours), the difference is your overtime. For example, 08:00 to 18:30 = 10.50 decimal hours, so overtime is 2.50 hours.
    What happens if start and end times are identical?
    The calculator returns 0 hours 0 minutes and suggests checking the midnight box if you intended to calculate a full 24-hour period.
    Does the calculator support seconds?
    Input is in HH:MM format (hours and minutes only). The result includes total seconds as a derived value - for example, 8 hr 30 min = 30,600 seconds.

    Related tools

    Time Zone Difference

    Find the absolute gap between two clock readings, including overnight shifts - Open calculator

    Weeks Calculator

    Count weeks and days between two dates for pregnancy, projects and fitness plans - Open calculator

    Time Sum Calculator

    Add multiple time durations into one total - Open calculator

    Time Difference Calculator

    Subtract two clock times with seconds precision - Open calculator

    Minutes to Hours Converter

    Convert minutes to HH:MM format and decimal hours - Open calculator

    Similar calculators from this section